The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-06-10
AN EARLY HANGING.
An Entertaining Romance of Long Time
Ago in Pennsylvania.


In Somerset, Pa, there is an unmark-
ed mound in the old graveyard on the
hill. 1t was the last part of the place to
fill up with graves, as if the people who
laid their dead down there stunned
leaving them close to the murderer's
last resting place. 1t was pointed out
to the strangers and children with the
words: The Frenchman lies buried
there, the first man ever hung in Somer-
set county"
One day in December, 1915, when the
snow lay several feet deep upon the
ground, and the pines bent under their
heavy white load at a long, low, wood
en- tavern on the summit of the Allie
ghenies there stopped a sleigh contain
ing two gentlemen, who alighted, went
| in, and asked refreshment for them
selves and their horse. They spoke very
broken English, said they had not long
been in this country, and were travelling
for pleasure. The countrymen lounging
about stared at them, because they did
not often see such guests at Statler's
tavern. They were handsomely dressed
| in the fashion of the day. The elder
| was tall, large. fine-looking, with Jet
black hair and eyes. The younger was
pale, slight, intellectual in appearance,
with large, soft, brown eyes and chest
nut hair.
Among the crowd of idlers and drink
ers at the tavern was drover who took
a drop too much and Dragged of the
| fine sales he had made of his cattle in
| Cumberland, from where he was just
now returning with his money in his
pocket. The drover rode away on his
white horse little while before dusk for
his home, some miles off The French
men soon after inquired where the next
good stopping place was to be found,
ordered their horse and sleigh, and
drove in the track of the drover, saying
they were in haste to reach certain
place by the next day. That night the
drover's waiting wife saw his horse come
home without his master, with his
white coat spotted with blood stains.
The drover's body was found next
morning stiff and stark, with bullet
through his brain. shot from behind.
The neighborhood was reused. The
Frenchmen were at once suspected
and pursued. They were found at a
public house some distance on, sitting
quietly in Il room in the second story.
When they suddenly became aware that
there was an excited mob of country
men, after them they were too much
excited and frightened to use the little
English they knew, and could only ges-
ticulate and chatter in their native
tongue. which was all lost on the Doors
of Somerset county.
At length, being too hard pressed, one
of them jumped from the back window
of the room. 1t was the big one. The
little one tried to follow, but was caught
by the clothes by burly Dutchman,
and held for moment, suspended out
side. Someone was going to shoot him
for below, but the Dutchman said that
he would attend to the little one, and
that those below should look after the
big one He was answered by rifle
shot, and the big one, who had beer
trying to run through the deep snow, fel
dead The little one was taken to Som
erset, tried, and found guilty of the
drover's murder. The money which the
} drover had carried upon his person wa'
never found. 1t was supposed by many
that the Frenchmen had thrown it int
the fire when they found they were go
!, ing to be mobbed. The pale youns
gentleman protested his innocence; salt
!; he had influential friends and family IL
his own country, to whom the authori
ties here would have to answer for thei
treatment of him. He persisted to tn
last in his declaration that he and hi
dead companion de voyage had passet
, the drover on the road and parted witt
, him in quiet and friendly manner. ii
: demonstrated violently when the official
, came to put him into cart with rud
pine coffin and take him out to b
hanged, and tried to break the coffin +
pieces. He wore about him a minia
ture, set with pearls, of a lovely girl
He gave his name as Noel Huguel.
Many wondered if that girl did no
!; wait and watch and pine in France fol
, her beautiful lover, who was hanged by
:, the neck until he was dead in the far of
, mountains of Pennsylvania. Many
:, thought him victim of circumstantia
, evidence. that the drover's murdere
: escaped scot-free with the money, an,
that Noel Huguel was an innocent man
, His mysterious disappearance was neve
accounted for to his friends in France
He was refused the privilege of writin!
to them after he was arrested.
Many years after the hanging a part
. of young men were discussing Noe
q Huguel. and there was some disput
+ about where he was buried. Then AM
I there, at the dead hour of the night
, they went to the graveyard, dug hin
. | up, and found his bones. One of tn
. young men aforesaid was Jeremiah
: Black,-PhiIadelphi Press.
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