Year: 1859

One OF the most striking cases OF
presence of mind and self-possesion Of
which we have any recollection, came to
light on Il trial which took place some
years since in Ireland. The story LOOKS
like fiction, but we have reason to be-
leve it is true. A woman travelling
along a road to join her husband, who
was soldier quartered at Athlone, was
Joined by pedlar, who was goinging the
same way. They entered into converse
tion during walk of some hours, and as
the day began TO wane, they agreed that
they should stop for the night at house
of entertainment, and pursue their ped
estrain journey the next day. They
reached an humble inn, situated in a
lonely spot by the road sid e, and iatigued
after long days walk, they were glad
TO find themselves under roof. Having
refreshed themselves with the substantial
supper set before them, they expressed a
wish to retire They were shown into
the travellers room, and went to rest in
their respective beds The pedlar, before
retiring had called the landlord aside and
given into his keeping the pack which he
had unstrapped from his back tlll the
morning, telling him that it contained a
considerable sum of money and much
valuable property. They were not long
in bed before the pedlar fell into a sound
sleep; but the poor woman, perhaps from
over fatigue, or from thoughts OF meet
ing her husband next day, lay awake. -
A couple of hours might have passed.
when she saw the door slowly opened, and
person entering holding light, which
he screened with his hand. She instantly
recognized in him one of the young men
she had seen below-son to the landlord


lie advanced with stcaltly steps to the
b,d5ide Of the pedlar, and watched him
fr few seconds. lie then went out
and entered again with his brother and
father, who held in his hand a large pew


ter basin. They went on tiptoe to the
bedside where the pedlar lay in a deep
s'eep. One of the young men dr0w out
knife, and while the father held the
blsin so as to catch the blood he cut the
poor vidtim's throat from ear TO ear. a
slight, half-audible groan, and all was
still, save the cautious movements of the
party engaged in the deed They had
brought in with them a large sack, into
which they quickly thrust the unrcsisting
body. The poor woman lay silent in her
bed, fearing that hor turn would come
mkt She heard low mutterings among
the men, from which she soon gathered
that they were debating whether they
should murder her too, as they feared that
s'le might have it in her power to betray
them.


One of them said he was sure she was
asleep, and that there was no occasion to
trouble themselves more; but to make
sure of this case one of them came to the
bedside with the candle in his hand, and
the other with a knife. She kept her
eyes closed as if in sleep, and had such
complete command over herself as not to
betgay in her countenance any sign that
she was conscious of what was going on.
The candle was placed close to her eyes ;
the knife drawn across close to her throat;
she never WINGED, or showed by aay
m0YcnIUnJ Of fJdtdre or Of limb t5at she
apprehendcd danger. SO the men whis-
pered that she was sound asleep--that
nothing was to be feared from her, and
they went out of the room, removing the
sack which contained the body of the
murdered man. How long must that
night Of horror have seemed to the poor
lone woman-how frightful was its still
ness and darkness The presence Of
mind which had so astOnishingly enabled
her to act part TO which she owed her
life, sustained her through all the trying
scenes which she had yet to pass. She
did not hurry from her room at an un-
reasonable hour, but waited until she
heard all the family astir for sometime
she then went down and said she believed
she had oversight herself in consequence
of being greatly tired She asked where
the pedlar was, and was told that he was
in too great a hurry to wait for her, but
that he had left sixpencc to pay for hen
breakfast. She sat down composedly &c
that meal, and forced herself to partalC
with apparent appetite of the food sci
before her. She appeared unconscious o
the eyes which with deep scrutiny were
fixed upon her. When the meal was
over, she took leave Of the family, and
went on her way without the least appear
ancc Of discomposure or mistrust She
al proceeded but short way when she
was joined by two strapping-l looking wo
men. One look was sufficient to convince
her that that they were the two young
men, and one thought to assure her that
she was yet IN their power, and on The
very verge of destruction. They walked
side by side, entered into conversation
a,'sed her where she was going, and told
Ler that their road lay the samo way
they questioned her as 10 whore she had
lodged the night before, and made mos
IN mute inquiries about the family inhab
itiag thc house of entertainment. Her
aaswers were quite unembarrassed, anC
she sal | the family appeared TO be decent
and c. vi, aud hal treated her very we'll
For two hours tho young men continued
by her side, and Watching with the mos
fc-utilizing gla1cos any change in hel
coantc lancc aid king questions whicl
hal she not been fl,lly-posscsscd, might
ha r pat her of her guard. II was no
till her ,ly,alsl companions had left her
and III slo say hpr husband comm,