The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-09-25

ordered To undergo the ignomini
Gus punishment which the law in
flicts.
Young in years and young in
crime, the sentence of death was
not communicated to me without
producing the most agonizing
sensations, arising out of a fear
of an awful hereafter and the love
of life. Besides | had an aged
mother, to whom l was fondly at.
tached by the ties of natual affec-
ton and it panied me to the soul
to think that the ignominious
death of beloved son must EN-
bitter the evening of her life and
bring down her gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave. Through
the intercession of friend | was
permitted to the use of pen, ink
and paper, to write to my poor
mother who lived in Center coun.
ty. l informed her of my dis.
tressed and perilous situation,
and besought her to use her inhu.
ence in my behalf. l waited for
some time in dreadful suspense
and counted the lingering days
with great anxiety, until my ears
were at length greeted with the
cheering intelligence "your moth
er is come" Gen. Wilkinson
whose character for humanity is
already well known, freely grant
ed US private interview and the
afflicted mother EN- braced her un-
happy son, in solemn silence,
without either of us being able to
speak word for some time. She
reproached me not, but the silent
rebuke of her heart searching
eye, spoke daggers to my soul
After some time she informed
me that Judge Walker, of whose
goodness and humanity, she
spoke in the highest terms, had
lent her his horse and written let
ters in her behalf to some friends
he had in Carlisle, to interest
themselves for me.
My mother had brought with
her the family record, to prove
my age, and which she delivered
to Andrew Carothers and James
Duncan, Esqrs., my attorneys,
who made every eXertion to pro-
cure my release under the minor
act. But Judge Hamilton decid-
ed that the civil power had no
jurisdiction to interfere with the
sentence of a Court Martial, and
| was again remanded to the mil
itary authority. Eventually, ow-
ing to the humane exertions of
many worthy individuals, and the
generous sentiments which filled
the noble breast of Gen. Wiikin-
son, l was reprieved, and my SEN
tence cOmmuted to impriSon-
ment.
l was thrown into the Guard
House, fettered and chained, and
the time for which | was confined
being indefinite, | was very un-
easy and very unhappy. After a
weeks painful trial of miseries
the irons were all taken off me
save a heavy chain, which was
fastened to my ankle and to one
end of which was affixed cannon
ball weighing between 30 and 40
pounds. Q By the aid of Barlow
knife which / hacked on the bars
of my prison window, | succeed
ed in saving the chain in such a
manner, that / could, when ia
vorable opportunity occurred,
break it off and make my escape.
BY lifting plank in the floor l
had contrived to get into the Gel
lar of the building but not being
able to get out of the cellar with
out much trouble and digging, l
returned and replaced the plank.
Sometimes for the exercise and
to amuse myself, 1 would lay the
chain and clog aside and throw
somersets on the floor, &c, which
| was nowise careful to conceal
from the soldier who stood sen
try over me. And he gave him
self little trouble about whether
the chain was on or off, so that |
passed examination in the morn
ing with the sergeant. ! had also
] 20 bon rnnoh Mains 70 ino.cot;o4o