Slowly pa.s.sed the dreadful night away; and the first faint rays of morning, struggling through the narrow aperture in the wall, revealed an appalling sight. Men made hideous and inhuman by vice and wretchedness lay stretched amid the filth and dampness of that dungeon, glaring at each other with savage eyes. And soon the awful discovery was made, that one of their number had, during the night, been frozen to death!
Yes--there, beneath the _bunk_, cold and ghastly, lay the rigid corpse of a poor fellow creature, whose only crime had been his poverty! Out upon such justice and such laws, which tolerate such barbarities to one whose misfortunes should be pitied, not visited by the d.a.m.nable cruelty of the base hirelings of a corrupt misgovernment!
It is not our wish to devote much time to the relation of unimportant particulars; suffice it to say, that Dr. Sinclair was brought before the police for drunkenness, and was also charged with having violently a.s.saulted Watchman Squiggs, who had taken him in custody!
"You see, yer honor, I was going my rounds, when up comes this ere chap and knocks me down, and would have killed me, if I hadn"t hit him a light tap on the head with my club. Then I rapped for help, and--"
"That"s enough!" growled the magistrate, who had himself been drunk the night before, and was made irritable by a severe headache--"that"s enough--he struck an officer--serious offence--looks guilty--old offender--thief, no doubt--send him up for six months!"
The Doctor whispered a few words in the ear of the magistrate, who rubbed his eyes and regarded him with a look of astonishment, saying--
"Bless my soul, is it possible? Dr. Sinclair--humph! Sentence is revoked--you"re discharged; the devil!--about to send you up for six months--a great mistake, upon my word--ha, ha, ha!"
The rector turned to watchman Squiggs, and said to him, sternly--
"Fellow, when I fell into your infernal clutches, I had a watch and money about me; they are now missing; can you give any account of them?"
The watchman solemnly declared he knew nothing about them! The Doctor felt no inclination to bandy words with the scoundrel; he paused a moment to reflect upon the best course to pursue, under the disagreeable circ.u.mstances in which he found himself placed. A feasible plan soon suggested itself, and leaving the police office, he stepped into a hackney coach, and requested the driver to convey him with all despatch to Franklin house. Arrived there, he dismissed the vehicle, and ascending to Josephine"s chamber, explained to her the whole affair, and threw himself upon a sofa to obtain a few hours" necessary repose.
As soon as he had left the police office, the magistrate whispered to the watchman--
"Squiggs, I know very well that you took that gentleman"s watch and money. Don"t interrupt me--I say, _I know you did_. Well, you must share the spoils with me."
"I"ll take my oath, yer honor--"
"_Your oath!_--that"s a good one!" cried the magistrate, laughing heartily.--"d"ye think I"d believe you on oath? Why, man, you just now perjured yourself in swearing that Parson Sinclair a.s.saulted you--whereas _you_ beat him horribly with your club, with little provocation, and stole his watch and money. I know you, Squiggs; you can"t gammon me. Once for all, will you share the booty with me?"
The rascal dared not hesitate any longer; so with great reluctance he drew the plunder from his pocket, and divided it equally with "his honor," who reserved the watch for himself, it being a splendid article, of great value.
Is any one disposed to doubt the truth of this little sketch? We a.s.sure the reader it is not in the least degree exaggerated. The local magistracy of New York included many functionaries who were dishonest and corrupt. Licentiousness was a prominent feature in the characters of some of these unworthy ministers of justice. Attached to the police office was a room, ostensibly for the private examination of witnesses.
When a witness happened to be a female, and pretty, "his honor" very often pa.s.sed an hour or so in this room with her, carefully locking the door to prevent intrusion; and there is every reason to suppose that his examination of her was both close and searching.
We remember an incident which occurred several years ago, which is both curious and amusing. A beautiful French girl--a fashionable courtezan--was taken to the police office, charged with stealing a lady"s small gold watch. Her accuser was positive that she had the article about her; her pocket, reticule, bonnet, hair, and dress were searched without success. The rude hand of the officer invaded her voluptuous bosom, but still without finding the watch. "Perhaps she has it in her mouth," suggested the magistrate; but no, it was not there.
