Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-12-18
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On that dark night Of tragedy, when
Dorothea Ingram strangled her babe and
the minister's house was struck by light
ming, a man, unknown to. any In the vii
lage, had arrived In Sagnauk. He
emerged from the woods just as the
thunderbolt fell and set the parsonage on
fire, and at the same time he saw, or
rounded with rosy Light In which duskY
demons danced.
Who this man was. or whence he came,
no one knew, and during the hurry Of
the day none thought to inquire. He
himself did not court inquiry, but after a
few questions disappeared without bear
ing the message with which he was
ment which followed Dorothea's arrest
no one missed him.
Dorothea had been led back to her
prison after the trial, and night Of
suspense was to be passed before the de-
cisien Of the Judges would be given.
They, with the Governor, retired from
the courtroom to q private Office and
were there consulting upon the verdict.
There is no doubt but that this woman
hath killed her child" said one of the
Puritan Judges, land the morning after
she was perfectly sane, as numerous wit
nesses testified"
"But," interrupted one OF his col
leagues, "who is to say when that in
sanity ended2
~Did she not appear sane the evening
before?"
Eyes" replied the Judge who had inter
posed in Dorothea's behalf; @she was
But this question of woman's sanity is a
difficult one in her case, and do not
feel quite clear that we should adjudge
her guilty"
"The Lord is merciful," here inter
posed the Governor, who before had said
nothing. "The Lord is merciful although
just, and we should strive to initiate him
in mercy as we'll as Justice
~But she bears the reputation of a
WITCH" urged the first Judge.
"Yea, she bears it. But what may
each Of US not bear in Gods sight But,
he continued, az am surprised to hear
such remark from you. Has she not
been cleared of that charger"
%Yea, but where there is so much
smoke there must be fire."
"You, then, are not willing to judge
this poor woman by the evidence. You
are not worthy to occupy the position
you hold, and l shall take steps to have
you removed as soon as possible. Now"
said the Governor to the other Judges,
eve must consider this case among our
selves, for viii not allow the gentleman
who has just spoken to join US. He is
prejudiced. This woman was cleared OF
the first charge-of witchcraft-and in
the evidence it was shown that she had
undergone long years Of persecution
enough to drive any one insane. But,
on the other hand, we have had contin-
usl evidence Of the goodness Of her
heart. Could such q woman as has been
pictured to you to-day kill her own
babe? I say no. The only point which
Is left for US to consider is whether she
was sane or not when she committed the
crime, for crime it was, however done.
She was sane during the day previous,
and sane the next morning. Could she
have been crazy during the night? Up
On this point the case rests. This point"
he added pressively-"could the
woman of so many virtues murder her
her goodness is to be believed, she could
not. If it is false, we may safely accuse
her of murder"
When the Governor ceased there was
silence for 8 moment, no one caring to
express an opinion hastily, and while
they were hesitating an officer knocked
at the door, and, being admitted, stated
that there was a special messenger from
the Crown who begged to be admitted
at once.
The words "The Crown" were an open
sesame, and with all haste the Governor
and Judges prepared to receive him.
The Wanderer Of the forest entered
"Your Excellency, Governor Of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,, and
ye, honorable Judges Of the State,
come to you with safe conduct from
King George Ill, by whom I was sent
upon q special but secret mission The
affair is important and I beg you TO hear
me at once"
The messenger from the King was
seated with all courtesy, and after mu-
tual salutations was invited to make
known his mission.
ITO explain what my work In the new
world is, +" he began, @allow me to give
you bit of history. Twenty-Five years
ago the only daughter of the Lord Of
CLANCY married a man far below her,
and together they emigrated to America
| She was at once disowned by her family.
Recently the old Lord Of Clancy died,
and his title and estate is left entail to
this daughter. The man she married
was not a bad man, but one, If 1 may say
1t, a little too rough in speech to suit his
elders His name was Hillary. and we
have traced him to Boston and then to a
little settlement called Sagnauck- I fol-
lowed my trail TO that place and there