Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-05
/ never saw him before in

oner, ives, you needn't start, l know
YOU. Captain Forsyth. You are never
going to swear away an innocent
mans life like thatP'
's'It is curious, my man, the Cap
tain replied, that you know my name;
but repeat that | never saw you be-
fore in my life.
...What! Not know John Williams
of the Neptune? The coXswain of the
| Captains cutter?
.s.Yes. know John Williams; but
you are not he; john Williams was the
! snlartest man that ever served under
me, and never likely to stand where
! YOU are now
"'Captain, replied the prisoner, i
tell you | am John Williams. A long
illness, hard bout of drinking, and
this cursed Imprisonment have made
me what am. And | will prove it if
you Will only listen
1.-THE sensation caused by this dialogue
was immense. The Judge 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 des
perate deceit to save his life, were
eagerly awaiting what should come.
Captain continued the prisoner,
Il am accused of numbering a 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 month";
"'What the man says remarked
Captain Forsyth to the Judge, SIS per-
! fectly true. His Majestys ship, the
Invincible, sailed with our invalid men
for England on June so
''The prisoner went on: Yes, and |
arrived in England at the end of July,
weak and i'll, 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 man, suppose you
can prove what you say?'
'Ay, ay, Captain. Do you remem-
Der, on the 10th of June, giving orders
for night raid on the native town off
which We lay looking out for slayers?
eyes, do, to be sure
"'And we were five boats in all
and the first to the beach was the
Captains cutter. And the first man
to jump out was you, Captain
:" Well, this is the most extraQrdi-
nary thing l ever heard!' 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, but 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
We'll, go on, my man.
"'One more word, captain, and
maybe you will believe me. As we
were fighting in the town, a great
niger 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 gashed
the mans head open. Who was that
man, Captain?'
"'John Williams was the reply,
the coxswain of my CUTTER
cay, 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, you are right!
But how you have changed. My Lord,
this poor fellow had not sailed from
the African coast when the murder
was committed; it is impossible that
he could be guilty of it. Williams,
you saved my life; | thank God that |
| have been able to save yoursr'
''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 on his gallantry;
and the foreman of the jury then and
there started subscription for him
which came up to something near ESQ.
Captain Forsyth ordered a chaise to
take him post Taste 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 off-and
were never heard of again.
''Why was that?' someone asked
as the Colonel paused.
Because it was Il hoax"
"What!" we all exclaimed. "a
hoax?" We had listened breathlcSsly
to the tale, which the Colonel certain.
ly told admirably, the Precipitation
standing on his forehead as with flor-
rible reality he personated the des-
perate sailor.
| Yes" he said, "a hoax. 1t was all
preconcerted arrangement; the Cap
tain was merely clever accomplish,
who played such parts for those of his
associates in crime who came near re-
eeiving 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.-English
| Magazine.