Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-18
A Joke on Justice.
CASE ALWAYS USED AS ARGUMENT AGAINST cRcUM-
sTANTAE

For many weeks the body of William
Shaw had been hanging in chains from
a gibbet near Edinburgh. In daylight
and darkness, sunshine and storm, the
poor husk of that unfortunate man
swung and creaked. Such a spectacle
was not uncommon 200 years ago, but
usually the victim had friends or SYM
pathizers. who gave the passing tribute
Of : tear. William Shaw, however, was
an object of general execra ton; and
passers by shook their fists at his
sWaying form and said his fate was
TOO good for him. Parents took their
children to see that shriveled relic of
humanity, for no moral lessons could
be too violent in those days and eau
TONED them to mark and remember
the punishment of a man who slew his
own daughter as bonnie lass as there
was in Edinboro town.
Then one day a clergyman and sew
erai officers Of the law, followed by
many citizens, went to that wayside
gibbet and tenderly took down all that
was left of William Shaw. The re-
mains were borne TO the consecrated
ground of church cemetery, and there
buried with all pions forms. The min
istcr made a talk that melted all the
hearers to tears; and representatives OF
the law planted a flag on the grave
when the dirt had been filled in.
For Justice had made a terrible blum
der. and was doing what she could to
| remedy things. II wasn't much. and
William Shaw was too dead to appre-
eiate it.
Shaw was a quiet. industrious, God
fearing man, who occupied one side of
double house in Edinburgh, his
daueter Catherine being his house
keeoer. She was beautiful girl. who
had many suitors. and, with a perver-
sty that has distinguished many beau
tifuI girls since the world was new,
she chose as her fayorite man who
was unworthy. He was fond of hold
ing nigh wassail with reckless COM
papions, he looked upon honest toll as
n nuisance, and there We're many
stories concerning his criminal exploits.
Catherine had winning smiles for this
undesirable citizen, but she had moth
ing but frowns for certain Aleck
Graham, who wanted to marry her Sc
| bad that his bosom aehed
AIeek was all a young man should
he. He worked like Sam Hill and saw
| ed his money and already owned con-
| siderable property. He had no bad
ba hits and he was handsome and agree
able. Many a damsel longed to be ms
bride. but he yearned for Catherine
and Catherine yearned for her black
sheep.
1t is not strange that William Shaw
| was grieved and aggravated. Any sa1e
and sane parent would be incensed
over such condition of affairs. Many
and many time he talked to Cath
erlne. pleading and arguing with her
| trying to induce her to appreciate the
merits of Graham. and to turn thu
other man down. Neither is it strang'
| If he lost his temper once in wniie
when the girl stubbornly protested
| that she'd marry the man of her choice
or die an old maid.
| The other side of the double house
was occupied by a man named Nor
rison. and il seems clear that Mr.. Nor
rison had n long nose and longer ears
for when the trouble came upon Shaw,
Morrison could repeat from memory
entire dialogues he had heard with his
ear to the keyhole.
One evening father and daughter had
a longer discussion than was usual.
listening to every word. He heard the
girl say, Cruel father, thou art the
cause of my DEATH Then Shaw left