"Where can she have hidden it? I am certain she has it somewhere on her person," remarked the accuser. "I will examine her in private," quoth the magistrate, and he directed the girl to follow him into the adjoining room. His honor locked the door, and said to the fair culprit--"My dear, where have you concealed the watch?" In the most charming broken English imaginable, Mademoiselle protested her innocence of the charge, with such pa.s.sionate eloquence, that his honor began to think the accuser must be mistaken. "At all events," thought he, "she is a sweet little gipsy;" and he forthwith honored her with a shower of amorous kisses, which she received with the most bewitching _naivete_; but when he began to make demonstrations of a still more decided nature, she resisted, though unsuccessfully, for his honor was portly and powerful, and somewhat "used to things." But lo! to his astonishment, he _discovered the watch_--and in _such_ a place! French ingenuity alone could have devised such a! method of concealment, and legal research alone could have discovered it.
We left Dr. Sinclair in the chamber of Josephine, at Franklin House, reposing after the exciting and disagreeable adventures of the preceding night. He awoke at noon, somewhat refreshed, and entered a bath while Josephine sent a servant to purchase a suit of clothes, as those which he had worn were so soiled and torn as to be unfit for further service.
Reclining luxuriously in the perfumed water of the marble bath, the Doctor experienced a feeling of repose and comfort. He had long learned to disregard the "still, small voice" of his own conscience; and, provided he could reach his home and answer all inquiries without incurring suspicion--provided, also, his having been incarcerated in the watch-house should not be exposed--he was perfectly contented.
His clothes being brought him, he dressed himself, and joining Josephine in the parlor, partook of a refreshing repast; then, bidding farewell to his "lady-love," he took his departure, and proceeded to his own residence. In answer to the earnest inquiries of the members of his household, he stated that he had pa.s.sed the night with a friend in Brooklyn; and entering his study, he applied himself to the task of writing his next Sunday"s sermon.
CHAPTER XVII
_Ill.u.s.trating the truth of the proverb that "Murder will out," and containing an Appalling Discovery._
Two or three days after the above events, Dr. Sinclair was sent for by a woman lying at the point of death. He found her occupying the garret of an old, crazy tenement in Orange street; she was stretched upon a miserable bed, covered only by a few rags, and her short breathings, sunken cheeks, and l.u.s.treless eyes, proclaimed that the hand of death was upon her. Though young in years, her appearance indicated that she had pa.s.sed through much suffering, dest.i.tution and sin.
"Are you the clergyman?" she asked in a faint voice.
"I am; what can I do for you, my good woman?" said the Doctor, seating himself on a rickety stool at the bedside.
"Oh, sir," cried the invalid, evidently in great mental distress, "I want you to pray for me. Do you think there is any hope for such a sinner as I have been? I am dying, and my soul is lost--forever!"
In his own heart, the rector felt his unfitness to administer comfort in such a case, considering his own wickedness; yet he strove to quiet the uneasiness of the poor creature, by a.s.suring her that there was hope for the "chief of sinners." At her request he prayed with her; and then she addressed him as follows:--
"There is something on my mind which I must make confession of, or I shall not die easy--something that will make you shrink from me, as from a guilty wretch, who deserves no mercy. I am a _murderess_!"
"A murderess!" echoed the Doctor, starting back with horror; after a few moments" pause, he added--"proceed with your confession."
"I will, sir. Four years ago, I entered the service of Mrs. Lucretia Franklin, in Washington Place."
The Doctor started again--this time with surprise; and he listened with attentive interest to the woman"s narrative.
"Mrs. Franklin"s husband," she resumed, "was a very rich man, and very religious and strict; his daughter Sophia took after him much, and was a very good girl; but his wife and daughter Josephine were exactly contrary to him, for they were very giddy and gay, always going to theatres, and b.a.l.l.s, and such like places, keeping late hours, and acting so dissipated like, that at last Mr. Franklin was determined to put a stop to it entirely, and make them stay at home. So he told them that he shouldn"t allow them to go on as they had any longer; and having once said the word, he stuck to it. My lady and Miss Josephine were both very much dissatisfied with Mr. Franklin, on account of his being so strict with them; and I could plainly see that they began to hate him.
