Daily Republican., 1881-07-01
SOUNDS FROM THE TOM BS.
BY 4 NEW YORK REPORTER.

BY A NEW YORK REPORTER.
zone might easily fancy the gloomy
cells and corridors OF this old place peo-
pied by the spirits Of the thousands who
have suffered here in days gone By"
remarked, as | sat one morning with
Warden +. in his room. "How inany
unfortunates have, like the poor wretch
whose execution am 20 witness to-day
entered these walls never to leave them
alive. If We're ID superStitious man,
might imagine myself surrounded by
the phantom forms of the unhappy peo-
pie who eNpiatsd their crimes beneath
this roof
81 am not a believer in ghosts said
the warden, ''and am never troubled
with snperSLtiouS fears. But there are
some queer stories connected with the
old place. The spirits of one or two
people who were executed here are said
to occasionally walk the corridors: but
can't say that | ever saw them, and
don't take murn stock in the stories.
But tn re was one strange occurrence
here q couple of years ago. I'll tell
you about it if You like
"Go on, warden; YOU have aroused
my curiosity
"iuu remember a prisoner named
Randolph Willnore whom we had here
about two years ago-a young man who
was arrested Tor killing a man in a
saloon on Broadway 2"
"Oh,y yes, remember him distinctly -
"WelI, when he was brought here he
was very much intoxicated and refused
to give his name or residence. He was
a tine-looking young fellow, but had
evidently been leading hard life.
Dissipation had left its marks upon
him. His eyes were bloodshot, hls
features thin and haggard: his hands
trembled like those of II paralytic.
"a few hours after his arrival here
he sent for me, saying that he had
something of Importance to ccmmuni-
cate to me. Curious to know what he
could have to disclose went to him at
once.
"'Don't you know me, Mr.. F.? he
asked, as | entered his cell.
" My name is Randolph Wilmore.
" Randolph Wilmore!'
Don't you remember me now"
am the son Of yonr old friend Lawrence
Wilmore,'
"LawSence WilmOre and | had been
school-boys together, and our friend
ship had continued firm and steadf;lst
until the day of his death, about year
before the time Of which | am telling
you? Perhaps you know Wilmore:. No.
He was Il prosperous downtown mer-
chant, and as fine a fellow as | ever
knew.
"T recognize you now I said.
although it is many years since we
have met. l heard report of your
death recently. which l supposed to be
true.
Such a report was circulated the
young man replied; but, as you see, it
was a false one. All. Mr.. F., since our
last meeting l have lost all that made
life worth the living; have drained the
cup of misery to the dregs. You know
my story; you have heard how, after re-
peated efforts to reclaim me from the
evil ways into which had fallen, nv
father disowned me-bale me leave his
house and never return. ! have heard
that after my deI arturo he never allow
ed my name TO be mentioned in his
presence, and know that he made
will, disinheriting me. DO not think
that | blame him. | decerved it all. [
disgrace his name, and, therefore, for
ttited all claims to his consideration.
"'But | assure you, said, touched |
BY bis evident cOntrition, that upon
MS death bed your father regretted his
larshness. He expressed u desire TO
see you; and would, l doubt not, have
destroyed the will in which you were
had he lived a few hour
0nger. |
81 expected no mercy, no pity said /
he young man, and deserved none.
5u. am OBTAINING you too long, Mr..
:. sent for you because | wished TO
ell sou my story in few words, and
o ask you to execute for me few CON.
MISSIONS which could entrust tc no
ne hut an old friend Of the family like
ourself.
"'All my mistorrunes. sir, l owe to
mar--nay, Il tjenl ncarnate-who.
nder the gnisc OF friendship, led me
II until TO retracc my steps had become
"'Four years ago loved Alice Traf
IN, and was beloved in return. She
'as as beautiful and as pure us an an
el. Robert Thorne, the false friend of ,
rhom have spoken, loved her too,
lough his passion was suspected nei. >,
Ter by Alice nor myself. He swore ,
rat he would separate us, and he kept ,
is o,th. He induced me to believe
lat she was false to me, he poisoned
sr mind against me. Our engagement j,
as broken, each being convinced of +
le others perfidy. Iplunged into dis +
patioA to drown my misery. Thorne n
as constantly by my side, and led me a
I, on, uHti, l was lost beyond recovery,
ntil nAy t>rmer friends deserted me =
III my father turned me from his T.
lUr. II,
"'You will recollect that a short time !
ter | left my fathers house l disap- !.
Jared from the .itr. went to Europe d
here I live'i-tic"Non only knows n
,w-until /. few weeks ago. Then l II
armed that Thorne had deceived me, r
at the stories he had told me Of Alice "
ere lies. l immediately sailed for
meriGa, determined to hunt down the