Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-12-25
short time, and hurried off 10 the side

| man, who was passenger, we reduced
| it to writing in tangible shape, and
| it was about something like this:
sT, Charles Cappermole, lately re-
siding at Martens Hole, near Don
caster, Yorkshire, but now q passen-
ger on board the steamship Monico
(Capt. Marner) in mid-Atlantic, having
| met with an accident by falling down
a hatchway, and being, as I well
know, within short time of death, do
make this solemn statement and de-
clare the same to be true, SO help me
God.
ST am farm laborer, and until re-
Gently was living with my father and
mother at Martens Hole, where my
father rented small fqrm under Mr..
Jonathan Rowling. The same farm
had been in the possession of my faith
er all his life, and of his father before
him, and it was our whole living.
ssMr. Jonathan Rowling had disa.
greement with my father last year but
one, just before Michaelmas, about
some hedges which he insisted my
father should renew, but which had
always been replanted before that time
at the expense of the landlord. My
father refused to replant them at his
own expense, and Mr.. Rowland gave
him notice to quit, which expired at
Michaelmas last, and he subsequently,
turned my parents and myself out OF
the farm in the middle of winter.
.tMy mother was in a very feeble
and delicate state of health, and the
eviction caused her death, and my
father, being broken-hearted and
ruined. was compelled to go into the
workhouse.
sI determined to emigrate to Amer
lea. and, with the assistance of O
benevolent society, I obtained my
passage money and outfit and enough
cash in my pocket to prevent my be-
| ing turned back as pauper on land
ing in the United States. 1 booked
my passage on the steamship Monico,
but before starting on the voyage 1
saw nv father in the workhouse. His
misfortunes had SO shattered him that
he was dying, and exasperated and
filed with indignation, determined
to be reYenged on Mr.. Rowling, who
had been the cause of my mothers
and my fathers deaths, and my ruin
aud emigration.
'tI had bought a revolver to take
with me, and. tramping to Doncaster,
laid in wait for Mr.. Rowling on. the
evening of Thursday, the Oath of May
last. / knew that it was his habit to
walk through the plantation, which
adjoins lane called Danks's lane.
every night between 8 and 9 O'Clock
his purpose being to see if any rabbit
snares had been laid by poachers-
and I hid myself behind some bushes
in this plantation, close to the path.
presently heard footsteps, and di-
rectly afterward I saw Mr.. Rowling
walk along close beside where 1 was
hiding. AS soon as he got past me 1
stood UP, and, aiming the revolver at
him, shot him in the back. He lifted
up his arms, and, with a great cry,
fell, face forward, dead.
'It was nearly dark, and I crent out
of the plantation into the lane without
anyone seeing me. 1 walked that
night to Wakefield, along by-roads
we'll known to me, ard from thence,
on following days, to Hudders6eld.
Ashton, Manchester, Newton and Liv-
erpool, from which port was to take
passage to New York.
SIN Liverpool I heard the murder
spoken of for. the first time, and, to
my surprise, found that Mr.. Rupert
Rowling (Nlr. Rowling's nephew was
charged with it. I never thought for
moment that they could find him
guilty of the murder he had not COM.
mitted, and I took no steps to let the
truth be known. When I afterward
learned that he was convicted of the
murder and sentenced to death, 1
knew I ought to go back and own the
deed and save him, but l could not
bring myself to do SO, and went on
board the Monico, we'll knowing that
I was leaving behind rue an innocent
man to be hanged for the murder 1
had committed. The revolver with
which I shot Mr.. Rowling is in my
box. All of which is true, as I de-
clare.
Cappermole signed this statement,
and the clergyman, the CAPTAIN, the
doctor and myself witnessed it, and
shortly after five bells QO.30 o'clock
at night Cappermole died, being bur-
led at sea the next day, Tuesday.
I had been melancholy and de.
pressed, without hope before, but
now began my anxious tine.
Cappermole's statement was of no
use unless I could get the knowledge
of it to the authorities in England in
time to stop my friend Rupert's execu-
tion on Thursday morning, and it was
race against time. We were, in
ordinary course, due at New York on
Wednesday afternoon about o'clock,
which would be about 9 o'clock at
night in England. We had favorable
weather and had made good way, and
if we kept on we should be in on time.
if not before; but on Tuesday morn
ing we ran into dense fog, and our
course was impeded and the engines
were slowed down.
Isought the Captain, and told him
exactly what was depending OH our
not losing time. He was fine fellow
was Captain Mariner, and he fully
sympathized with me. We debated
the matter, and considered it round
for few minutes. To go full steam
ahead was terribly dangerous, as the
lookout men could see no distance to
speak of, owing to the fog, but the
Captain at last determined to do it,
"I'll do it, Sparton," he cried. M
feel that this man was sent on board
my ship. and injured SO that he felt
himself dying and bound 10 confess,
bv Providence. and if I don't try and