Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-02-18
Mechancstwn Frederick County, Maryland Thursday February IS. 892

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What strong old fellow this execu.
toner was In the meantime the chap.
lain had finished reading the sentence,
and turning to the criminal demanded
Have you anything to oay?'
Yes replied the miserable wretch,
IN low, stiaed voice. I beg for mer.
cy and pardon This seemed good
Joke. The Lord of Piroche shrugged
bis shou'tler and ordered the exscu-
toner to do his work.
He tried to make the criminal ascend
the ladder, which was not an easy thing
to do. The executloner had to resort
to the3ssme means he had employed to
make him descend from his ass-he
took HIM by the arms. placed him on
the third round of the ladder, and
pushed h,m up, amid the "bravos' OF
the crowd.
Then the executioner placed the run.
ming knot at the end of the rope around
his neck, and giving him vigorous
kick IN the back launched him into
space, or rather eternity. A great shout
and shiver ran through the crowd, the
condemned balanced two or three min
utes at the end OF the rope, kicking and
twisting a, it was his right to 20, then
hung stiff and motlonlcss.
The crowd regarded him few mo-
ments. the FURNISHED ar1nor glietening
in the sun then they broke up into lit.
tie groups and departed homeward, all
talking Of the event.
Ma fol-, said the son Of the peasant
to his father, to be hanged for carrying
off the armor when he did not get it
seems hard. What do you think 2
I was just asking myself if he had
reall; carried off the armor what would
they haye done to him. No matter he
has been punished justly, no doubt. but
it WAS not pleasant thing to see.'
Twenty minutes after they entered
the village Of Plroche, where they ex-
pected to rest few hours and start
back late IN the evening 80 as to reach
home that night.
Next morning at peep Of day two
guards came ont of the chateau TO un-
hook the dead body and take off the
armor of their lord. But they found
what - = least expected. There were
the eibbet and the rope, but where was
the body? They rubbed their eyes,
thinking they must be dreaming. No,
it was really true-there was no body
naturally no armor.
The guards ran to announce the as
founding news to the Lord Of Eiroche,
who would not believe them. lie must
see the fact with his own eyes. He was
such a powerful parsonage he was GER
tain he would find the hanged just
where he had ordered him. On reach.
lnr the scaflold he was forced to believe
as the others. What had become of the
dead body: He was surely dead the
evening before, hanged IN the sight Of
the whole village.
The Lord of Plrochc was so troubled
at the loss of his armor he offered re.
ward of ten gold pieces to the one who
would bring back the criminal clothed
in bis armor. No one appeared. They
searched in every direction, but found
nothing.
A month passed, the gibbet rensained
on the scafFold, gloomy. humiliatet, and
scorned. for never had glbbet betrayed
a like abuse Of confidence.
The Lord of Piroche was about to re-
-. 49,. ,. .1
the loss resulting therefrom, when one
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