The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-07-16
CONDEMNED 10 DEATH:
d story Of tEae British Service.
BY COULTER IsEtxrON.

BY COULTER IsTxrON.
~ Edward, 2 said the aged chaplain OF
crack cavalry regiment belonging to Il
"a British army, at the time stationed i'll
~ Scottish city, Edward, he repeated,
solemn tones. ssWithin five minutes w
j " viii benumbered among those who wer
Ny son, my son, pray to God for forgiy
ness, and in turn forgive and love tho
:. Whomyou may think are your enemies.
was standing near the condemne
{ When the words spoken by our aged spiri
ual adviser, as he gently placed his disel
gagged haud-the other holding the Boo
Of Common Prayer, from which he rea
the services for those about to die-upo
the young fellows shoulder.
f., Thecondcmned, his arms tied benin
him, that he might not do violence to hin
self, turned his handsome face and gran
head toward his spiritual friend, and, wit
a sorroWful expression in bis eyes, replied
in low, gentle voice:
<'Sir, have nothing to forgive now.
hold no man my enemy. | have strives
to do my duty to God and my regiment.
AIN innocent Of the knowledge Of crime. I
| have committed wrong, upon my homo
sls dying man, ! am unconscious Of it
All this, sir, is d dream from which | shal
presently awaken
"Edwald!'' exclaimed the reverend
gentleman, as he slowly withdrew his arm
from the prisoners shoulder, and placed i
! over5his surplice near his heart. The tone
in which he uttered the name WAS re.
prOachtul.
NJ II repeat it, sir; | am wholly and en-.
tircly innocent of the crime preferred" ("
The chaplain paused as if he were pom
derine the words Of the condemned. Then
raising his head suddenly, he asked:
'sHavc you any relative or friend in
| Itlgiand-tor | believe you are English
to whom you would have me convey a last
messagc?''
Edward smiled sadly, and gave, in low
and to me indistinguishable wortls-a mes
sage, it doubtless was-which | saw from
the expression on the face Of the minister
must have greatly astonished him.
81 am now ready to die," the young fell
low said, standing erect, and looking with
unquailing eyes upon his comrades, and
then slightly bowling to his superiors.
Thus far have called my comrade Ed
ward. He enlisted under the name of Ed
ward Jameson. He soon became popular
with his companions, and finally with the
regiment, and it was noticed that the Off
/ GERS treated him with more courtesy than
most of the men.
/ jameson was a splendid rider, 4 superior
I. .maTksman, an expert sWordsman, and his
! horse and person, aside from these acquire
ments, were always on inspection parades
spoken of as models that even the oldest
man in the command might follow with
profit.
When Edward jameson entered the ser
vice it was noticed that he was exceeding
ly downcast. 1t was not poverty nor want
of employment that induced him to join
lis, for it was remarked that he had on his
person costly gold watch, and diamond
studs and finger-rings, and his pockets
contained sovereigns and paper money to
4 considerable amount.
He was liberal to his comrades giving
them money to meet their pecuniary troub-
les, and when any of us fell sick and were
relegated by the regimental doctor to the
hospital, Corporal Jameson was sure to
buy the patient tempting delicacies, and
nurse him back to health when duly per-
mittcd.
Being popular ;ls a soldier, obeclient to
his officers kind to his comrades, strict i'll
his duties, and always sober, the question
may naturally be asked of what was his
crime: He had been tried by regiment
al colllt-llartial, and found guilty of the
charge Of attempting the life Of the Colon
el. This was sufficient to condemn him,
BUTT was noticed that Edward Jamesoi1
stood erect in the presence of his accuser,
who was the commander Of the regiment
and while he appeared to be listening to
the testimony his mind was really absorb
ed in thoughts that were foreign to the tri-
al. AS the evidence was purely circum-
Stantial, he merely smiled. He did not
deign To cross-question those who testified
against him-sone reluctantly, others with
eagerness, as if by so doing they would
gain tile favor Of the Colonel, who was u
man Of a cold, reversed nature.
Finally. when the accused was asked if
he had any thing III rebuttal to offer, he
answered promptly, that he did not consid-
er himself guilty Of any crime.
But" questioned the major, who was
the presiding officer, eve do not wish to
condemn amy one unheard. You have
proved yourself, my man, Il good, obedi-
ent, intelligent soldier, and there is little
doubt that i'll time you would have been
further promoted thar you have been #
you are innocent, for you know the com
manding officer may have been mistaken
as to identity, prove it, if possible. He
/
belief, not, mind yeu, that he is positive,
/ that sou are the man who murderously as
satlltetl him. BY the articles Of war, which
are the laws Of the soldier, 4 private OF
non-commissioned officer who strikes his
superior officer with intent TO MAIN or kill
him, even in time of peace, is worthy OF
/ death.
The accused listened attentivey and re-
speetfulIy TO the words of tile presiding Of
\ fieer. and then, after darling q quick, frey
! glance lit bis accuser, which all noticed, he
replied, III the simplest manner possible
II have nothing to say
The members of, the court looked at each
other with undisguised astonishment, and
upon comforting together. in tones that
were inaudible to those who were IN the
hall where it had assembled, ordered tht
place#to be cleared.
.accllscr and accused retired. and follow
inc them 1T il respectful distance were tbs
officers and soldiers of the regiment, moi
on duty,
At the expiration Of an hour the prisoner
was recalled, and order being restored
\ Major Titzclarence arose, and IN An I'm
steady voice said !:
Jameson, the court has fully consider
/ ed your ease. AS You have declined, al
though solicited to do 50, to bring before
us exculpatory or even explanatory eyi,
!, denee. we have been forced to regard yol
Ias having pleaded guilty to the charge pre-
N felretl--a most heinous. one, sir.
The Major paused a moment, AZ if desir