Cañon City record., 1902-09-04
AN ANCIENT EDICT
(Original.1

very disproportionate to the crime.
During the reign of King Edward ~.
Of England II young girl of Yorkshire
was wooed by two lovers. the one
a young farmer OF her own rank. the
other the profigate son of a wealthy
merchant. Robert Dangerfield. IL.
farmer. held the principal place in
MarJory's affections. but Tom Ricketts.
the merchants son. being heir to great
prospective wealth, was rival TO be
dreaded. Ricketts, was great rasca!
and at first never Intended to marry
the girl, but Marjory was well able
to take care OF herself, and the young
scapegrace soon discovered that he
could only have her. II Mt all. after Il
legitimate wedding ceremony. AS soon
as he came unto this condition Mar
jory. possibly In order to tantalize
him declared that SIZE Intended. after
all, to wed Robert pangeriield.
! Ricketts, by this tine was madly in
love and ready to commit any crime
to gain the girl. One dark night lie
stole II sheep from one of his fathers
tenants. carried it TO the cottage of his
rival and tcthered it to the doorpost
Robert awoke in the morning and was
astonished to find the sheep, which.
/ with the simple faith Of that day, he
considered II gift sent him from
heaven. Tom Ricketts, told the owner
that he had seen his animal In posses
sion of DanEerield, The young farmer
was arrested and thrown into prison
on charge of sheep stealing Then
Ricketts, rode to the home OF Nlarjory
to tell her the news;
"Dangurheld has been sheep stealing.
He Is in prison and will be tried and
hanged. DO not waste more time. Mar
gerry in listening to men of low de
gree. Set the day for our wedding.
I We will travel and see foreign lands.
I and when we return will build a cas-
tie for you 10 live in"
1 Now, Marjory was no fool. She
knew that Ricketts, was in earnest.
but she distrusted him Furthermore.
she had viii of her own aud usually
took the opposite side from sheer OBJ
stinacy.
81 won't marry you. Tom Ricketts,.
she said iii you build twenty castles
am going to marry Robert Danger
field"
"You mean If Robert Is not hanged"
81 will marry him whether be is
hanged or not"
Marjory visited Dangeriield In prison
and asked him what she could do to
save him Her lover bade her go 10
Bleckstun. famous lawyer of that
name and ask him II he could suggest
any way out OF the difficulty Bleck-
stun familiarized himself with the case.
then questioned Marjory.
I.tsa tI...n col
he said.
81 do
"And will marry him If he Is ac-
qultted?"
"Yes. and if he is hanged"
what. Marry him in prison on the
eve OF execution
Il will marry him at the foot OF the
gallows.-
The lawyer bade her 20 and tell the
prisoner that there was hope for him.
but that his escape from death, If at
all. would be by a hairs breadth
Dangerlicld was tried. but the law
yer did not appear to defend him. The
evidence against him was so strong.
D the sheep having been found tethered
to his door. that he was pronounced
guilty and sentenced TO he hanged.
He offered to decide the matter by
combat with Ricketts,. whom he sus-
pected OF having brought the misfor.
tune upon him. but Ricketts, declined
on the ground that he was not the
owner OF the sheep
The day OF the execution was holl-
day. as all such days were at that time.
though DnnGerticlds ncighbors We're
plunged In grief, for he was much re
spected among them. and they did not
see why he should have stolen one
sheep when he was the possessor of
several hundred AlarJory went with
him to the EallOws. and, seeing Tom
Ricketts, by the way among the lockers
OH, she gave him scowl of defiance
and hatred. on arriving at the place
of execution she east glance over the
assembled multitude and was aston
ished to see among them the lawyer
Bleckstun
When all was ready and the hang
man was about to adjust the moose.
Marjory cried out:
81 claim this man In marriage"
There WIS the silence of surprise
among the spectators then further as
| constituent when Bleckstun arose from
his seat and said In loud voice:
"And claim him as a free man
"Who are you?" asked the sheriff.
81 am Edmond Bleckstun.'
There was hum In the assembly.
for all knew of the wonderful legal
wisdom of the renowned Bleckstun.
"On what ground do you claim the
prisoner"
"Under an edict Of his most gracious
majesty King Edward ". which com
mands that when man is to be exc
cuted for crime II any woman shall de
/ La. L.. q