The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-04-24
AN EARLY HANGING.
An Entertaining Romance OF Long Time
Ago in Somerset County, Pa.

derer's last resting place. 1t was pointed
out to strangers and children with the
words: "The Frenchman lies buried
there, the first man even hung in Somer
set county,
One day i'll December, 1915, when the
ground and the pines bent under their
heavy white load, at "a long, low, wooden
| tavern on the summit of the Alleg heuies
there stopped sleigh containing two
gentlemen. who alighted went in and
asked refrcShment for themselves and
their horse. They spoke very broken
English, said they had not long been i'll
this country and were travelling Tor
pleasure. Fhe country men loun9ing
about stared at them, because they did
not often see such guests at otatler 5
tavern. They were har dsomely dressed
in the fashion of the day. Me elder
was tall, large, line looking, with jet
black hair and eyes. The younger was
pale, slight, intellectual in appearance,
with large, soft, brown eyes ard chest
nut hair.
Among the crowd of idlers and drink
q drop too much and Dragged of the fine
sales he had made of his cattle in Cum
berland, from VIII, re lie was Just now
returning with his money i'll hls peck t..
The drover rode away on his white horse
little while before dusk for his home
some miles off. The Frenchmen soon
after inquired where the next good stop
ping place was to be found. ordered their
horse and sleigh and drove III the track
of the drover. saying they were i'll haste
to reach IA certain place by the next day.
That nighC the dlover's waiting wife
saw his horse come home, without his
master, with his white coat spotted with
hood stains. The drover,s body was
Ionnd next morning stiff and stark, with
bullet through his brain, SHOT from
behind. The neigb borhoCd was ROUSE d.
The Frenchmen were at once suspected
and pursued. They we've found at ii
public house some distance on, sitting
quietly i'll 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 gesticulate
and chatter III their native tongue, VIII CHI
was all lost on the Doors Of Somerset
county.
At length, being too hard pressed, enc
of them jump d from the back Window
of the room. IL was the big one. The
little one tried to follow, but Was caught
by the clothes by a burly Dutchman and
held for moment, suspended outside.
Some one was going to shoot him from
below, but the Dutchnan 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 been trying to
run through the deep snow, fell dead.
The little one was taken to Somerset,
tried and found guilty of tie drover's
murder. The money which the drover
had carried upon his person was never
found. 1t was supposed by many that
the Frcnchmen had thrown ii into the
fire when they found they were going to
be mobbed. The pale young gentleman
protested his Innocence, said he had ill.,
fuential friends and family in his own
country, to whom the authorities here
would have to answer for their treat
ment of him. lie persisted To the last in
the declaration that he and his dead
compa guop de voyage han passed the
drover on the road aud pared with him
III quiet and friendly MANNER He Ie-
monstrated violently when the officials
came to PIT him into cant with a lude
pine coffin and take him out To be
hanged, and tried IL break the {, fin to
pieces. He Wore abuu. him IA ,ni..i riuit,
set with pearls, OF a low, ~ .ii. He gave
his name as Noel HusueI
Many wondered if that sill lI not
wait and watch and pine III Farce for
her beautiful lover, who was hanged by
the neck until lie was dead in the far-ot1
mountains of Pennsylvania. Many
thought him victim of cilcumstantal
evidence, that the drovcr's murderer es-
capped scot free with the money and that
Noel lIuguel Was an innocent man, his
mysterious disappearance never ac-
counted for to his friends in France. He
was refused the privilege of writing to
them after he was arrested.
Many years alter the hanging 4 arty
of Dung men were discussing Noel HUI
guel and there was some dispute out |
where he was buried Then and there,
at the dead hour of the night, they went |
to the graveyard, dug him up and found
his bones. One of the young men afore
said was jeremiah s. Black.
MANY persons have catarrh in its first stages
naAI h..f 81,