The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-08-22
A REMARKABLE CASE.

crimes. y Othlng that happens IN one
age but finds its parallel in another. An
old member of the bar, when reading of
the PocaSSet horror, recalled a similar
affair in Maine more than half a century
ago. Knowing that the venerable Judge
Sprague, now Sc years of age, but in full
possession of his remarkable faculties,
had seen the principal actor in that trag-
edy, he requested the judge to dictate an
account of it, which he kindly consented
to, and the narrative, as given mi the Ad
certiser, is as follows:
In 1915, at Augusta, Ne, l became ac-
quainted with James McCausland who then
was, and had been for several years, pris-
oner in the common Jail at that place. He
was confined as an insane person, and was,
in fact, mOnOmanac on the subject of re-
ligion. l was informed that before his i'm
prisonment he lived in Pittston, a town on
the kennebec river, opposite to the town of
Gardiner; that he was common labOrer,
quite Ignorant and unable to read or write.
There was in Gardiner an Episcopal church
which he sometimes attended, but his relig-
iOuS excitement was Occasioned by hearing
an itinerant preacher. He told me himself
that It became impressed on his mind that
he must make a burnt Offering sacrifice, but
he didn't know how to do it and was much
troubled. At length it occurred to him that
1t would be best to burn the church at Gardi-
ner and kill certain woman who was living
on the bank of the CohOSecOnti, a few miles
above Gardiner village but he was still
doubtful. That in this unsettled state of
mind he went alone at midnight into the
church, and while there thinking on the sub
Ject he heard a voice from Heaven saying,
Young man, push on" that this meant
that he should go forward and do what he
was then cOntemplating-that is, burn the
church and kill the woman. This removed
all doubt; then he knew what he must do.
He thought he would save the ''hOly things"
Nasa nns.I4
book and pulpit cushions. He accordingly
carried them a short distance and hid them
under the roots of a tree which had been
blown down. He then went and got some
live Goals, carried them in a shoe to the
church, set it on fire, and it was wholly con-
sumed. He said the next day there was
great talk about it. and another man was
accused, but he went forward and told the
people that the man had nothing to do with
it that he set fire to the church himself ::
and to convince them of it he carried some
of them to the place and showed them the
holy things which he had saved. The burnt
Offering was then complete, and it only re-
manned to make the sacrifice. For that pur-
pose he got into a canoe in the night time,
showed it up the stream till he came opposite
where the woman lived, there landed, and
went into the house. On entering he found
two men asleep on the floor; he stepped
over them and saw the woman sitting by the
side o. the bed on which there was sick
person and at the same time, by the light of
the uft. he saw butcher knife sticking
in a beam overhead, and he knew the
Lord had prepared that knife for his pur-
pose. He took it, went to the woman and
cut her throat that he then left the house
without being Obstructed, got into his canoe
and went home. The next day great crowd
came after him, some Of them armed, as if
they expected a violent resistance, but he
had no such idea. He submitted quietly and
they carried him to Jail.
| was told by others that when he was
raigned in court upon an Indictment for
murder he said he killed the woman. Chief
Justice Parsons told him that he was under
no obligation to confess his guilt, and had a
right to require the commonwealth to prove
it. He answered that he killed the woman,
and he shouldn't lie about it. The jury
upon his trial returned verdict of guilty,
but he was never sentenced On the calen-
dar of prisoners was an entry, James
McCausland, convicted of murder" and
under this record he was held in prison un-
til death, more than thirty years, I,believe. L
cOnveTSed with him several times, and he
always told the same story. He answered
all questions readily and without excite
ment. | asked him if he was not sorry he
had killed that woman. He said no; he
was commanded to do it, and his sins were
forgiven. l asked him if he would do the
same thing II he were out OF Jail. He said
no; he should have no occasion for it. l
said, But suppose that You should receive
another similar command, would YOU obey
it 2'' He answered, "Oh, l should not Ie-
ceive another command; my sins are for
given" He was always grave and serious.
L never saw HIM smile, but he had no tinge
of melancholy or depression. He never in
dicated wish to be liberated, nor made
complaint of his treatment by the iailOr-
He seemed perfectly satisfied with himself
and his condition. | was told that a woman
on seeing him burst into tears. He said to
her, Good woman, don't cry for me- but for
yourself and your children. l am better off
than you are" He had no anxiety for the
present or the future. lie once said to me,
Il am as happy here in the arms of my
Saviour as an infant in the arms of its
mother" | think he never had a doubt
that burning the church and killing the wO-
man were meritOriuus acts in obedience to
an express command from Heaven, and
that his sins were thereby expiated and for
given.
He was so much an object of curiosity
that he had many visitors, from each of
whom he eXacted two cents We all stood
outside the iron door of his cell and saw and
talked with him through a small, square
hole near the top. If, while cOnversing
with one, another appeared he would dodge
out OF sight and remain there until the tri-
butte was paid. / asked him why he charged
that sum, and neither more nor less. He
Said il was because that was the smallest
sum mentioned in the ScTiptureS-the widow
cast into the treasury her two miteS-and
he thought that if he charged only the small
]
[ learned to read while in prison, but / never
/ saw a book in his cell except a Bi0le and a
/ prayer book. lie generally asked his visi-
/ tors if he should make prayer if the an
/ swer was inthe affirmative, he would repeat
one of the prayers of the Episcopal church
/ He was a large man, above the average
! height, with broad shoulders and other indi
cations of physical Strenth. In his cOunte
nance there was nothing remarkable except
I the eyes, which were very piercing. ii,
wore gown or robe, covering his shoulder
and reaching to his ankles. He was cleanly
| and neat in his person when he stoo6
| erect with his long abundant beard resting
upon his breast. his appearance was diEni
fed and patriarchal.
His cell was not large, and was situated OF
Z the ground floor, near the entrance Of TIN
building. After being in the cell man,
years, / think twenty, he was on one occa
[ sion taken out. 1t was in order to meaSur
him for some new clothing The jailor con
Quoted him through a covered way to hi
dwelling house. He was there met by
taiioreSS, who at once proceeded to take tn
necessary measurements. While she wa
doing this he stood perfectly still; when sh
turned away he walked to the middle of tn
room, looked about and said "This seem
to me like z palace - then walking towar
a window he said, ''What large window
you have - 1t was small dining room
with painted floor, an ordinary table and
few common chairs. The windows weI
small. There were four or five men preseT
beside myself; they made some Few T,
marks, but McCauSland was silent II
seemed excited, walked TO and fro three
four times, and then said, 'Ill 20 back.
! Mr.. Dillingham;, the jailOr, said 70 hin
''You needn't be in a hurry, McCauslant
sit down, and offered him chair. L
said. NO. I'll go back, III 90 back al
then OF his own accord he returned TO his &c
Some years after this, when l was atten
= ing court at Augusta, Mr.. Dillingham; can
= to me and said, tMcCauslOnd wants TO :
Z | Nnn. - / was much smrnriSed. and we