Saint Mary's beacon., 1897-10-14
AN ELECTRICAL SLIP.

/ plea had broken down, and Aiberi
Prior was sentenced to be hanged
By the neck until he was dead, and
might the Lord have mercy on hia
soul. Every body agreed that il
was q righteous verdict, but now
that he was sentenced they added,
Poor fellow
Albert Prior was q young man
who had more of his own way than
was good for him. His own family
father, mother, brothers and sis
ters--had given away to him so
much that he appeared to think
the world at large should do the
same. The world differed with
him. Unfortunately the first to op-
pose his violent will was woman
u girl almost. She would have
nothing to do with him and told
him so. He stormed of course, but
did not look upon her opposition as
serious. No girl in her senses could
continue to refuse young man of
his prospects in life. But when he
heard that she had become engaged
to young Bowen, the telegraph op-
orator, Prior's rage passed all
bounds. He determined to fright
en- Bowen out of the place and call
ed at the telegraph office for that
londable purpose, but Bowen was
the night operator and was absent.
The day man, with a smile. not
knowing what he did said Bowe
would likely be found at the Park
er place, where Miss johnson lived
with her aunt, her parents being
dead.
Prior ground his teeth aud de-
parted. He found Miss johnson
at home, but alone. There was q
stormy scene, ending with the trag-
edy. He fired four times at her.
keeping the other two bullets for
himself. But he was a coward ard
cur at heart, and when it came to
the point of putting the two bullets
into himself he quailed and thought
1t best to escape. Then electricity
did him its first disservice. Ii sent
his description far and wide, captu
ring him 80 miles from his home.
He was taken back to the county
town where he lived and lodged in
Jail.
Public opinion, ever right and
all powerful, now asserted itself
The outward and visible sign of its
action was on ominous gathering OF
dark browed citizens OUTSIDE the
Jail. There were determined NUT
terings among the crowd rather
than outspoken anger, but the mob
was the more dangerous on that ac-
count. One man in its midst thrust
his closed hand toward the sky,
and from bis hand dangled q rope.
A crv like the growing of a pack
of wolves went up as the mob saw
the rope. and they clamored at the
gates of the Jail. Lynch him
Jailor, give up the keys p was the
cry.
The agitated sheriff knew his du
ty, buthesitated to perform 1t.
| But the keys were not given up.
The clamor had ceased, young
man with pale face aud red eyes
stood on top of the stone wall that
surrounded the Jail. He held mp
his hand, aud there was instant ST.
lence. They all recognized him as
Bowen, the night operator, to whom
she had been engaged.
Gentlemen he cried, and his
clear voice reached the outskirts oi
the crowd, don't do it. Don't put
an everlasting stain on the fair
name of our town. No one has
ever been lynched in this county,
and none in this State so far as
know. Don't let rs begin it. ii
thought the miserable scoundrel
inside would escape-if | thought
his money would buy him off-pd
be the man to lead you to batter
down those doors and hang him or
the nearest tree, and you know it.
There were cheers at this. sBui
he won't escape. His money cam
buy him of. He will be hanged b,
the law. Don't think it's mere,
I'm preaching, it's vengeance !,
Bowen shook his clinched .sst at th,
Jail. That wretch there has bee,
in hell ever since he heard you
shouts. He'll be in hell. for he's
bastard, until the time his tremb
ling legs carry him TO the scaffold