Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-11-06
MONTGOMERY PEEL.

/ shall never forget the first time
ever saw Montgomery Peel. He was as
a justice Of the peace presiding at the
| preliminary trial of Andrew Brukemore,
charged with the murder Of David G.
Cahoon / was mere boy at the time,
but remember that Montgomery Peel
made profound impression on me. and
/ also recollect that when my father, in
answer to question, said that justice
Of the peace was not a high officer,
wondered why Peel had taken the peace;
wondered why he had not declared him
self governor of the state. He was
very tall man, with black, inquiring
eyes and a great growth of dark brown
whiskers. He presided as my ideal of
dignity his voice was penetrating and
his questions were to the point. Attirst
every one appeared to think that Andrew
Brukemore was surely the murderer of
David G. Cahoon, but as the examina-
ton proceeded, as the justice threw the
soft lightof apparent innocence upon the
dark complexion Of seeming guilt, it was
plainly seen that the prisoner would not
be held TO await the action 0f the grand
jury.
Gentlemen" said Montgomery Peel,
arising and addressing the assembly, Il
have attempted to look with the eye Of
calmness and wisdom into this case. |
have blunted my ears to the whisperings
Of prejudice, and within myself I have
quieted every impulse that sought to
jump toward hasty conclusion. AT
first the evidence was bold against the
man, but what at first seemed TO be
wall Of evidence now proves to be a fog
OF deception. Andrew Brukemore," he
continued, turning majestically TO the
prisoner. there are times, sir, when we
are all called upon to face the trials Of
dark severity. You have faced yours,
and now step aside without stain upon
your garments. Gentlemen, it is my
desire that You all shake hands with Mr..
Brukemore.n
The scene was affecting. 1t that quiet
Virginia community murder was of rare
occurrence Indeed many old men who
We're present had never before seen a
prisoner held under so grave a charge.
Every one pressed forward and shook
hands with Brukemore, and | remember
hearing red headed. freckled faced boy
say:
II reckon the folks air cryin', pap,
cause they air sorry they amt goin' to
hang him"
This trial seemed to make different
man Of Montgomery Peel, for he attend
ed church more regularly, and when his
term Of Office expired he did not an
nornce himself as candidate for re-
election.
One day, several years later, father
and were riding through the woods
when we came upon Montgomery Peel
cutting down a tree.
why. what are you doing here:~ my
father asked. you are surely not chop
ping firewood this hot weather
mo" said the giant-and he was in
deed giant--''I am going to build
house.
s'What, build house away out here?n
eyes, for the house l am going TO
build would be out Of place anywhere
except in the quiet woods; I am going
to build a church.
ut will take q strong preacher, Peel,
to draw congregation away up here"
IF the size of the congregation de-
pends upon the strength Of the preacher
it is likely to be small. for am to be the
preacher"
You are joking
Did you ever know me to joker he
asked, standing with one hand resting
on the tree and gazing earnestly at my
father.
81 don't know that | ever did, Peel,
but can hardly believe that man of
your bright prospects could content him
self with preaching in this lonely place
Why, there is not a house within three
miles
"Peter sometimes preached many
miles distant from any house, yet thou
sands Of people went to hear him"
eyes, that is true; but Peter pro-
claimed a new and interesting gospel,
while you can only hope TO follow in a
well worn path"
He gazed intently at my father and
thus answered:
ssWe have seen path that was worn,
and then we have seen it deserted; have
seen the grass and weeds grow where
the ground was once made smooth and
bare by many feet.
True enough. Peel. And now let me
say that if you are in earnest l hope that
you may be instrumental in drawing
thousands from the wickedness of the
world"
81 dare not hope to draw thousands"
said he. II dare not picture to my mind
O multitude hocking to hear me; but !
will dare hope to draw one soul away
from an awaiting destruction, and if |
do even that much l shall feel that my
church has been built to some purpose"
AS we rode along my father was silent
for some time, and then, rs though
speaking to himself, said:
The poor fellow has lost his mind
The report that Montgomery Peel was
building church far away in the
woods naturally awakened great interest
in the community. Many Of the men
declared that he must have lost his mind,
but the women, with that hopeful SYM
pathy which ever expects good result
from an ostensibly pious action, ayerTed
that he was appointed to bring about a
great reformation. Wives persuaded
.heir husbands to assist in building the
cnurCn. ana mus alueu t-eel was soon
ready to deliver his first sermon. Itwas
ON Sunday, warm, bright and beauti-
full, that hundreds Of people focked to
see him. remember hearing one man,
a fxr,4inoI falrorr- ..n,,,a.I-
''Oh, he has gone off this way for ef-
feet. He knows that if he had gone into
a regular church nobody wonld pay any
attention to him. He always was a
sort of theatrical fellow, anyway.
why do you call him theatrical
fellow" the mans wife spoke up. 81
am sure that never heard of his going
to theatre"
Mary Ann. you don't Know what you
are talking about
II know enough not to talk about
man that is trying to do good in the
world.
Good III the world." her husband
contemptuously repeated. "There'sa alto
gether too much talk these days about
men doing good in the world. Ii a man
wants to do good, why don't he plant
something and raise stuff for the people
to eats'
1T Is Quite as innnrtant to take care