The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-04-10
Joseph Kendall's Brother
BY ARTHUR MERRICK.

There was snow storm on the morn
ing of the day fixed for the execution Of
Jonas Toms. who had been convicted of
the murder of the old farmer, Joseph
Kendall. The down train on the branch
from W TO the county seat had come
through without great difficulty, and the
up-train-with lead of morbidly-curi-
Gus men, whp had taken passage for the
purpose OF witnessing the hanginS-was
at last reported as having reached the
county seat So the road was open, and
if the snow did not drift into the cuts,
there would be no need Of sending out
the snow plow.
Jonas Toms was looking through the
gratirs of his cell when the whistle of
the up-train reached him, and, for half
hour. he waited expectantly, hope not
failing him until the Sheriff came to the
cell door and shook hands with him in
silence.
ssShe did not Gomez" the condemned
said, desparingly.
s'No. She was not on the train, but
there are two hours yet and / have put n
deputy at the telegraph office with orders
to run here at once with any message. ]"
"You arc very kind, Sheriff." Jonas
faltered and turned away from the grated
door.
''It wouldn't be human not to try to
make an ugly job like this as easy as
possible," muttered the Sheriff, land
never was sure Jonas was guilty, though
he couldn't prove he wasn't"
The Sheriffs opinion of the case was
shared by great many citizens of the
county of--and they had signed petit
tion to the Governor for respite for the
prisoner, and communication Of his SEN
tence, if the Governor could not see his
way clear to grant pardon. With this
petition Mrs. Jonas Toms had gone to the
capital to make use Of it in pleading for
her husbands life. That morning the
prisoner had looked for her return with
definite information concerning him
whether he was to die or not. As no
word had been received from her, he
was not hopeful, and he had really ex-
pecte6 her to come back t0 him only for
final leave taking.
Yet, when the Sheriff spoke of the
telegraph, hope asserted itself again and
Jonas was buoyed with imagining his
devoted wife wrestling still the Governor
and refusing to abandon the struggle for
her husband until it was useless to plead
longer.
And while the condemned was thus
catching at Il straw, and his heart was
overhowing with love and gratitude to
his devoted, tireless wife, the deputy left
the telegraph Office and FASTENED to the
Jail. The Sheriff seeing him coming,
ran to meet him but paused abruptly
when he could see clearly his subordi-
mates face.
'The operator can't git X" said
the deputy. "The wire must be down y
The Sheriff groaned and trembled as if
shaken by strong wind. $50 back, y
be said, "go back and wait, for if there's
word to come it will get here"
The Sheriff spoke as if he expected Il
miracle to be wrought to deliver him
from the awful legal duty of taking a
mans life to satisfy the vengeance of the
law, but yet he, having once more OBJ
tanned control of his nerves, walked firm
ly back to Jail, where he proceeded at
once to conclude the preparations for the
solemn act.
Meanwhile a crowd of men was surg
ing about the Jail entrance, and some
boys had climbed tree to look over the
wall at the scaffold. The deputy in
charge of the door admitted those who
had passes, and kept back the others,
who nevertheless clamored to be let in.
Those who were within the gates by per-
mission trampled the snow in the yard
and impatiently wished the Sheriff would
"hurry up" while the other prisoners in
- their cells were silent and curious and
glad.not glad because one who had
been with them in compulsory associa-
tion was to be hanged, but glad because
their crimes were not so heinous as his D.;
and they all vowed to reform lest they,
too, should end on the gallows.
DuJ dI A. lut OptlaIOi
was frantic. He had called the operator
at the county seat and could not get reply
he was in despair and he thumped the
key. There before him lay message
from the Governor of the State.
''To the Sheriff of - County.
Respite OF ten days granted to Jonas
Toms
The telegram was signed by the Gov
ernor's Secretary, but apparently it was
as useless as if it had never been written
The county seat was thirty miles distant
and there was but an hour to get wore
of the respite to the Sheriff before il
would be forever too late.
A restless man stalked up and dowl
the long platform seemed to be wait
ing for a train and impatient because j
was delayed. He noticed the telegraph
operators agitation and made inquiry
cjncerning the cause. The operator
showed him message and the man
face blanched as he demanded tremul
ously.
"Why don't you send it,"
"I can't, 1 say, for the wire is no
working"
The man paused moment irresolutel,
and then said: "Give the message tc
me, seal it in an envelope with wax.
will take it to the Sheriff
Howl.
Ion that engine" He pointed to 10
comotive that was standing on a siding
with steam up, but was not manned
the engineer being at his home, and th'
f;reman having made trip to the rounC