The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1880-09-30


without word Of explanation from us,
and conveyed to Jail
They made desperate resistance, and
were at first assisted by some of their
shlpmates, who were soon however, re-
strained by the landlord, whose assur-
ance that justice should be done was
enough for them.
we put the men in separate cells, al
lowed not word to be said to them, and
meanwhile | related my suspicious and
the plan proposed for their detection;
and on the following day it was approved
| and adopted, and at night put into exc
cution.
In the course of the day we visited
them, and to the inquiries us to why they
were arrested, we answered that it was
tor theft committed on the preceding day.
This was intended to lull their suspicious
OF the truth, and prevent, if possible, any
| premedltated defence against the charge
of murder.
| dld 50, and the men, relieved of their
| chief anxiety, laughed, cursed, danced
and sang all day in their cells, confident
that they would be able to establish their
innocence Of the supposed charge.
One Of the two, We discovered in the
course Of a carefully worded converse
ton, was of a nervous and superstitious
nature, and upon him we fixed as the in
strumcnt for the success of our stratagem.
Vt night he was taken from his cell.
gagged, and blindtolded, in silence placed
in carriage, and conveyed To the store
where the murder had been done over,
three years before.
Some dozen in all. officers and others
were present, the affair being kept secret
from the public. When the door was
closed the banda5c was removed from
the mans ewes, and he found himself. to
his Wnconccaled horror and disappoint-
mcnt, IN the presence Of the stern and
solemn assembly in that fatal store
never saw rtmorse and alright SO vyidly
depicted as in his CLASSY ewes and ashy
complexion. ana when the gae was re-
moved from His mouth he fell upon his
knees, and exclaimed:
"Oh. sirs What are YOU going to DO
with me m
"Stand up," said the gray haired at-
torney Who had come With us. The man
humbly obeycd. though his knees trem-
Died, and two Of us supported him. while
the faint light Of two lanterns revealed
the agonzed workings Of his soul in his
features.
"Cntortunate man" said the attorney,
''Wc have brought You hither by night,
to place you face to face with the man
YOU murdered in this store more than
three wears u.u"
II did not murder him, it was
silence" interrupted the attorney.
"You We're engaged in this bloody bust
ness, ana YOU vaimly Thought that the
| Judgment ol God would not overtakr YOU,
because the eve of man had not seen YOU.
and YOU ami YOUR companion had fed or
4 three wears cruise But the blood Of
the murdered IL ever eloquent Their
spirits often rise from the dead to point
out the guilty.. And in this fearful case,
though su luug L period has elapsed. the
skeleton III John IIa.ner is about to con
front YOU and see if your eyes are able
to rest upon it while we bring other and
Overwhelming proofs against You, Look
there"
Those present stood from before the
guilty man. and he now saw upon the
\ floor, near where the murdered Iagnrr
had been found. something covered with
4 W White cloth. aS if a lead body or Il skel-
eton lay beneath.
"Shal Ne remove thc cloth 4 asked
one Of the officers.
The question was supcrtluous, for the
conscience stricken wretch covered his
face With Mis- hands, held his head down,
bent nearly double, and shrank back i'll
/ terror, screaming out
NO. no, don't don't do that. 1t is
\ true, helped to Kill him. gentlemen. but
! | didn't stab him. didn't It was Tom
| BoarSon who did that. | only beat him
4 about the face, and if the man was alive,
4 God knows hc goud suy 50 this minute
| Is IloIlIol' 10 nc mere axe Ile ndck, y
4 ,nt1,- ns n ,y,. I,t l,,,t p,,I.o .,,., InnI-
L, '''' '''
I dt-t"f"
/ llp wretch SluUUrrpU tnrOUrlOut his