The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-08-08
A REMARKABLE CASE.

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recalled a similar atlair in Maine more
then half century ago. knowing
that the venerable Judge Sprague, now
eightysix years Of age, but in foil pos
session Of his remarkable faculties, had
seen tho principal nctor in' that tragedy,
be requeated the Judge to dictate an
account Of it, which he kindly consent
ed 10 do, and the narrative, As given in
The idrerfiser, ia as follows
IN 1878, at Augusta, Maine, / he.
came acquainted with James McCiaus.
b. who then was, and had been for
81 eral years, q prisoner in the common
81 at tliat place He WINS confined "a
an isisaale person. al.si Was, iii fact, 4
mono-maniac on the subject Of religion.
| was informed that before Ills impfis
enmont he lived in Pittstown, town
ON the Kennebec River, opposite the
town Of Gardiner that he was com-
mon lsborer quite ignorant, and una
bic toreld orwrite. There wasin Gardi-
ner, an Episcopal church, which he
sometimes attended, but his religious
excitement was occasioned by hearing
an itiueraut preacher. He told me
bimself that Il became impressed on
bis mind that he must make burnt
offering sacrifice. but he didn't know
to do il, and was much troubled. At
length II occurred to him il would be
best 70 burn the church at Gardiner,
and kill n certain woman who was liy-
In small house on the bank Of the
Coboseconti, few miles above Gardi-
ner village bat he WIS still doubtful.
That in this unsettled mind lie went
alone AZ midnight into the church, and,
while there, thinking on the subject, be
heard voice from heaven, saying,
Young man, push on !" that this
meant that be should 90 forward and
do what be was then contemplating
that Ia, burn the church and Kill the
woman. This removed ull Doubt then
he knew what he must do. He thought
he would save the "holy things," as he
called them hat Is, the Bible, prayer.
book and pulpit cushions. lie accord.
ingly carried them short distance aud
bid them under the roots Of "a tree
which had heen blown down. lie then
went and got some live GOALS, carried
them ia a shoe 70 the cbu.eb, ret il on
iire. aud il WAS totally consumed lie
said the next day there was "a great
talk about il and another man WIS nc.
cuscd. bat he aent forward aud told
tho people that that man had nothing
70 do with it. that he set Gre 20 the
church himself and to convince them
0f IL, he carried some Of them to the
place and showed them the holy things
be lad saved. Tho burnt offering was
then complete, and Il only remained 10
make the sacrifice. For that purpose
he got into a canoe in the night-time,
showed IL up stream till he cane oppo.
site where the woman lived, then land
ed. and went into the house. On en.
tering, be found two men asleep on the
floor, He stepped over them
aud saw the woman by the side Of the
bed, on which there was a sick person
and, at the same time, by the light OF
the fire, he saw butcher knife stick
ing in beam overhead, and he knew
that the Lord had prepared that knife
for this purpose. He took it, went to
the woman, seized her by the hair, and
cut her throat that he then left the
house without being obstructed, got in.
to his canoe, and went home. The
next day great crowd came after him
some Of them armed, as if they expect
ed violent resistance, but he bad nc
snch idea. He submitted quietly, and
they carried him to Jail.
was told by others that when h,
was arraigned in Court upon an indict
ment Of murder, he said he killed th,
woman. Chief-J ustice Parsons said Ii,
was under no obligation to confess hi
guilt, and had right to require th,
Commonwealth to prove it. He an
swered that he killed the woman ant
shouldn't lie about it. The jury upoi
his trial returned a verdict of murder
but he was never sentenced On th,
calender Of prisoners was an entry
"James McClausland, convicted Of mur
der, and under this record, he was bel,
in PRISON until hi death, more thar
thirty years, / believe. ] converse,
with him several times, and he Away
told the same story. He answered al
questions readily, and without excite
ment. / asked him If he was not soI
ry be had killed the woman. He said
no; he was commanded to do it and hi
sins were forgiven. ] asked him if Ii
would do the same thing agai
if he were out of Jail. IL
said, no there would be no occa
sion for it. | said, "But suppos
you should receive another similar con
mand, would you obey i'll" He al
swered, 30, / shouldn't receive anothe
command; my sins are forgiven" II
was always grave and serious. / neye
saw him smile, but he had nc tinge 4
melancholy or depression. He neve
indicated wish to he liberated, no
made complaint of his treatment b
the jailer. He seemed perfectly satii
fed with himself and his condition.
was told that woman on seeing hiT
burst into tears. He said to her, "Goo
woman, don't cry for me, but for you
self and your children. | am bette
off than you are. He had ilo anxiet
for the present or the future. He sal
once to me, II am as happy iIsthe arm
of the Saviour as an infant child in tn
arms of its mother" l think he neve
had doubt that the burning of th
church and the killing of the woma
were meritorius acts, in obedience to a
! express command from Heaven, an
. that his sins were thereby expiated an
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