Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-11-04
CHATTER Nv.

piled In drifts so deep that In many
places In the city horses could not make
their way. At the Chestnut street front
Of the State House men were busy IN
shoveling away the snow. for In that
building high court was held. And up
Chestnut to Sixth. and thence through
Walnut. oxen were wallowing with heavy
drags. making path to and from the
prison.
At II o'clock In the forenoon court.
consisting OF general officers OF the brit.
islf army. was convened. at the head OF
which was Gen. Knyphauscn. gentleman
~ and polite. but with tigers claws DC
meath the velvet. II was assembled III
the hall where the Contipcntnl CONGRESS
had held its sessions, and many onicers
not of tho court were present. for a case
was to be tried which was Of more than
passing interest.
At Il given signal the prisoner to be
tried was led In by a sergeant. followed
by two stout soldiers, and placed in front
Of the dnis upon which the members OF
the court were seated. After few pre-
lininnry rornnlities knyphausen address
ed the prisoner. His accent was strongly
German. but he spoke English correctly.
prisoner. IL your name Robert Sea-
ton?'
What could It avail the youth to deny
his name? Why should he deny anything
that could be clearly and directly proved
against him! 1t could only be worse than
useless. 80 he answered:
at IT,"
'Are you an officer Of the insurgent
army commanded by George washing
ton?'
II hold the rank OF captain Of cavalry
In the American army, commanded BY
Gen. Washington"
The president Of the court then signi-
fed to the prisoner that he might sit, af-
ter which Lieut.. Col. Simcoe was called
upon.
The coloncl's story was very direct and
concise, US we know II. He knew the
man who had claimed the name Of John
Tremninc, ind had borne pass bearing
that name. us the same who now nc-
knowlcdged himself to be Robert Sea-
ton, and as the same, also, whom he had
captured ut the house on the Walnut
street court.
Simcoc's orderly. Duston. then gave his
testimony: and he was followed by the
sergeant who had discovered the prisoner
hiding In an upper chamber. and who ap-
pearcd with his head bound up and his
right arm In sling.
The trial was not long. After the men,
bers Of the court had conferred together.
and before their decision had been rem.
dered, the prisoner craved permission to
speak. which was granted.
Gentlemen" he said, with calm dig
nifty. II know that I am being tried as
spy, and from the fact that you have
asked MT no questions concerning my
purpose or motives In visiting this town.
Judge that you hold the evidence against
me to BIZ conclusive"
'This II the evidence" returned Kny.
phausen, with extreme politencss; "yoti.
On officer Of the cncmy-entrustcd by
your chief with the command Of armed
forces for tho purpose Of raiding upon
peaceful and law-abiding friends Of the
king-are found, In time Of war, working
your way into our camp, disguised as u
loyalist, bearing false name, and ex.
hibitinR stolen passport. Your Wash
ington has hung our loyal servants upon
less prOvOcatiOn."
"Tory spies have been hanged. I admit,
cir; but only where the proof has been
found upon them. Az for me, ] am no
spy. Had ! been left to pursue my own
course, ] should have been ere this fur
distant from your lines, and thnt, too.
without having gained one atom Of
knowledge outside Of my own private At
fairs. ! am on leave Of absence, and no
man ut Valley Forge. save one trusted
friend, knows whittier l have come.
came sir, to ful6ll solemn pledge given
to q dying woman. Had my mission sue
ceeded. no harm could have come from
Il to the cause Of the king, nor did
thought of such harm have place In my
mind. call upon Goo to witcCCs that !
speak the TRUTH
(which MEANS" said Gen. Tnyphau.
sen, with bland smile, 'that though half
the insurgent army were found disguised
o. lOyalists, within our lines, We should
not MODEST them II they s0lemnly declared
that they meant no harm. Young man,
you are too much Of a soldier for that.
When you venturcd hithcr In that garb,
and with false passport. you knew full
well that yOn set your life upon the hax-
ard of detection. Can you look me In the
face and deny it?"
The patriot shrank from the dcnjal of
q truth 40 sclf-evident. Such dcuiol would
have been more than folly. lie could ONLY
return his questionsr's look In silence.
Another consultation, very brief, and
the president again addressed the prison
or:
1.-THE finding OF the court is--That Rob-
ert Seaton. a captain Of cavalry In the
service Of the enemy, being found within
our lines, In disguise, aud with various
papers belonging to true friends of the
king upon his person. Is to be considered
rs spy from said enemy. and shall
suffer death! And the court says thai
said Robert SeatOn shall be hanged BY
the neck until he IL dead, on Thursday,
the fifth day Of March, In the yssr OF
our Lord, one thousand seven hundred
and seventy EIGHT, ut nine Of the clock In
the morning."
Tomorrow
"Yes-tO-mOrrow. Il will give the COM
mander-in-chief time to approve, and af-
ford you ample time for preparation"
And ut sign from the president the
provost marshal resumed charge OF the
prisoner, and conducted him back to the
prison, where the iron door was closed
upon MN with a auaking clang, shutting
him out from the world. and leaving him
with his own dismal thoughts.
Near the close Of the day LILLIAN East
court was In her chamber, and upon her
knees. with her face buried In her hands.
She had been trs ing to pray, hut her
senses were SO d,straught that she could
only cry out In her anguish for mercy.
mercy! While she thus knelt her door
was softly opened, and her maid came in.
This maid was Mary Darrah, a young
woman of fOur-and-t twenty, and In uen