The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-12-04

Next morning the treasurer was found
dead i'll bed, his throat cut from ear to ear.
His companion had disappeared, and the
saddlcbags, with their contents, were also
missing. Tho countryside was aroused,
blOudhounds were brought out, and fierce
chase of some hours resulted in Devereux
being run down and captured. There was
no question but that he had been the muir
dered mans companion the night before,
but none of the missing money or papers
was found upon him.
These were the facts in the case. When
the news passed from traveller to Traveller
along the country roads and finally reached
Devereux's homo town, there was Il ire
mendous sensation, further heightened
when the damning circumstances of his
business affairs came to light and made
clear the motive Of the crime.
Nevertheless many of his friends were
still loyal, strong family influence was OK
erted in his behalf, the best lawyers were
employed, and every effort was made to
free him from the consequences of his aw-
full crime, all without avail. He WAS
tried, found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged. The higher courts decided against
him on appeal. The governor refused to
interfere and Devereux occupied n cell in
Tic ltllI IU JIlt lulu lbN III
closely guarded, within u few days Of the
| date appointed for his execution, with all
prospect of escape seemingly cut off.
In spite Of the enurmity of his crime
| there began to lie a great deal of sympathy
for the man who lay in Jail awaiting death.
His youth, his handsome face, his grace
full, dignifed bearing, his calm courage,
his perfect manner and his unfailing per-
of his
all combined to produce this effect. He
expressed no luminosity toward witnesses,
Judge, jury or prosecutor, simply stating
that no was an unfortunate victim of re-
marllable circumstances, from which he
could blame 10 one for drawing tho mis-
| taken inference OF his guilt.
The sheriff who guarded him was of the
number Of these thus impressed, and in
his secret heart deeply sorrowcd ut the
prospect Of his sad duty, although lie re-
Taxed not ut al in Vigilance and the adop-
ton Ci every lrecaution to prevent es-
cape.
To this officer the prisoner frequently
expressed the firm belief that he would not
be hanged. lie assured him that. how
ever, lie had no idea Of escape, other than
| by some divine intervention which would
establish his innocence and point out the
guilty man.
Not many days before the one fatal day
the sheriff found the prisoner visibly agi-
! tatcd and in an excited state, noticeably
different from his usual calmncss. In an
swCr 10 the officers question as to the rea-
son DeNcreux gave the following explana-
ton:
u have had he said, "a most extraor-
binary experience. 1t came to me last
night in the form Of a dream, so real, dis
tinct and different from the usual hazy
| Gimncss Of ordinary visions that l believe
tito be the premunition of On actual event.
cannot rid ~; sell of this impression. l
expect ii may seem foolish to you or tho
result Of the hr0udiEgs and half waking
im"giAiuEs of q man i'll my condition, but
nevertheless / will tell it to you.
Last night l dreamed l was standing
on the scHliold facing thousands Of people.
Tie scene WAS as real To me as the actual
ity itself. l had spoken Il few words of
farewell and was about to resign myself t.
your hands when suddenly by the exercise
Of some row faculty Or perception l saw
the real murderer standing in tho crowd
before me. l never saw him before, and
yet / knew Kim to be the man in whose
stead l was about to suffer death. He was
sli gilt in buiii, with dark hair and eyes,
AMI neatly dressed His features arc in
Gelibly fixed in NY mind With this rcco@-
milton mr dream faded away. There was
no particular irtillation Us to my fate, yet
l feel indeed as though God himself has
sroj;Cu to me ana revealed the absolute as
sUr&uce Of his divine protection.
Tho narrHto-'s manner was so earnest
ana impressive that Il hope sprang up re-
spOrsivc in the s!criff's mind that some
ding might happen. He was mentally
prepared and on the watch for the happen
ing Of the miraculous.
Tho day Of the execution was a beauti-
fgi, clear, cool October day. Thousands of
people were in attendance and had gath
crld about tie E,tiIows. 1t was to be /,
public hanging, and tho multitude awaited
itself Of tho privilege Of seein: a human
Icing chci.yd to Death. As las been init
mated, there were much feeling and sym
patny iur the doomed man, much argu-
| mcnt as to tho lallibility Of circumstantial
evidence, and hundred vague rumors in
circulation suggesting his innocence.
At las5 Dcvcreux stood upon the gallows
platior!:: and faced the people. There was
70 man III all that crowd apparently so
of himself He stepped forward to say a
Few words Of farewell. His voice rang
out in the stiffness, clear, distinct and per-
fcutly GuliblC to all.
'Frionds, " he said. "this is not u fitting
time to indulge i'll vain protcstations. l
can but simply reafiirn that I an not
guilty, knowing we'll what would be the
consequences of falschood, standing, as l
am, almost i'll the presence of my immortal
God. l desire especially to relieve any
man from the possible thought that he
may have misjudged or wrongcd me and
might have to meet my accusing words be,
fore the great tribunal hereafter. 1t was
u human error, the result
At this moment the speaker stopped
short and l2nncd heavily arainSt tia y"il-
lUH. ms COuntcnunce betrayed terrible
excitement. His eyes seemed fixed on
some one in the crowd before him whom
no indicated. bound as he was, as well as
he could. When he found his voice again,
no fairly shrieked:
"Thero he is. Tho man of my dream
tho murderer. Stop him! Stop him!"
He had pointed out Il slightly built, al
most feminine looking young man, who
uttered Il hasty exclamation and attempted
to get away, but before he could do so WAS
roughly SDlZcu ana nSlu by the crown. L ne
sheriff, almost beside himself with excite
ment, rushed down from the scaffold, fol-
lowed by half dozen deputies. The young
man was hurriedly searched there and
then. Upon his person were found watch,
n pistol and certain papers of value well
known to have been tho property of the
murdered treasurer. He seemed to give up
at oncO and in answer to excited questions
sullonly Responded:
"Well, it seems you have me. was a
fool to como here. l demand Of the officers
protection from this crowd.
Protection was needed. Like quicksilver
a knowledge of the matter seemed to have
pcrmCatcd the whole multitude An in
nuccnt man was saved and the guilty ap-
pretended in the nick of time. Cries Of
Hang the scoundreIp' "Turn DevereuX
loosen arose from all sides, while the OIL
GERS struggled ierccly to withstand the
surge Of the angry mob. There is no know
ing what might hayo happened had not
DCvGrcux's voice arrested the movement
LET the law take its course" he said,
"For Gods sake, do not be too rash I
implore YOU. as one who has bean SC. near