The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-18
NEARLY HANGED

I'm tho PhIlippInes-SaVedsIy; Gen.
BE. Kelly. n
New York Press: Over in me Phil
ipplnes, wearing the blue Of Uncle Sam.
is man who as a Confederate Just e.
capped the moose Of his Union captors In
the Civil war.
In 1868 Capt. James T. Payne was a
member OF McLennan's battery. McGre-
por's battalion, Truboden's brigade Of
Inc Confederate army. In May In o
Sght at Parsons Mills. he was q ptured
by the Union troops and taken to
Rowlesburg. where. with other Confed-
crate prisoners he was confined In pris-
on. The captain some time ago told
mis- story Of his experience:
zone morning, about week after my
capture, an officer and two privates en-
tered the guardroom. While the officer
stood near the centre Of the room, the
priyates stood silently and deliberately
among the prisoners. closely scanning
each countenRnce and personnel They
spoke no word. nor betrayed the slight
est interest or excitement until they ar
rived opposite the spot where
stood, gazing out Of q window. When
they got close to me both men stopped
and stood still for moment, gazing in
tently at my features and running their
eyes up and down my person. Then.
Apparently satisfied, they turned and
went out OF the room TO the office adj
Joining, where after another glance in
my direction. they whispered something
TO each other.
Il was somewhat mystlfled by their
actions, but had not the slightest sus-
plcIon OF their intent and purpose until
late that afternoon, when an officer
came In and informed me that hnd
been Identified and recognized US Red
mond, notorious Confederate scout
and spy. OF course, / denied the
charge. and reiterated the statement
had given at the first OF my name, COM
maud, and where had been captured,
but the officer only shrugged his Shout
ders and replied that would hRva an
opportunity to prove my story before
court martial, which would meet the
next day. Even then, the enormity OF
the charge, the danger and risk which
would necessarily follow did not strike
mt with full force, and / vent back
among my companions, clfeless and
thoughtles sas ever. The next day
was taken by guard to TIE marquee
OF the commander, where Z found a
military court ready to proceed. Here
the two strangers appeared and swore
to my identity declaring that they had
frequently seen me and recognized me
In Cumberland. Nd. They had no hes
itatIon in swearing to my identity as
Redmond, the spy, except as to one
polnt-both OF them said that looked
10 them somewhat yOungeG that when
they last saw me, but this change IN
my countenance they attributed to con-
1nement in prison. and to- my having
shaved of some OF the beard which they
said had worn when last seen. When
Il came to my turn TO produce evidence
in rebutral, found that all Of my COM
rades in my command who had been
captured with me had been taken sew
eral days before to another point ana
that not single man remained VINO
could corroborate my statement as 10
my Individuality. askedCths court TOT
a continuance to give me an opportuni-
~ to produce testimony in my, BEHALF
but was refused, and remanded to pris-
on to await a verdict. In about an
hour an officer came to the guardhouse
with the verdict, which was guilty and
the sentence was death.
~ learned that Just one week would
be given to me in which TO prepare my
self, That evening wus taken away
from among my comrades, who had
done ali they could to coinlpFt me, and
was confined in a small stone cellar,
which had only one narrow window on
the western side OF the house, There'
In that cold. chilly. underground room
/ was placed, chained to aApost, which
stood in the centre Of the room as a
support to the upper floor. My chalh
was barely long enough to permit me
TO reach the one window, through which
gazed from sunrise to sunset. A
guard was placed outside. and his mo-
fnonotonus tramp, tramp. ike the pen
dulum OF time, seemed to mark on the
last minutes and seconds Of my lie.
Contrabands, with wide open mouths
and staring eyes, stood opposite my VIM
dow and gazed at me with awed faces.
one DAY, after had recognized one OF
the darkies as one who had come to
look at me regularly. I talked TO him.
Having some money asked MN 10 SeI
me some tobacco, which te did. A
Thought then struck me 10 ger the OAR
ky 10 carry letter to Gen. B~t. kelIy'
the commanding officer at Cumberland
10 whom / would write and explain my
position, and ask for respite until
could have an opportunity 70 prove my
Innocence. / wrote a letter. contain
ing a full account of my capture, my
trial and all incidents connected with
t.; and when the darby came the next
day called him 10 my window and un-
der pretense OF asking him o'buy me
a tribe, told him. in a whisper what
/ wanted him to do. He refused at
first, then hesitated; but, after an e%-
PLANTATION and declaration that no
danger could attach TO him, he finally
consented and took the message, with
several dollars In money as his pay.
That darby quietly disappeared and l
meyer saw him again.
The next day l began to fear that
he had either failed to md Gem Kelly.
or had become afraid Of his vefitlre and
had DESTROYED the letter. / had now
only four days left me and ] determin-
ed 10 try again. ] succeeded In the
same manner in getting another con
,traband TO consent. to carry note TO
the general and he. too, disappeared,
sent three notes altogether, the last
one on the day before the one set Tor
my execution, and / stood mOmentnrily
hoping and alternating In despair. the
day at last arrived and ] had not
heard anything from any OF my notes!
"At 2 o'clock on the day appointed
for my execution the tap OF lnulleu
drum came, ut first family, TO my
cars: then louder and louder as the
guard approached, until they halted
few paces from my prison. An officer
approached, and, opening the door, let
in broad stream OF Gods sunlight full
into my face. almost dazzling me. My
irons were taken OF and ] was COM
manded to follow The guard sur,
rounded me, and silently we marched
through a long line Of blue coated sol
dIers, to a small, open space In the
woods, where. over limb OF a gigantic
oak, a line was thrown, and three min
utes were given To me In which to make
my peace before I died. When the