The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-03-11
The Man That
Was Hanged
By ARTHUR FITz PATRICK

After being graduated from the law
school looked about me for sn open
ing. The field seemed very crowded.
There were 300 lawyers In the place,
and all the business was confined to
quarter VI the number. concluded to
60 west.
when I first reached b.. a county
seat In what was then a territory. 1t
looked to me that had jumped from
the frying pan into the fire. found
every one ready to help me. but there
was little or 10 law business In the
place. and law was my profession. 1
was three months without u job, and
then I got criminal case.
A young man named Sargent. a COW
puncher. was accused of murder. 1t
wasn't murder at all. a miner named
(enks had grudge against him. and
he two met one day out on the plain,
FAR from every one except themselves.
jerks began firing at Sargent. and
Sargent returned his fire. killing him
without getting scratch himself.
jerks fell ON his face. and Sargent
turned him over to see his condition
aud. finding that he was dead. rode
on. intending to report the matter
when he returned to town. jerks had
some gold dust on him, and so did
Sargent A man passed jerks soon
after he was killed and. finding the
dust. appropriated it and lit out. Be-
fore Sargent reported the killing he
was arrested for it. with gold dust
IN his pocket and blood on his shirt
sleeve that he had put there by con
tact with jerks when he, had turned
him over.
II was a clear case against Sargent.
though I believed his story. was
unable to save him. and he was con-
victed and sentenced to be hanged.
He told me that he was a younger son
Of British nobleman. His family in
England had wished him to accept
living in the church controlled by his
uncle. an earl. but instead he had
come to America and became cow
boy.
confess I didn't believe this part Of
his story til the day before he was to
be executed. when letter came for
him announcing that his uncle had
died without issue and ne. Sargent,
was now Earl of BucclemOuth. This
was proof positive that he was what
he had represented himself to he. The
letter contained a draft for hundred
pounds.
There was n. reason why couldn't
save him. The man he had killed had
been popular. and his friends declared
that II Sargent were not hung legally
they would hang him. and they ap-
pointed a committee to see that the
Job was done. SO he might ms well be
hanged by the sheriff ms by the com.
mittee. For whole day ] racked my
brain for some plan to get the young
man of. Finally went to the sherin.
told him the story and asked him to
help me.
He was good man. that sheriff. and
after thinking the matter over he told
me to let the hanging so on. leaving
the matter with him. did so. and
the next day Sargent was hanged in
the presence of the officers Of the law
whose duty 1t was to witness the exc
cution and the committee appointed by
Jenks' friends to see that vengeance
was meted out to him.
The body was left hanging till those
present were satisfied that all was
over with Sargent and the last witness
had left the Jail. Then 1t was taken
down. placed In a coffin, and. since l
had put IN an application to be permit
ted to send Il to the dead mans
friends, II was delivered to me. had
1t carted to railroad station some five
miles distant. and when train going
east came along II was put into the
baggage car. I went with II. and on
reaching the border OF an adjoining
state I went into the baggage ear and
gave orders to put the box on ut the
next station. 1t was dark when
stood ON the platform beside II aud
asked tho agent to put Il In his bag
gage room.
| During the night went to this
room, made a Jimmy Of screwdriver,
lifted window nnd went inside. The
next use made Of the screwdriver
was to unscrew the I'D Of the box. and
Sargent. alive and well, stepped out.
An express due IN hour latcr was not
to stop at the station. but We Gagged
II with a lantern and got aboard. much
to the dissatisfaction Of the conductor
who swOre like . pirate ut ~.
On reaching the terminal Sargent
or. rather. the earl. cashed bis draft
and insisted on my going to England
with him, where be would pay my fee
for legal services. There was no rea'
son for a refusal. and consented. Bs
drew moro money In New York. and
We sailed ct once. for my client was
W terror iest the deception should bt
discovered and he BE- stopped by tele
graph. though with his title and his
HuA clNtANa v<s oF,v, wOuld have IN eI