The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-07-14

Dadso, defantly; and, seeing door open,
he made q dart towards it, ran down some
stairs and found himself in one Of the air d
i2g yards.
By this time the whole prison was in
state Of commotion. Some prisoners who
had heard the noise, and guessed what was
up, were humping at their doors in the
widest state Of excitement and uttering
fearful blasphemles go it, Dadso!'
Don't give in to the blokes" ''Crack
MaEwood's - head for him?' &c. Mean
while relays of twarders had hurried up
from all the other wards and soon dozen
Of them streamed out into the yard in pur-
suit Of the murderer. Dadso, flying across
the gravel like a hunted animal, had espied
a ladder in the corner of the yard, and,
lifting it with superhuman strength, he
planted it against wall.
But there happened to be in the yard q
prisoner who was at work, raking the alleys.
sneaking, at-headed fellow he was, look
ing Infamous in his parti- colored gaol garb.
This man perceived that a prisoner was
trying to escape, and wishing to curry favor
with the authorities, he made haste to fol-
low Dadso, and just as the latter was about
to scale the ladder dealt him crushing
blow on the back of the head with his rake.
Dadso fell back with moan, stunned, and
rolled to the ground.
Now, seize him quicklyp' cried the agi-
tated governor, who had followed the
warders into the yard. his orders were
promptly obeyed, and a dozen men, hold
ing Dadso by the arms and legs, carried
him with all possible despatch into the
prison.
Nov look sharp; bring him along here!
" 5osko s~:@ I,
man, who had been skulking out of harms
reach like cat. And nimbly he led the
way through another door into the yard
where the gallows stood.
The gibbet was permanent construction,
erected under she'd; it's floor was level
with the ground. From it's black cross
beam rope dangled. Springing on to the
trap, the hangman caught hold of the moose,
opened it wide like horse collar, and
screamed, Nov, quick, run his head in
there" In trice Dadso's neck was in the
sGp-not.
Just at that moment, however, the doomed
man had recovered consciousness, and see-
ing where he was abruptly struck out with
his fists andfeet. Two warders closed with
him, embracing him with their whole might,
and the hangman, madly impatient to get
the whole thing over, drew the bolt before
the warders we're clear of the trap. Down
it went with an awful thud, and the three
men with it, to depth of eight feet-such
a shock that the rope snapped off short near
| the beam, and the three men, after a mo-
| mentary rebound, rolled pell-mell together
on the floor of the pit three feet lower.
But Martin Dadso was dead. The weight
of the two men cinging to his body had
trebled the force of the drop and his neck
had been violently dislocated. ~
| - 80 Sc soIo
painted the hangman, addressing the two
bodies. -
How lucky that no reporters were pres
ent!'' exclaimed Captain Brisby. ave
should have had CHASTITY accounts of this
affair in the papers. As it is (and he
looked Significantly at the warders) trust
that nothing of the matter will transpire."
1t was about two years after the foregoing
events that the Rev. Mr.. Twettle was called
to attend vagabond who was dying in the
prison infrmary. The man had been SEN
to six weeks for vagrancy. but he was in
the last stage of consumption. and SO lin
gered IN prison after his term was out.
Having heard that his last days had come,
he sent for the chaplain, and confessed
to him that he was guilty Of the crime for
which Martin Dasdo had suffered. z,
IT was lynn behind hedge, said he,
stand saw Mr.. Pullen strike Mr.. Dadso, and
then Mr.. Dadso gave Nh. Pullen a licken.
AS Mr.. Pullen hobbled away, lookin' sick
and daft like, I thought their nd be good
chance O. Robin him, so ran arter him
in him than thought. 50 fearin'I should
pet ten years and foggin' for robbery with
violence, put knife into him. just then
I heard some gallopin' down the road
which guv me fright, SO cut off without
having had time to rob the man of q pen
ny-more fool t.
Good gracious, why didn't you reveal all
this before?" asked MI. Twettle, as if he
were putting the most natural question.
} Il didn't want to be swagged, did 1?'
drawled the dying vagabond with leer.
But now I'm agoin', yer may tell my story
if yer like. "
, The vagrant died that same night, and
Mr.. Twettle, after full reflection, decided
he would keep the story to himself. He
was cautious gentleman, who hated
trouble, and he foresaw that this narrative,
if divulged, would give him trouble. Per-
!, haps he would be accused of having invent
: ed it. In any case the authorities would
not thank him for laying the blood of az
innocently executed man at their door
, Besides, what was there to show that this
confession was true One2
So the reverend gentleman held his
peace. Yet sometimes such conscience al
he possessed had twinges; and Mr.. Twettlt
V avoided passing through the yard where
!, executed men were buried, and where, OF
, small white stone let into brick wall, h
8 might have read the inscription: an. D.
1875" which formed Dadso's epitaph.-
i London Truth.
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: The New Version Excluded from tn