The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-15

but repeat that never saw you be.
fore in my life
"'What! Not know John William:
of the Neptune? The coxswain of the
Captains cutter?'
s.'Yes, know John Williams; but
you are not he; joan Williams was ID
smartest man that ever served under
me, and never likely to stand where
you are now
Captain replied the prisoner. 4
tell you | am John Williams. a long
illness, hard bout of drinking, aud
this cursed imprisonment have made
me what am. And will prove it il
you will only listen
1.-The sensation caused by this dalogu,
was immense. The Jud ge and mem
bers of the bar and the spectators were
equally astonished at the curious turn
the affair had taken, and, though be-
lieving the man to be guilty of a des-
Derate deceit to save his life. were
eagerly awaiting what should come,
Captain continued the prisoner,
4 am accused of numbering man
here on June %, more than nine
months ago. Now, tell me, sir, was
not John WIlliams-our coxswain-in-
valided home from the West African
station on the last day of the mouth.
"'What the man says remarked
Captain Forsyth to the Judge, 'is per-
fcctly true. His Majesty's ship. the
Invincible, sailed with our invalid men
for England on June 30
fThe prisoner went on: yes, and [
arrived in England at the end of July,
weak and ill, and getting my little
money went and drank it all away.
And that is how it was that was
found at Bristol, where had gone for
another ship; and ever since then |
have been in this accursed Jail.
1.-The fellow is plausible enough
again remarked Captain Forsyth. He
is certainly about the height of Will
liams. Well, my mau, suppose YOU
can prove what you say?'
LAY, ay, Captain. Do you remem-
ber, on the 10th of June, giving orders
for night raid on the native town of
which we lay looking out for slnversP'
Eyes. do, to be sure
land we we're five boats in all
and the first to the beach was the
Captains cutter And the first man
W JUMP OuL " dS NOus N'dpl1ln
So Well, this is tie most eXtraordi-
nary thing ever heardr And turn
ing to the Judge the Captain said:
Every word of this poor fellows story
in true, My Lord. He may have
picked it up somewhere, hut can't
help beginning to think there's some
thing behind. My ship is still in foreign
service, and / have only returned to
take charge of another one
"'Well, go on, my man
Zone more word, captain, and
maybe you will believe me. As We
were fighting in the town, great
nigger came behind you with his ak
and would have cut you in half before
you saw him had not man rushed
between you and stopped him with
his cutlass; and yet not quite stopped
him, for that Internal nigger's AK
Slipped down the cutlass and gashea
the mans head open. Who was that
man, Captain?'
"'John Williams was the reply.
'the ooxswain of my cutter
LAY, ay, Captain. and here is the
cut which the ak made, and bending
down, he lifted with one hand the
long, untidy hair, and with the other
pointed to a huge and fearful scar
running for several inches along the
side of the head.
Captain Forsyth leaped from his
seat
".Good heavens, vou are right!
But how you have changed. NV Lord,
this poor fellow had not sailed from
the African coast when the murder
iS 81,
he could be guilty of it. Williams,
you saved my life; / thank God that l
+ we been able to save yours!'
''At those words everybody in the
court stood up and cheered the pris-
oner with the widest excitement and
enthusiasm; the Judge said that in
discharging him he must at the same
time compliment him OH his gallantry;
and the foreman of the jury then aud
there started n subscription for him
which came up to something near $50.
Captain Forsyth ordered a chaise to
take him post haste to London for the
purpose of removing Williams from a
place with such horrible associations,
and of getting him an appointment
from the admiralty. The people in
sisted on dragging the chaise out of
the town with their own hands, the
horses were then put to and amid
deafening cheers they drove otf-and
were never heard of again.
"Whv was that?' someone asked
as the Colonel paused.
Because it vas a hOaxW
"Whatp we all exclaimed. "a
noax?" We had listened breathlessly
to the tale, which the Colonel certain
ly told admirably, the perspiration
standing on his forehead as with hor-
rible reality he personated the des-
perate sailor.
Yes" he said. "a hoax. 1t was all
a preconeerted arrangement; the Cap
tain was merely a clever accomplice.
who played such parts for those of his
associates in crime who came near re-
ceiving their reward. THIS was prob
ably his biggest performance; but
though it answered well enough then,
in these days of telegraphic communi-
cation and multiplied navy lists it
would simply be impossible. .-Engtish
Magazine.