The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-11
DEVEREUX.

Down In Alabama they tell strange
story about man who succeeded In cheat
ing tho gallows by clever ruse As he
lived respectable life afterward, and some
Of his children are still living, his real
name is not given. We will call him
Devereux.
William Devereux was rising young
lawyer Of good family, married to an ac-
oomplishcd wife and possessed Of q large
number Of admiring and devoted friends
Indeed he was one Of those magnetic per-
SONS having the fortunate faculty of max
ing strong and loyal friends of nearly all
who came In contact with him.
But in the town where he lived there
was considerable dissipation Of certain
kind. Devereux became u member of o
choice circlc Of card players. He lost mon
ey Of Others with which he had been In
trusted. For long time he managed to
keep this state Of affairs concealed by q
sort Of system Of robbing Peter to pay
Paul and to meet his obligations as thoy
matured. But period came when Will,
liam Devcreux realized that these things
could be concealed no longer, and the day
of exposure and disgrace came ever nearer.
It was In the old fashioned times when
There wero no railroads, no telegraph, no
means Of travel save over Ill kept roads,
GENERALLY on horseback. 1t was before tho
day when drafts, bills of exchange and
similar banking conveniences for facilitat-
Ing money transfers had reached anything
like modern perfection and payments wero
made at q distance by sending tho money
itself.
1t was also the custom of the various
county collectors and treasurers to make
yearly trips to the state capital, carrying
such moneys as had been collected in their
districts on behalf Of the state and tho nec-
essary papers and vouchers and have an
annual settlement for tho years receipts
and disbursements.
Now, ut the time when Devereux's af.
fairs were most desperate, his own county
treasurer started out on horseback with
the state money, q large sum, in a pair Of
saddlebags, to effect his annual account
ing.
On the road he was Joined by fellow
traveller, who afterward was proved to DO
Devereux. They put up one night at
roadside tavern, occupying the same room.
Next morning the treasurer was found
dead in bed his throat cut from ear to CAR
His companion had disappeared, and the
sRddlobags, with their contents, were also
missing. The countryside was aroused,
bloodhounds were brought out, and fierce
chase Of some hours resulted in Devereu1
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 tho missing money or papers
was found upon him.
These were the facts in tho case. When
the news passed from traveller to traveller
along the country roads and finally reached
Devereux's homo town, there was ire
mendous sensation, further heightened
when the damning circumstances of his
business affairs came to light and made
clear the motive of tho crime.
Nevertheless many of his friends were
still loyal, strong family influence was OK
erted In his behalf, the best lawyers wcro
employed, and every effort was made to
FREQ him from tho 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 q cell In
the jail at the little town Of st. Stephens,
closely guarded, within a few days of the
date appointed for his execution, with all
prospect of escape seemingly cut off.
In spite of the enormity of his crime
there began to BIO great deal of sympathy
for tho man who lay in Jail awaiting death.
His youth, his handsome face, his grace
full, dignilled bearing, his calm courage,
pnn fui mr.
sistonce in the declaration of his innocence,
all combined to prodl.se this effect. He
expressed no luminosity toward witnesses,
Judge, jury or prosecutor, simply stating
that he was an unfortunate victim of re-
markable circumstances, from which lie
could blame no one for drawing tho mis-
taken Inference Of his guilt
Tho sheriff who guarded him was Of tho |
number of those thus impressed, and in |
his secret heart deeply sorrowod ut tho |
prospect Of his sad duty, although he re-
laxed not at all In vigilance and the adop- !
ton of every precaution to prevent es
cape.
To this officer the prisoner frequently |
expressed the firm belief that he would not |
bo hanged. He assured him that, how.
ever, no 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 tho one fatal day
tho sheriff found tho prisoner visibly agi-
tatcd and In en- excited state, noticeably
different from his usual calnncss In an
swer to tho officers question as to tho rem
son Devereux gave the following explana-
ton:
II have had" he said, - most extraor-
binary experience 1t camo to me last
night in the form Of dream, SO real, dis
tinct and different from the usual hazy
dimness Of ordinary visions that believe
1t to DO tho premonition of an actual event.
l cannot rid myself of this Impression. I
expect 1t may seem foolish to you or the
result of the broodings and half waking
Of q man in my condition, but
nevertheless will toll 1t to you.
Last night dreamed was standing
On the scaffold facing thousands of people.
The scene was as real to me as tho actual.
ty itself. / had spoken q fow words Of
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