Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-14

pef1ng voices organized drum head
cnurt-martlal. The colonel presented
the name of the suspect and then his
proofs. In the ballot that followed each
Of the six voted guilty" Now said
the colonel, this nota farce. We must
vote sentence, and then we must ex-
,,ecute it, VERY well, said the next
sIsvote Tor death. The wretch deserves
it" SO do T. said the next, and SO On
down to the sixth-a Pennsylvania ma
jor. He knew the culprit, a Pennsyl-
yanian like himself, better than the
rest. He knew that he was quite ca
naole OF the crime charged against him.
He had no doubt of his guilt. He want
ed to see him punished. He said all
this to the other members of the court,
and then he added: "But you know we
are not a legal court-martial. We have
no authority to act-certainly no author
lty to kill. We may sift the evidence
presented against man for our own
satisfaction, but we cannot sentence.
much less kill him. The most we can
do is to prefer charges against him in
the war department. ''We can't kill him.
Suddenly interrupting himself, he
said; Colonel, what's that in your
hand:" The rope" said the colonel
grlmly;. Give been plating it as we
talked, and he passed it around. He
had taken an old shirt, torn into mar
row stri ps, and woven il into something
that looked like rope, "Now, major"
he said. when it was handed back to
him, "What you have said is all very
we'll. 1t does credit to your hearts we'll
as to your head, but you're out-voted:
the majority is against you. The SEN
tence of the court is that the scoundrel
shall die, and die he will this minute,
for III kill him myself. "Come, cap
tain" he said to the brawny
tie the rascal" "Why, YOU wouldn't
strange him in his sleep, would you?"
asked the major, also on his feet as the
others moved toward the sleeping form
OF the traitor. "Certainly," whispered
the colonel, why not? He can't pray,
and we can't have any noise" "You
never WILL" said the major, firmly. get
ting IN front of the colonel; Il won't let
you--you'll have to kill me frst-I won't
stand by. and see you stain your honest
hands with his dishonest blood in such
way as that. Why man it would be
murder. You would be q murderer. 7
won't permit it," Gliding softly before
the rest, he reached the sleeping man,
and sat down beside his head There he
sat till the gray morning came stealing in
through the chilly atmosphere. Long
before that time the colonel and his COM
panions, baffled and disguised, had stol-
en- away to their sleeping places, carry
ing the plated rope with them. AS soon
as the major could see the traitors face
in the dim light of the dawn, he walked
him and told him all that
had occurred. "Now, sir" he said
sternly, II saved your life last night, al
though believed you worthy OF death.
| won't do it again. ] saved your life
for my sake, not for yours. My advice
to you is that as soon as the guard comes
in for roll-call you get out of Libby, and
as soon as you get to Washington get
ont Of the army. Ifyou're in the army
when I get out. I'll prefer charges
against you, and if [ meet you IN kill
you" Trembling with excitement, the
wretch, without word of denial or pal
lIation, got up, and as soon as the guard
came in got out. The stalwart six tor
warded charges against him from Libby.
When they got out of prison they found
him out Of the army, so they dropped
the matter. The traitor is in the army
now, reinstated by act of congress, be-
lleve; but the major who promised to
kill him On sight is under the green sod
Of the prairie. Still, the colonel would
make things lively for the traitor if they
met fa1e to face.