St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-09-20

the house and Wlndln' the body IN my
best sheets, carried it in my arms, and
laid it in the grave.
Earth to earth, and dustgto dust says
/, before shOvelin' in the clay.
When I'd finished, and had scraped
back the dead leaves over the grave
SOS to hide the spot, and was just turn
in away, who should step out afOre me
but Jess ROker.
Hev you been diggin' ginsang, neigh
Dor? says he with an inquisitive grin.
No, l hain't, says l, little crusty,
and walkin' off, for never liked Jess's
prin' ways.
Well, some days afterwards, was
sittin' in my cabin reading my Bible
one evening, when a squad of men rid
ND and came in without watin' to be
axed.
| You're my prisoner says the one at
the head, clappin' his hand on my
shoulder.
What for says |.
For murder! says he.
And then they begun searchin' the
premises, and presently they found the
dead mans pocket book, which | had
put away after cOuntin' the money.
Where did you git this says the man
who'd spoke afore.
won't tell, says l.
Why not 2 says he.
Because I've give my word to a dead
man, says 1, and | won't go back on it.
Tll show you where the dead man is,
said Jess ROker, comm forward with
his sneakin' grin.
Then l knOw'd Jess had been caves
drOppin' at the funeral, and had given
information agin me. | made a dash
at him, but a dozen hands seized me
and held me fast.
jess led the way to the grape vines
and i'm a few minutes the body | had
buried was removed from its resting
place.
What have you to say now says the
sheriff.
Nothing, says 1, remembeerin' my
promise.
Then a strange man present spoke to
the sheriff in private they examined
the pocket book together; then 1 was
handcuffed and took away thirty miles
to Jail.
'Twould be too long a story to tell all
that passed till l was tried. A young
lawyer took up my case; for a long
time 1 wouldn't tell him anything; 1
insisted I'd given my word to a dying
man, and could not break it; but the
lawyer was a smart chap and urged me !;
his main point was that lawyer was
bound to keep his clients secrets, and
anything | told him would be as safe
as with myself. Besides, he said, what
ever promise had given the law would
imply condition that l wasn't bound
to keep it at the risk of being hanged,
and even if I'd agreed to be hanged
soonern tell, 'twOuld be agin public
policy and void l give in at last, and
told him all.
Well, after some delay the trial came
on. The witness that swOre to SEEM
the murdered man last afOre his remains
was found was his own brother, which
was the same man that had held the
private talk with the sheriff the day
was took up.
He swore that him and his brother
had come out to buy land, and had
been stoppin' for some days with a set
tier in the neighbOrhOOd. His brother
and him had started out one afternoon
to take look at the country, but he
had got tired, and not feelin' very well,
had turned back, while his brother went
on, intendin' when night come to stop
at the nearest cabin. After that he had
never seen his brother alive the pOck-
ct book had three thousand dollars in
it.
My lawyer cross examined this wit
ness very sharp, and mixed him up a
good deal. In fact he contradicted him
self so much that more'n one of the jury
began to look doubtful.
All at once the truth flashed into me.
That's the man that done it! says L,
springin' up, and pintin' at the witness,
l know now why the dyin' man didn't
want nothin' said
The officers forced me back into my
seat and the witness took out his pock-
ct handkerchief and began weepin'
vi'lently. He could stand anything, he
said, sObin', sOoner'n bein' charged with
his brothers murder.
The scene powerfully affected the
very jurymen that just afore had begun
TO show signs of doubt; and they too,
took out their handkerchers, and wiped
their eyes, and bowed their noses, and
then shook their heads.
The young lawyer made a good
speech for me, but 'twasn't no use.
When a murdered mans money and
body's both found on the prisoner, it's
easy to see he don't stand much chance.
The jury brung me in guilty, and the
Judge pronounced sentence.
As Pd got to be hung, I'd been glad
to have it over, but the judge give me
a couple of months to prepare for death,
and said he hoped I'd improve the time
repentin' of my great offense.
Them sixty days passed mighty tedi-
, Gus; every one of 'em was spun out
with sufferin'. Hold your hand in the
fire minnit and l guess you'll think
! it's full hour.
To add to it all, ParsOn Puget kept
teazen of me to confess. He said he
could not OffOr me any hope unless
/ did; | told him my hope wasn't in
him; that I'd put my trust in One that
didn't want no lying confessions. l felt
sorry afterwards for benz so sharp with
Puget, for he was a good man, and
have no doubt meant right.
Then came my last night. I'd been
, long wishin' that all was over, but that
, night somehow the horror of my situa-
ton came before me more distinct than
ever before. I'd been listenin' during
the day to the carpenters putin up the
gallOws, and my measure had been took
} for my coffin.
! When night came 1 threw myself OF
my bed, and thought over my past life
e | begged forgiveness for all the sins
l had actily committed, and tried to pray
that he, too, might be forgiven fol
3 whose crime | was about to suffer. This
was up hill work, but l hope l done il