The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-08
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By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

Famous In English history Is that
Duke OF Gloucester who murdered his
+, two nephews in the Tower Of London.
one of whom was the rightful heir to
! the throne and made himself king Of
England In the princes stead.
At that time there lived IN England
Robert Percy. II young man of the
most admirable qualities. 1t was some
time before the secret Of the murder
Of the young princes began to leak
! out, and when 1t did there were low
mutterings on the part Of the people
! Percy. who was familiar with the
kings treachery. was more loud spoken
than others. and Richard. aware Of
the young mans influence with the
masses and fearing that he would
bring about a revolt. ordered his arrest
on charge of high treason
On the day that Percy was conduct
ell along street leading to the Tower,
surrounded by men at arms. the curbs
were lined with sympathizers. who
breathed prayers that he might escape
the danger threatening him and NUT.
tered maledictions Oh the head Of the
tyrant.
At an upper window stood Lady
Gwendolen Blckford. a younger daugh.
ter of the Earl of Clarendon. She
looked down on young Percy. walking
erect between his guards. his bearing
indicating that he was ready and will
ing to lay down his life In cOntending
against crime. Every one believed
that he was going to his death. His
manly beauty. his noble bearing and
the crown Of martyrdom rendered him
an object Of pity to all. But to Lad;
Gwendolen he was more than this.
Within those few minutes during
which he was passing her heart left
her bosom and settled upon him. Per
cy, happening to look In her direction.
saw the lovelight in her eyes. and his
load was lightened.
Richard. earring to order Percy to
execution without trial. lest 1t excite
the people to revolt. directed attorneys
to prepare a case against him. Per
sons were hribed to swear that he had
been heard advocating the kings MS
sasslnation and placing the Duke Of
Richmond on the throne. lady Gwen
dolen, hearing Of this. begged her IA
Their to induce lawyers to defend the
accused The earl not only knew that
the case was hopeless, but did not dare
to oppose the king: consequently he
refused to have anything to do with It.
One day Lady Gwendolen went to
that quarter Of London given over to
lawyers and found Roger Moore. an
old attorney who had served her ia
ther and consulted him as to what
might be done to save young PERCY.
After listening to what the girl had to
say he replied that Percy's case was
hopeless because the king had decreed
that he should die. HE will surely be
convicted" said the old man. After
his conviction there Is but one way by
which he nay legally escape the gal.
lows. But should he 70 free under this
statute the king would doubtless find
some other way to get rid Of him."
Lady Gwendolen asked the attorney
to what law he referred. and he re.
piled that 1t was decree of King Ed.
ward w.. naming Il condition on which
man about to be hanged should go
free As soon as the girl heard the
condition her face lighted with hope
70 fulfill 1t was possible. but would it
avail IN the end:
Percy was convicted Of high treason
against the king and sentenced to be
hanged and uuartered on certain
date. At the time IN army was gath
ering under the Duke of Richmond to
dcpOSc the king. and Richard was gath
ering his forces to meet it, There had
been II former attempt to put the duke
on the throne In the kings place, but
Richard was as bold and energetic as !
he WIS wicked and had defeated all !
attempts against his authority.
There wn> no one he feared to leave |
III his rear So much as Robert Percy, |
and when he had made all prepare !
lions Ia march against his opponents !
he delayed II day To make sure that |
this dangerous enemy w;IS dead.
The day before the one set for the !
execution Lady Gwendolen Bedford !
was closctcd with Roger Moore. and !
on the following morning. when the !
crowd went To Tyburn to witness the |
hanging. these two were of the mum. !
her, and when the prisoner arrived |
they occupied seats near the scaffold /
When all was ready and the CON
demned man was about TO be swung
of Roger Moore arose and said
Mr. Sheriff. us counsel for the pris-
oner | claim his body under an edict
of King Edward w.. who dccreed that
whenever Il man is convicted of crime
and is about 10 be hanged. If there be
a woman willing to marry him. he
shall go free. This woman beside me is
willing and ready to marry the pris.
oner."
T'iS speech naturally Disconnected
the sheriff. who had never heard of
the statute. The judge who had con.
victed the prisoner was present ut the
hanging. and the matter was referred
to him. He AT once confirmed Roger