The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-24
AN ELECTRICAL SLIP.
Robert Barr, in the English Illustrated
MagaZine.

PUBLIC opinion has been tTiumphantly
indicated. The insanity plea had broken
down, and Albert Prior was sentenced to
be hanged by the meek until he was dead,
and might the Lord have mercy on his
soul. Everybody agreed that it was a
righteous verdict, bnt, now that he was
sentenced, they added, poor fellow"
Albert Prior was young man who had
bad more of his own way than was good
for him. His own family-father,
mother, brother and sisters-had given
way to him so much that he appeared TO
think the world at large should do the
same. The world differed with him
Unfortunately, the first to oppose his vio-
lent will was a woman-a girl almost.
She would have nothing TO do with him,
and told him so. He stormed,
Of course, but did not look
upon her opposition as serious No girl
IN her senses could continue to refuse
young man of his prospects in life. But
when he heard that she had become en-
gagged to young Bowen, the telegraph OPP
erator, Prior's rage passed all bounds.
he determined to brighten Bowen out of
the place, and called at the telegraph of
tlce for that laudable purpose; but Bowen
was the night operator, and was absent.
The day man, with a smile, not knowing
what he did, said Bowen would likely be
found at the Parker place, where Miss
johnson lived with her aunt, her parents
being dead
Prior ground his teeth and departed.
He found Miss Johnson at home, but
alone. There was stormy scene, ending
with the tragedy. He fired four times at
her, keeping the other two bullets for
himself. But he was a coward and cur
at heart, and when it came to the point of
putting the two bullets in himself he
quailed, and thought it best to escape.
Then electricity did him its first dis
service. 1t sent his description far ard
wide. capturing him twenty-five miles
from his home. He was taken back to
the county town where he lived and
lodged in Jail.
Public opinion, ever right and all-pow-
erful, now asserted itself. The outward
and visible sign of it's action was an omi-
nous gathering of dark-browed citizens
outside the jail. There were determined
mutterlngs among the crowd rather than
outspoken anger but the mob was the
more dangerous on that account. One
man in It's midst thrust his closed hand
toward the sky and from his fist dangled
rope. A cry like the growing of a
pack of wolves went up as the mob saw
the rope, and they clamored at the gates
of the Jail. Lynch himl Jailer, give up
the keys - was the cry.
The agitated sheriff knew his duty, but
he hesitated to perform il.
But the keys were not given up The
clamor had ceased A young man with
pale face and red eyes stood on the top of
the stone wall that surrounded the Jail.
He held up his hand and there was in
slant silence. They all recognized him
as Bowen, the night operator, to whom
she had been engaged.
Gentlemen" he cried, and his clear
voice reached the outskirts of the crowd,
don't do it. Don't put an everlasting
stain on the fair name of our town. No
one has ever beendynched in this county,
and none in the state as far as | know
Don't let us begin it. If l thought the
miserable scoundrel inside would escape
if l thought his money would buy
him off-Id be the man to lead you to
batter down those doors and hang him
on the nearest tree-and you know it,"
There were cheers at this. But he
won't escape. His money can't buy him
off He will be hanged by the law. Don't
think it's mercy Pm preaching; it's ven
geancel" Bowen shook his clenched fist
at the jail. THAT wretch there has
been in hell ever since he heard your
tard, until the time his trembling legs
carry him to the scaffold. want him to
stay in this hell till he drops through into
the other, if there is one. want him to
suffer some Of the misery he has caused.
Lynching is over in moment. | want
that murderer to die by the slow, merci-
less cruelty of the law"
Even the worst in the crowd shud-
dered as they heard these words, and
50
almost iuhuman in its rage, that his
thirst for revenge made their own seem
almost innocent. The speech broke up
the crowd The man with the rope threw
it over into the Jail yard, shouting to the
sheriff; Take care of it, old man, you'll
need it."
And so it came about just as Bowen
knew it would, that all the money and
influence of the Prior family could not
help the murderer, and he was sentenced
to be hanged on September 81, at 6
o'clock a: m. And thus public opinion
was satisfied.
But the moment the sentence was an
nounced and the fate of the young man
settled a curious change began to be no.
ticed in public opinion. 1t seemed to
have veered around. There was much
sympathy for the family, of course. Then
there came to be much sympathy for the
criminal himself. People quoted the
phrase about the worst use man can be
put to- Ladies sent flowers to the con-
demned mans cell. After ALL hanging
him, poor fellow, would not bring Miss
johnson back to life. However, few
spoke of Miss johnson !; she was forgotten
by all but one man. who ground his
teeth when he realized the instability of
public opinion.
Petitions were got up, headed by tho
local clergy Women begged for sigma
lures and got them. Every man and wo-
man signed them. All except one, and
even he was urged to sign by fearful
lady, who asked him to remember that
vengeance was the Lords.
But the Lord has his instruments, -
said Bowen, grirnly, land swear to you,
madam, that if you succeed in getting
that murderer reprieved ] will be the
instrument of the Lords vengeance"
''Oh, don't say that pleaded the lady
"Your signature would have such an eff
feet. You were noble once and saved him
from lynching be noble again and save
him from the gallows."
Il shall certainly not sign. 1t is, if you
will pardon me, an insult to ask me- If
YOU reprieve him you will make a MUIR
derer of me, for will kill him when he
comes out, if it is twenty years from now.
You talk of lYnching, it is such work as
you are doing that makes lynching posi-
BILE. The people seem all with you now,
more shame 10 them. but the next murder
that is committed will be followed by a
lynching, just because you are successful
to-day.