The sun., 1896-09-20
HE CHEATED THE MOOSE.
AN INGENIOUS RUsE THAT SAVED
A CONDEMNED MAN's LIFE.
IL Required that ne Go 60 thc Very Verge
OF Eternity TO Piay Hia Pnrt-The spec
tntor that He saw In His Vivid Dream.

eallnws by q clever ruse AS he lived a ro
spectacle llfo aftorward. and some of his chill
dren are still living, his real name is not given
We will call him Deveroux.
William Devcreux was rising young law
yer OF good family, married to an accom-
plished wife, and possessed OF large number
OF admiring and de Soted friends Indeed. he
| was ono of those magnetic persons. having the
fortunate faculty Of making strong and loyal
friends of nearly all who came in contact
| with him.
But in tho town where he lived there was
| considerable dissipation of n certain kind.
| Devereux became member OF n choice circle
| OF card players. He lost money Of others
with which he had been intrusted. For long
| time he managed to keep this state OF affairs
| concealed by sort OF n system Of rob1nE
| Peter to pay Paul and to meet his obligations
as thoy mntured. But period came when
William Devereux realized that these things
| could be concealed no longer, and the day OF
exposure and disgrace came ever nearer.
1t was in the old-fasbioned times when there
were no railroads, no telegraph no means of
travel, save over ill-kept roads. generally
horseback. IL was before tho Gay when
drafts. bills OF exchange. and similar banking
conveniences for facilitating money transfers
had reached anything like modern perfection
ana payments were nade at a distance by
sending the money itself.
1t was also tho custom of tho various coun-
ty collectors and treasurers to make yearly
trips to the State capital. carrying such mon
eys rs had been collected In their districts on
behalf OF the state and the necessary papers
an snd ~" and have al annual settlement
Now, at the time when Devereux's affairs
were most desperate. his own county treas
money, a large sum, in q pair Of saddlebags,
TO effect his annual accounting.
eer. who % afterward war wHs " proyea eow 70 'faS be
Ievereux. They put up one night at a road
side tavern; occupying the same room; Next
psnlon had disappeared, and the saddle.
bag bags. with their contents, were also missing.
The couLtry side was aroused. bloodhounds
were brought out. and a fierce chase OF some
hours resulted in Devereux being run down and
captured. There was no question but that he
had been the murdered mans companion the
papers were found upon hun.
These were the facts in the case. When the
news passed from traveller TO traveller along
eux's home town, thers was tremendous SEN
sation. further heightened whom the canning
light and made clear the motive of the crime. |
Meyertheless, many of his friends were
81 st in oa Ssb, family tha was exert
ployed; and every effort was made to free him |
rom the consequences of his awful crime. All |
and sentenced to be- hanged. The higher
courts decided against him on appeal. The |
Governor refused TO interfere aud Devercux oc-
cupied cell in the Jail at the little town OF ST.
stephens, closely guarded, within n few days |
OF the date appointed for his execution, with
all prospect OF escape seemingly cut OF.
In spite Of the enormity Of his crime. there
began to be great deal of sympathy for tho
youth. his handsome face his graceful. digni-
fled bearing. his cain, courage. his perfect man
ration of his innocence, all combined to produce
TINS elect He expressed no animosity toward
Witnesses, Judge. Jury or prosecutor; simply
renarkable circumstances. from which he !
COULD blame no one for drawing the mistaken
The Sheriff who guarded him was o. tho
number OF those thus impressed. and in his
his sad duty, although ho relaxed NOT AT ali in
vieilance and the adoption of every precauticn
TO this officer the prisoner freousntlv ey.
pressed the firm bcllef that he would not So
hain @ He assured him that however, he
vine Intervention, which would establish his
innocence Tn. nee and point poi out the guilt, man,
sheriff found the prisoner vislbly aGitated and
~ nan an excited state. noticeably different from his
question rs to the reason, Devereux gave the
II have had he said. "a most extraordinary
orm OF a dream 80 real, distinct, and differ
mt from the usual hazy dimness OF ordinary
y 'ions that believe il to be the premonition
y an actual event. cannot rid myself OF
his Impression. / expect II may seem foolish
'ut nevertheless will tell it to you.
hSsI daI plight dreamed was standing on the
vas as real to me as the actually it,clf /
lad SPOKEN a few words of farewell. and was
by the exercise Of some new faculty |
1r perception. ! saw the real murderer stand
before, and yet | knew him to be the man in
whose sIS, stead was nS about to suffer death He
md neatly dressed. His features are indelibiy
1Hed nY in Inn my 9Sdog %ind VIII this recognition
to aMS{ y Te was no further
hough God himself has spoken to me and re-.
,eaied the absolute assurance OF His divine
The narrator manner was 40 earnest and
shs thEs r5 hope sSp,"ng up responsive
iappen He was mentally prepared and on
he watch for the happening OF the miraculous
lear, cool. October day. Thousands Of people,
yere attendance and had gathered about
md ae msttnaS was t1 be .., public hanging
oge of seeing n human being choked to death !
As has been intimatod,, there was much feel
lrgument as to the falllbility OF circumstan-
ial evidence, and a hundred vague rumors in ,
Al last Devereux stood upon the eallovs
PLATFORM and faced the people. There was no :
tn and shst So musS tEs 80
10 stepped forward to say a few words OF
areWeii' MS voice rang out In the still ness |
lear, distinct,and perfectly audible to all
Friends" no said. this is not n fitting
line to indulge in vain protestations. I can I
ut simply reaiiirm that, l am not guilty, !
nowing well what would be the conseniencss Il
falsehood, standing, as am, almost in u
he presence OF my immortal God. i desire a
specially TO relieve any man from the possi. h
10 thought that he may have misjudged or Il
,ronged me and might have To NEE. my accus- e
,T Wv words srn before he great tribunal hereafter
AZ this moment the speaker stopped short .
nd leaned heavily against the railing. His S
intenance betrayed terrible excitement II
lis eyes seemed fixed on some one in the "
rowd before MIN whom he indicated, bound "
5 he was, as well rs he could When he 5
'mnd @ his voice again he fairy shrieked: G
There he is! The man Of my dream. tho b
lurdercr. Stop him. Stop himm ~ "
lie had pointed ont n slightly built almost h
minine m, looking Young man. who uttered a >,
lsty exclamation and attempted to get away ! p
~ before he could do SO was roughly seized l.
I'd held by the crowd. The sheriff, almost u
%m omit the seaflold Tf foIowsd by half dozen i
arched there and then. Upon his person p
ere round u watch, pistol, and certain pn. W
'rs Of value well known TO have been he ST
'operty OF the murdered Treasurer. IL,
Ana f,i,a II