The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-25

Imprisonment was short, Mr.. Morrelli
sentence was not too severe; but tn
| Judge at the same time directed tha'
one OF the wives-the daughter Of th'
| Southwark clergyman was the lady Sc
lected-should enter an action agains
4 him for G5000 damages, and REMAND
| him 60 Newgate till this claim should
DE settled. This was probably con
sidered tantamount 10 Imprisonment
| for life.
Though his prospects could not wei
! have looked more gloomy Morrell die
not despair. Before long he contrivec
to get himself transferred from New
| gate 10 the more easy custody OF tho
| Kings Bench and when there exerteC
| all his remarkable powers OF pleasing
| on the marshal He was successful,
| a certain amount OF liberty was al
| lowed him. and he showed his apprecia-
| ton of il by giving his patron leg bail
| A heavy reward was offered for his
| recapture but with no result.
But all these events had brought
| him well into the downhil Of life lie
| had no longer those personal graces
which fitted him for the gay deceiver,
and his career as a bigamist was prac-
tically over. lie made few more mar
riages; they were not brilliant ones
mostly with mature servantmaids for
the sake OF their savings-but rather
devoted his talents TO frauds of other
kinds, and these were always ingenious
and often comic. For Morrell II he
had no conscience. had fine
sense OF humor. Indeed the last
exploit OF his life was scarcely more
swindle than jest, and he may be
said to have laughed at the world as
he left IL.
ON a certain December afternoon, as
Mr.. Thomas Cullin, baker, stood at his
shop door. l.. the Strand, he observed a
person, of perhaps sixty years of age,
looking about MIN i'm some perplexity.
His clothes were not new or smart. but
they and his bearing were those of
gentleman. Mr.. Cullen politely asked il
he could be of service.
The stranger answered that he was
newly come from the country. and was
looking for a lodging The shopkeepcl
invited him 10 step within.
lie complied. He had that easy way
which makes a man at home every
where. lie spoke Of himself without re-
serve. He was from Oxfordshire, from
the neighborhood OF Banbury, from a
place called Swacliffe. his name was
Humphrey Wickham. His lodging
must be a respectable one. though. as
he owned with a laugh. all he had in
his pocket was two or three shillings.
but this mattered little, since anyone
who knew his country could answer
for him.
Now as IL happened. Mrs. Cullin was
from Oxfordshre The places and fam
lilies OF which the stranger spoke had
been familiar TO her girlhood She
knew something OF the village of Swa-
cliffe. and of the Importance of that
family of which Captain Humphrey
Wickham was the head. IL was an
honor TO have one OF the magnates
of her own county beneath her roof
And when the captain found that he
was, so 20 speak, among his own peo-
pie, he entered upon his affairs more
fully than before. He explained how IL
happened that he was i'm London so
dressed and ill-provided. He
had been bondsman for a person who
had since -ubscunded, and mad sworn
In his anger that not one penny of the
money would he ever pay He had
stuck TO his word. but he had been
threatened with arrest for this unjust
debt. and TO avoid IL had left home
without an hours notice.
The upshot was that he remained
with the Cullins, and most charming
lodger they found him. His temper
and manners We're so pleasant that he |
was the idol OF all in the house. But it |
was soon seen that he was far from |
we'll. A doctor was sent for, who pro- |
his malady - be mortal The |
,aptain heard his sentence with such |
'ortitude as became Christian gen.
leman and an old soldier: though he |
'aid that he could have wished to re-
over. If only TO repay the kindness
# the worthy Cullin family. Still,
here was one thing that a dying man
'ould do. He asked that lawyer
night be sent for. and gave instruc-
ions as to the making of his will.
Cullin was overseer of his parish.
nd good churchman. He suggested
hat the clergyman should also be call
q in; the sick man eagerly assented |
he rector of ST. Clement Danes came.
nd was impressed by the devout
rame of mind in which he found the
Yet there. was a point on
ihich spiritual guidance was required
that rash oath by which the captain
ad pledged himself never TO pay the
800 bond-was he right i'm holding by
The divine ruled that, as the debt
'as lawful. ii ought to be paid. and to
his decision Captain Wickham sub
lifted; he would provide that il should |
G discharged. The last consultations of
aligion were then administered. and |
eceived by him in an exemplary
lanner
His affairs. spiritual and temporal. |
eing settled, the worthy gentleman |
almly awaited his end. He had still
pleasant word for all who came near
i'm, and on January he passed plac-
lily away.
The will had been confided to Mr..
ullin's care, with an intmation that
{ would find himself remembered i'm
. When il was opened. he found
imself named as one of the executors.
he estate and mansion OF Swacliffs
ere left by Captain Wickham to
nsman, but together with various be-
uests TO connections and friends i'm
there were legacies to
ullin and his family amounting TO
,me e2.000 lt was lengthy
)cument. and among other matters
lie deceased had left three horses
bay, a black. and a dapple- -gray-to
nerent persons, the bay to Mr. Gull
n.
A costly coffin was ordered. ana
operations made for removing the
mains to ONfordshre with suitable
while a man was dispatch
10 Gazington. In that county. TO Mr.. ,
lillian Wickham. the captains heir.
letter from Mr.. Cullin told OF the
d event which had occurred. and
entioned the main provisions of the !
III The messenger was directed IN ,
de back on the bay geding from