The Portland daily press., 1896-11-27

before me. [ never saw him before, ana
yet knew him to be the man in whose
stead l was about to suffer death. He was
slight in build, with dark hair and eyes,
and neatly dressed. His features are in
delibly fixed in my mind. With this recog-
milton my dream faded away. There was
no particular intimation as to my fate yet
feel indeed as though God himself has
spoken to me and revealed the absolute as
| surance of his divine protection
The narrator's manner was so earnest
and impressive that hope sprang up re-
sponsive in the sheriff's mind that some
thing might happen. He was mentally
prepared and on the watch for the happen
ing of the miraculous.
The day of the execution was a beauti-
full, clear, cool October day Thousands of
people were in attendance and had gath
cred about the gallows. It was to be a
public hanging, and the multitude availed
itself Of the privilege of seeing a human
being choked to death. AS has been init
mated, there were much feeling and SYM
pathy for the doomed man, much argu-
ment as to the fallibility Of circumstantial
evidence, and hundred vague rumors in
circulation suggesting his innocence.
At last Dovereux stood upon the gaIlows
platform and faced the people. There was
no man in all that crowd apparently SO
cool, SO collected and SO much the master
Of himself. He stepped forward to say
few words of farewell. His voice rang
out in the stiffness, clear, distinct and per-
feotly audible to ali.
Friends, ''the said, "this is not a fitting
time to indulge in vain protestations. I
can but simply reafirm that I am not
guilty, knowing well what would be the
consequences OF falsehood, standing, as
an, almost in the presence of my immortal
God. / desire especially to relieve any
man from the possible thought that he
may have misjudged or wronged me and
might have to meet my accusing words be-
fore the great tribunal hereafter 1t was
a human error, the result
At this moment the speaker stopped
short and leaned heavily against the rail
ing. His countenance betrayed terrible
excitement. His eyes seemed fixed on
some one in the crowd before him whom
he indicated, bound as he was, as we'll as
he could. When he found his voice again,
he fairly shrieked:
"There he isl The man of my dream
the murderer. Stop himl Stop himp'
He had pointed out slightly built, al
most feminine looking young man, who
uttered hasty exclamation and attempted
to get away, but before he could do SO was
roughly seized and held by the crowd. The
sheriff, almost beside himself with excite
ment, rushed down from the scaffold, fol-
lowed by half a dozen deputies. The young
man was hurriedly searched there and
then. Upon his person were found watch,
pistol and certain papers of value well
known to have been the property of the
murdered treasurer. He seemed to give up
at once and In answer to excited questions
sullenly responded:
"Well, it seems you have me. was
fool to come here. demand of the officers
protection from this crowd. "
Protection was needed. Like quicksilver
a knowledge of the matter seemed to have
permeated the whole multitude. An in
nocent man was saved and the guilty ap-
pretended in the nick Of time. Cries Of
"Hang the scoundrelp' "Turn Devereux
loosep' arose from all sides, while the Off
GERS struggled fiercely to withstand the
surge Of the angry mob. There is no know
ing what might have happened had not
Deyereuz IS voice arrested the movement.
''Let the law take its COURSE he said.
"For Gods sake, do not be too rash!
implore you, as one who has been so near
an, ignoble death by reason of this awful
mistake, to let the sheriff take this man.
Give him fair trial, and may God forgive
him for what he has tried to do to me-
The words Of no other man could have
saved the new prisoner. The crowd gave
way. The hanging of Devereux was out
of the question. The populace would not
have permitted it, and the sheriff would
anyhow have felt justified in suspending
the execution.
The mob poured up the gallows stairs
and cut the ropes that bound Devereux
The Jail officers hurried their prisoner to
the Jail. Once there, the latter made full
confession, which soon became the talk Of
the streets. Nothing could be done that
was too good for Devereux, who at first
busted himself in counseling moderation,
and, being satisfied Of it's accomplishment,
simply asked for two things. He wanted
to go at once, he said, and bear the glad
tidings back home to his wife. For this
purpose he requested the loan of good
horse and some money, a request which
was enthusiastically gratified. At sunset
Deyereux was mixes away.
In the morsling the new prisoner spoke
to the sheriff when that officer was making
the rounds of the Jail.
II think, now he said, "you had bet
ter let me 60.
This display of assurance caused the
sheriff to think the prisoner crazy.
~ mean what 1 say" he persisted.
"Send woman here-your wife. I am
not what yoa think me. I am woman.
I am William Devereux's wife. My pur-
pose is fulfilled. I have saved his life, and
he is now far away. You can never catch
him. He sent me word where would
find the things you found on me, and
used them to deceive you
1t was true. Devereux's prison man
ner, his talk, the dream, the denouenent
at the gailows, were all parts of a skillfully
worked and successful plot The chival-
rous spirit of the time and country saved
his wife from any punishment. Devereux
went to California, changed his name, was
Joined by his faithful wife, prospered
greatly and died not many years ago the
leading citizen OF thriving city that bore
his false name.-philadelphi Times.
Killed by Popularity.