Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-07-31

you! SaFe my life, claim me in mar
riage."
The girl stood there trembling with
emotion among her companions. Hear
Ing herself thus addressed by name by
the prisoner, she became convulsed
with agitation; almost unconsciously,
half moved by pity, half melted by
her neighbOrs, she approached the glib
bet without the police daring to pre-
vent her.
ooh. Loyse," repeated the prisoner
ardently, 81 am innocent swear it
by my eternal salvation! Demand me
In marriage, and you will have saved
my lifev'
She did not know one word to say,
she had so lost her senses, but she ex-
tended her hand, which the poor devil
seized with avidity. Seeing this, the
people in all direction began to roar:
| "a marriage, marriage! She has
claimed him! Cut the cord, hangman;
cut 1t, cut itr'
The executioner did not cut the rope,
but ne let it drop, undecided as to what
| "oo hiOSt SAPONiChL LII hilt W W. anu
as the crowd continued to below and
even become threatening the officer Of
the provostship. judging it an oppor-
tune time for delay, led the condemn
ed man back into his cell in order to
submit his peculiar case to the law.
And the people dispersed content, be-
lieving the man from that moment to
be saved.
But the stealthy cats did not so cas-
lily let go one whom they held in their
claws They had man to be hanged.
pretty little man, man over whose
hanging they licked their lips, and
here how people pretended that he
was taken out of their grasp! And
why. ask you? Under the most fool
ish of pretexts, in the name Of some RI
diculous custom, some illegal pretense
which granted grace, full. free and Inn
mediate, to any condemned man whom
a woman declared in public to desire
in lawful wedlock. Who ever had
heard of an equal subterfuge?
But. ali, traditional or written. the
law Is the law, and the case in ques-
ton had to be elucidated! Unwillingly
rather than willingly they opened an
inquest upon the matter in hand to
learn whether or not so unreasonable
usage had ever at any period had
power by law, which inquest finally es-
tabl!shed that no similar case had been
presented since the time Of the con-
quest in Calais, but that previous TO
that date there had been many such
cases. more particularly in Flanders
and in Artois than in Picardy.
In consideration of these indecisive
conclusions the enemies Of Dullart urg-
ed the magistrates to override the law,
and the magistrates did not demur. 1t
was the governor who placed an OBJ
stacle before them in view Of public
opinion, which had become greatly agi-
tated over a controversy which had
at stake the life Of a man made In the
image of God. Suddenly that dignitary |
called to mind the example of prudence
offered of yore to the world by that |
worthy magistrate Pontius PLATE in
order that he might avoid thrusting |
his own finger between the tree and |
its bark. In place, Of announcing his
fears in public he appealed to his mas
ter. King Edward, the fourth of that
name. to decide the matter according to
his own good pleasure.
The monarch judiciously estimated
that one man more or less upon the gal
lows was of small value in enhancing
his glory and bespoke clemency for the
case under consideration. He ordained
then that the old usages should be con-
formed with and that full pardon be
awarded the condemned man, under
the condition, be it well understood,
that the solicitor Of his love hold him
July to his engagement.
So 1t came to pass that the good jesse
had the rare and marvellous fortune to
spouse a gentle and well favored maid
IN after the approved fashion instead
If the cold and grimac,ng death and
% be indebted to his wife for that
which ordinarily men owe to their
only-that is to say. his life.
A similar occurrence took place
short time afterward Unexpectedly at
he city of Rouen. As certain thief
! native of Hautvillers, was conduct
ID to his fate, loud old woman step
bed out of the crowd below and declar-
ID that she desired him in marriage.
The prisoner. astonished, considered |
then, remarking that the |
lforesaid person was homely bag.
hook his head and pursued his way to
he gallows. observing to the execu-
Toner:
"The wench. don't want herp'
And in moment he was welded to .
he gallows.-Chicago Tribune. Il