The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-12
. LIFE OF AToNEMENT.
How Montgomery Peel Tried to
Expiate His Midnight Crime.


l 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 a mere boy at the time,
but I remember that Montgomery Peel
made a profound impression on me, and
I also recollect that when my father, in
answer to a question, said that a justice
of the peace was net a high officer, I
wondered why Peefhad taken the peace;
wondered why he had not declared him
self governor of the state. He was a
very tall man, with black, inquiring
eyes and a great growth of dark brown
whiskers. He presided as my ideal of
dignity; his voice wa penetrating and
his questions were to the point. Atfirst
every one appeared to think that Andrew
Brukemore was surely the murderer Of
David @. Cahoon, but as the examine
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 of the grand
jury.
Gentlemen" said Montgomery Peel,
arising and addressing the assembly, 81
have attempted to look with the eye of
calmness and wisdom into this case. I
have blunted my ears to the whisper;ngs
of prejudice, and within myself I have
quieted every impulse that sought to
jump toward a hasty conclusion. At
first the evidence was bold against the
man, but what at first seemed to be a
wall of evidence o. proves to be a fog
O 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 a stain upon
your garments. Gentlemen, it is my
desire that you all shake hands with Mr..
Brukemore."
The scene was affecting. 1t that quiet
Virginia community murder was of rare
occurrence. Indeed many old men who
were present had never before seer a
prisoner held under SO grave a charge.
Every one pressed forward and shook
hands with Brukemore, and l remember
hearing q red headed, freckled faced boy
say:
Il reckon the folks air cryin', pap,
cause they air sorry they amt goin' to
hang him"
This trial seemed to make a different
mar Of Montgomery Peel, for he attend
ed church more regularly, and when his
term of Office expired he did not an
nounce himself as a candidate for re-
election.
One day, several years later, father
and I were riding through the woods
when we came upon Montgomery Peel
cutting down q tree.
"Why, what are you doing here?' my
father asked. "You are surely not chop
ping frewood this hot weather"
'No," said the giant-and he was in
deed a giant-"I am going to build a
house."
"What, build a house away out here?"
eyes, for the house / am going to
build would be out of place anywhere
except in the quiet woods; / am going
to build a church"
sit will take a strong preacher, Peel,
to draw q congregation away up here"
"H the size of the congregation de-
ponds upon the strength of the preacher
it is likely to be small, for am to be the
preacher"
"You are joking"
"Did you even know me to joker he
asked, standing with n hand resting
on the tree and gazing earnestly at my
father.
Il don't know that / ever did, Peel,
but I can hardly believe that a man Of
your bright prospects could content him
self with preaching in this lonely place.
Why, there is not a house within three
"Peter sometimes preached many
miles distant from any house, yet thou
sands of people went to hear him."
"Yes, 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:
"We have seen q path that was worn,
and then we have seen it deserted; have
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 I hope that
you may be instrumental in drawing
thousands from the wickedness of the
81 dare not hope to draw thousands"
said he. 81 dare not picture to my mind
multitude focking to hear me; but I
will dare hope to draw one soul away
an awaiting destruction, and if I
do even that much I shall feel that my
church has been built to some purpose"
AS we rode along my father was silent
for some time, and then, as though
speaking to himself, said:
''The poor fellow has lost his mind"
The report that Montgomery Peel was
building a church far away in the
woods naturally awakened o1.aot intaraet