Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-02-21


declared that, ia his opinion, the crime
was not only committed, but that 1t was
premeditatsd. The course of Justice IN
this case is swift enough. The murder
was done on the night Of Sept. 3; the
accused was arrested on the next day,
and lodged IN Chelmsford Jail; he has
been indicted, and viii be tried at the
Essex Assizss on the first of NoYembe
Mr.. Bright resumed his narrative.
Il dropped the newspaper and stared
at the Captain. For the murder of
Robert BarnWellF I repeated. at the
Red Lion Inn-On the Essex coast-On
the night Of September thirdi The Lord
be merCifui to US, Captain AtWell-but
what craZiness is this?'
It's an awful mistaken groaned the
Captain. There isn't a bigger-hearted
officer ahOat than our Captain Atweli, Of
the Hero, may tell you-thOugh he does
bear the name of a matinet, and a tartar
on discipline. a man who is perfectly
innocent Of any crime, and an officer in
his Majesty's land forces at thati-is
very likely to be hung for my acts.
And mine too, sir, I Ventured.
No; the responsibility is with me.
You acted under orders; you did what
you were commanded to do, and when
you had explained everything to me, I
approved. Now, Mr. Bright, there's
work cut out here for usi That officer
shall not die if I can save him-and
can. I'm going straight to the Admiral
with the whole story. The supply ship
goes back in three days. am going to
have YOU ordered to London to produce a
true account of this wretched affair,
drawn up and signed by me, and in
dorsed by the Admiral. If they want any
/ thing more, you can give all the testl-
mOny needed. VIII It do you saY?
! III obey orders, of course. And in
] this case I'll strain every nerve.
~ Il rl-aT-r
/ You'll be too late for the trial; but if
/ they convict the poor fellow, you'll be in
! time to save him
Captain Atweu ordered out his launch
/ and visited the Fl gship that afternoon.
! He was back in the evening with a big
| envelope from the Admiral, directed to
! the Home Secretary, and an order for
! AbsalOm Bright, bOatswain Of the Hero,
/ to proceed on duty to London.
! The Captain got me three months ad-
! vance pay, told me I should have duty
| pay besides, and gave me some final in
! structiOns:
Get to London as soon as you can
! go to the Home Secretary's Office, in
! Downing street; make them admit you
day or night! Don't be turned away Of
/ put off for a moment; get in there, and
! give the AdmiraPs letter to the Secreta-
~, in person. VIII you do this, Mr.
!" 7TI be id if 7 don't, sirP I said
| And Captain AtWeu laughed, and was
satisfied.
"The supply ship sailed, and I will
her. A tedious time we had getting tt
| Portsmouth,
First, We were chased by a French pri
| vateer, and had to take the wind and g
/ out on the broad Atlantic to escape her
| When we had thrown her off we were 81
far from our course that it took days anC
nights to get back. Then came all kind
of head-Winds and battling winds. T,
make a long story short, it was the 29tl
of November when we entered Portsmouth
harbOr.
"I got ashore and found a newspaper
I read that Captain COurtenay was to b
executed at Chelmsford on the second O
/ December.
Il was off that night in a post-ehais
for London. made few stops. ate a
I travelled, and reached Downing stree
yesterday morning.
1T was about ten o'clock. I demande
| to see the Secretary.
He can't see you, said the officer i
waiting. He's busy
is hep says I. is that where he is
back of that doOr?'
Yes
At staIked right in without knocking
and the officer on duty looked as if b
thought the world was coming to an enc
rounded with big-wigs, and took no motto
of me.
! "I walked up and slapped the enyelop
down before him.
Pardon, your IOrdship,' says, 'bU
there's dispatches from the Biscay fleet.
} The Biscay feet?' he says. why
they must belong at the Admiralty
E Pardon. my lord-they don't. They'1
j / for you. It's a matter of life and deatE
I was told by Captain Atweu, of tn
Hero frigate, never to let you alone Il
you had read this letter from Admire
! Harvey
%He tore it open and ran his eye over i
Bless my sOulP he cried, jumping VI
2 Captain COurtenay has been tried an
r convicted. and is to be hung tomorrow
at Chelmsford. His poor wife was hel
! | pleading for him two weeks ago. Til
has got to be righted. I must see tn
Prince Regent at once. Gentlemen-ez
cuse mei-this concerns the saving {
life. You, sir!-what is your name?
, 'AbsalOm Bright, bOatsWain of tE
Hero
! BE here at three O'Clock. Don't fai
l I Will have the pardon here then
Il returned at the hour named. fOun
/ a messenger from the Secretary waitin
y for us. The Secretary was waiting
, Carlton House to see his Royal Hjghnes
t and would stay till he had an audience
f 1 was told on no account to leave ii
Office till he came.
Y Pretty we'll satisfied with the shaE
things we're in, lay down on a lOung
g Tired with the fatigue and excitement
the last few days. fell asleep. 1t Wa
i nine O'Clock at night before I awOk
e The lights were burning, the attendant
j we're there. but the Secretary had not re
f turned
I i waited patiently. 1t was after mic
e night before he came in, looking car
q worn and exhausted.
Here Is the pardon. he said. 9
o has taken time and labor to get it. an
g now it must not fail OF reaching Che1m
ford by ten o'clock tomorrow morning
= I'll carry it, sir
T Very we'll. I'll make you a messeI
l. ger of the Office for this evening. Call
8 and get your account audited when 70
Q return. Here are fifty pounds: get a fie
Z. |