The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-20


PRISONER CONTINUED.
figure; and feeling, Captain Burton.
now runs so high. 1t was very unfor-
tunate, in the light Of events, that
issued that pass. 1t was against my
judgment-hem!''
For he suddenly remembered that it
had been Dame Martha's sentimental
persuasion. Women are always making
a mess of practical affairs.
Your Gccuser is"
"One Detchard, a peddler."
The general paused, "Detchard! l
know that name, my-it can't be the
man? ! owe that man favor"
For a moment the calm, strong face
seemed to be sunken in reflection.
Il think I can do something for you,
Captain Burton" Then giving the
prisoner his hand, the great man went
out
If General Washington could not,
who, indeed, could?
The court was sitting; grave, dis
tinguished men; officers and men of
affairs; names on American schoolboys'
lips; faces which Stuart, and Peale,
and Trumbull have handed down to us
on canvasses that still seem to carry
the forceful personalities of their orig
inals. And among them was His Ex-
cellency, calm, cold, self-held. One
wondered If this We're the man who,
they said, had been in a temper at Long
Island; who had called Charles Lee
hard names in a certain great battle.
He looked, as he sat there, so absolute
ly self-contrDlled, SErewd, practical,
with a great fund of simple common
sense.
And there was the prisoner, carrying
himself as was fitting a gentleman and
officer. And there was that old fighter,
General Wilton, sending across to the
English captain a glance of encourage
ment and approval.
The case was stated. Captain Burton
had obtained a pass on a false preteXt.
He bad been seen handing papers to
General Arnold, of whose height and
figure he was. He had been arrested
| in a disguise, and plainly intended to
deceive any passer who had seen him
| on the road from New York If the
| traitor Arnold had written that he
| knew nothing of Captain Burton-ii
| Major John Andre, and Sir Henry Clin-
| ton declared that Burton know nothing
of the plot against West Point, such
| interested evidence could not he enter
| tanned by this court. No more coulG
| the prisoners own story, and his SER
| wants, now i'll in the hospital; ever
| if their statements agreed it was plair
that there would have been an under
standing between master and man.
Jacob Detcher. peddler, formerly
sergeant in the Fifth New York line,
| was called.
Every neck was craned forward as 6
| short, thick-set man arose. His fac,
| was at first defiant and then look OF
| resolution came over it; not defiance
but some feeling waking the man diff.
| ferent from the dissipated fellow knowr
as Detchard. the peddler The wit
| ness eyes caught the calm, blue one!
of His EXcellency, and to His Excel
| lency he seemed to address himself.
Your honOrs," he began, and tn,
room fell still. Il am the formerly
| Sergeant Jacob Detchard, who wa!
| logged and run out of the army 10y
General Wilton, because of cruelty t,
the men, and of INSTRUMENTATION anC
| drunkenness. But, your hOnors, / wa!
| once a different man, as His Excel
| lency, the general could tell you. / wa!
born with a conscience, and the gooC
God has said that man born with {
conscience cannot destroy it, how
! ever low he may sink"
The prisoner paused after this strang,
| preamble.
Yesterday, your honors, His Excel
lency sent for me, and he said: "Detch
ard, you have bad reputation, but
want to thank you for the time whel
hot,
the Hessian at Trenton And you
hOnOrs, the greatest gentleman in Am
erica reached forward and took IN,
hand that wicked hand of mine, whicl
has done nothing hut bad things sine
l took to drink and the devil took m!
heart. And, your honors as His Exec:
lency held my hand, he looked into m!
eyes and he said: What Detchard, i
the truth about Captain Burton?' Thel
conscience was stirred in me- under hi
eyes, and / said: i lied. 1t was a Ii
from beginning to end. l put the dog
at the tavern up to the robbery. I di,
it because l wanted to bring disgrac
on General Wilton
The speaker turned about and face
| the court.
Governor Clinton has since hun;
three of those men for other crimes.
am ready your honors, to hear my pun
ishment."
The witness stopped, with his fac
bent forward on his breast. Suddenl.
another voice-the voice of the genera
I himself-was heard
, II want to say that I, for one, woul,
like an impression of this court, to tn
effect that former Sergeant Jaco
, | Detchard has acted today as a brav
man. His case-that of false swear
ing and of assault and robbery-is,