The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-11-14


whole family of Langdons would visit
Arthur in his prison, SO strong was
their belief in his guilt, except his poor
mother, who in spite of all the convinc-
ing evidence maintained her first faith
in his innocence.
At last the sentence came, the terrible
sentence, and the stern judge in his
black robe of Office, solemnly and with
awful d~istinctness, pronounced the
edict on such a day (naming one not
far distanD Arthur Langdon was to be
publicly gibbeted for the w;llful muir
der of his cousin, Edwaru Langdon.
This severest penalty of the lawyha q
not been inflicted on a criminal TOR
many years, yet all felt that it was mons
toosevere for the enormity of the crime.
The dreadful day drew near. Arthur,
knowing himself to be innocent, felt
that something would occur to procure
his release. Perhaps even Edward,
alive and well, would make his appear
anCe, and account for all the strange
circumstances. He could not think
that he would lose his life for an un
committed crime. His hopes were vain.
On the appointed day he wasledfort
to execution. Even then he did not
despair. He still declared his innocence,
but, Notwithstanding his assertions, he
was gibbeted in chains, there to re-
main a subject for the revilings of al
indignant populace, until death relieved
his sufferings. But he was not so to
ole.
At this time the press gangs were at
work collecting men for the navy, and
hearing Of a man being gibbeted,
thought that here was q chance for
them, and accordingly going to the
place at midnight, they ov~erpowered
the guard, cut Arthur down and car
ried him and the guard away. No zone
could tell what had become Of them,
though many suspected toe true reason
of their disappearance. AS for Arthur,
broken hearted and without q single
aim in life, he did his appointed work
on shipbOard in moody silence; but
when the vessel was engaged In battle
he was the bravest of the brave, and
won for himself great honors. He often
wondered why he was not killed when
he saw many men go DESTROYS of life
struck down at his side.
At last the vessel was so injured in
~ ovCsC-rrr1O-+ I hnf cho ,voC .oH1irn1 70
put into some port for repairs, and the
commander concluded that he would
return to England. But the pressed
men had not all served out their APP
pointed time; so, after waiting for an
other British vessel to come in sight, he
hailed it and put these men on board.
Among this number was Arthur, and
in his accustomed detected manner he
slowly walked from II vessel to the
other. But scarcely had he stepped IN
board the latter when he heard the
glad cry Of
arthur! Arthur q.
Turning his head in the direction of
the voice he beheld his cousin Edward,
for whom he had so nearly lost his life,
Both these strong men wept like chill
dren.
The explanation followed: Edward
had gone to sleep by the side of his
cousin, but waking in a short time,
found that the bandage Oh his arm had
become loosened by his change of pos
ture, and his arm was bleeding freely.
After trying for some time to staunch
the blood, he had tied his own hand
kerchief tightly around it 0he other
having become too much saturated,)
and having dressed, he had gone down
to the river to try the effect of cold
water on the flowing blood. He had
been there but a few moments when a
boat landed, and some men jumping
out came towards him. II discovered
too late that it was a press gang, and
carried away by them. He said
he had often wondered what people
would think had become of him, but
that they should conclude he had been
murdered seemed to him very strange,
and he was indignant that the crime
should have been charged upon Arthur,
railing bitterly against all his country
men when told of the cruel execution.
On the return of the cousins they
were looked upon almost as men arisen
from the grave. This circumstance
confirmed in me a strong prejudice
against capital punishment. | main
tain the doctrine that there can never
be q certainty in these cases except
where a confession is made, and in