The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-08

rupert execution nau DeeH HAcu IOi
Thursday in the next week.
We had heavy cargo of goods and
lot of passengers, but 1 tell you my heart
seemed heavier when we started on that
voyage than the ship, cargo, passengers
and all.
The Monico was considered fast ves-
sci at that time. She generally took just
over seven days to do the passage, and we
were due in New York on the Wednesday
evening before Rupert's execution.
Everything went well till the Monday
afternoon, when one of the steerage pas
sengers, man named Charles Cappermole,
fell down hatchway, breaking his back
and receiving internal injuries from which
the doctor said he was bound to die within
four or five hours. 1t was very sad, of
course, but couldn't be helped, and al
though anything Of the sort puts gloom
over the ship was too much engrossed in
my own trouble to think much of it. But
just after one bell (half past g the cap
tain came to me.
'Sparton, he said, ''you were telling
me about the trouble your sisters fance
had got into It's most extraordinary
thing, but this man Cappermole has been
telling the doctor tale about his having
shot his fathers landlord in Yorkshire,
and that he believes this accident is judg-
ment on him. I have seen him, and he
says the name of the man he murdered
was Rowling, which is the name you men
toned, l think, and if you will come with
me to the hospital, where the poor wretch
is lying, you can hear his yarn for your
self. -
l was thunderstruck. I got the third
officer to take my place for a short time
and hurried off to the side of the injured
man.
His statement was somewhat rambling,
but with the help of clergyman who was
a passenger we reduced it to writing in a
tangible shape, and it was about something
like this
II, Charles Cappermole. lately residing
at Martens Hole, near Doncaster, York
shire, but now a passenger on boarl the
steamship Monico (Csptain Marner) in
mid-Atlantic, having met with an accident
by falling down hatchway, and being, as
I well know, within short time of death,
do make this solemn statement and declare
the same to be true, SO help me God
Il am farm laborer and until recently
was living with my father and mother at
Martens Hole, where my father rented a
small farm under Mr.. Jonathan Rowling.
The same farm had been in the po; session
of my father all his life and of his father
before him, and it was our whole living.
''Mr Jonathan Rowling had disagree
ment with my father last year but NE just
before Michaelmas about some hedges
which he insisted my father should renew,
but which had always been replanted be-
fore that time at the expense of the land
lord My father refused to replant them
at his own expense, and Mr.. Rowling gave
him notice to quit, which expired at Mi
chaelmas last, and he subsequently turned
my parents and myself out of the farm in
the middle of winter.
my mother was in 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.
II determined to emigrate to America,
and with the assistance of benevolent
society obtained my passage money and
outfit and enough cash in my pocket to
prevent my being turned back as pauper
on landing in the United States | booked
my passage in the steamphip Monico, but
before starting on the voyage l saw nay
father in the workhouse His misfortunes
had so shattered him that he was dying,
and exasperated and filed with indignation
| determined to be revenged on Mr.. Row
ling, who had been the cause of my
mothers and my father deaths and my
ruin and emigration.
81 had bought revolver to take with
me, and tramping to Doncaster l lay in
wait for Mr.. Rowling on the evening Of
Thursday, the 24th day of May last. L
knew that it was his habit to walk through b
the plantation which adjoins lane called
banks lane every night between 8 and 8
o clock, his purpose being to see if any
rabbit snares had been laid by poachers,
and | hid myself behind some bushes in
this plantation close to the path | pres
emily heard footsteps, and directly after
ward 1 saw Mr.. Rowling walk along close
beside where was hiding. AS soon as he
had got past me | stood up, and aiming
the revolver at him shot him in the back.
He lifted up his arms and with great cry
fell face forward, dead.
1T was nearly dark, and L crept out of
the plantation into the lane without any
one seeing me. | walked that night to
Wakefield along byroads well known to me,
and from thence on following days to
Hudders6eld, Ashton, Manchester, Newton
and Liverpool, from which port was to
take passage to New York.
SIN Liverpool L heard the murder
spoken of for the first time, and to my
surprise found that Mr.. Rupert Rowling,