It is now about two years ago, and Josephine was in her sixteenth year (ah, sir, I have good reason to remember the time,) when I found myself in the way to become a mother, having been led astray by a young man, who deceived me under a promise of marriage, and then deserted me. Well, sir, my situation was at last noticed by my lady and her daughter, and one evening they called me up into a chamber, and accused me of being a lewd girl. Falling on my knees, I acknowledged my fault, and implored them to pity and forgive me, and not turn me off without a character.
Then Miss Josephine spoke harshly to me, and asked me how I dared do such a thing, and bring disgrace upon their house and family; and her mother threatened to send me to jail, which frightened me so that I promised to do anything in the world if they would forgive me. "_Will you do any thing we command you to do_, if we forgive you?" asked Mrs.
Franklin; and I said that I would. "_You must swear it_," said Miss Josephine; and getting a Bible, they made me swear a dreadful oath to do as they bid me. They then told me that there was one thing I must do, and they would give me as much money as I wanted; they said I must _kill Mr. Franklin_! On hearing such a horrible request, I almost fainted; and told them that I never would do such a dreadful thing. But they reminded me of my oath, and at last threatened and frightened me so, that I consented to do the awful deed. "_It must be done to-night!_" said Miss Josephine, and her eyes seemed to flash fire; then she gave me some brandy to drink, which flew into my brain, and I felt myself able to do anything, no matter how wicked it might be.--They staid with me until midnight, and made me drink brandy until I was almost crazy. You must know, sir, that Mr. Franklin slept in a separate room from my lady, ever since their disagreement; upon that dreadful night he retired to bed at about ten o"clock. Well--but oh, my G.o.d! how can I tell the dreadful truth!--yet I must nerve myself to confess the whole matter. At midnight, Mrs. Franklin brought into the room a small copper cup, which contained a small quant.i.ty of _lead_; this cup she held over the lamp until the lead was melted as thin as water; and then she handed it to me, and told me to go softly into her husband"s room, and _pour the lead into his ear_! I DID IT! Yes, as G.o.d is my Judge, I did it!--The poor gentleman was lying on his side, in a sound sleep; with a steady hand I poured the liquid metal into his ear--_it did not awake him!_ he merely shuddered once, and died.--The next morning he was found by his servant, stiff and cold. Some people talked of "disease of the heart," others, of "apoplexy," many, of "the visitation of G.o.d," while some shrugged their shoulders, and said nothing. But _I_ knew the secret of his death! He was buried with great pomp in the family tomb in St. Paul"s churchyard.
My confession is made. After the funeral, my lady and Josephine gave me plenty of money. "Go," said they, "to some other city, and take up your abode; you will never the mention the manner in which Mr. Franklin came to his death, for such a disclosure would bring your own neck to the halter, without injuring us--_your hand_ alone did the deed!" I went to Boston, and gave birth to a stillborn child; my money soon went and I became a common prost.i.tute.--Disease soon overtook me--but why dwell upon the misfortunes and wanderings of a wretch like me? A week ago, I found myself again in New York, the inmate of this garret; to-day I felt myself dying, and sent for a clergyman to hear my dying confession. I am exhausted; I can say no more--G.o.d have mercy on me!"
"One word more," cried the rector; "by what name were you known to the Franklins?"
"Mary Welch," she replied, faintly.
The wretched creature soon afterwards breathed her last.
The Doctor left a sufficient sum of money with the inmates of the house to defray the expenses of the woman"s funeral, and took his departure from that scene of wretchedness. As he retraced his steps to his own dwelling, his thoughts were of the most painful nature; the woman"s confession, implicating Josephine and her mother in the crime of murder, horrified him, and gave rise to the most terrible reflections. In his own heart he could not doubt the truth of the wretched woman"s statement, made as it was on her death-bed, and just as she was about to be ushered into the presence of her Maker.
"My G.o.d!" thought the rector, entering his study, and throwing himself distractedly into a seat--"to what a dreadful disclosure have I listened--Josephine the murderess of her father! Mrs. Franklin the murderess of her husband! Can it be possible?--Alas, I cannot doubt it; for why should that woman, at the awful moment of her dissolution, tell a falsehood? I remember now the circ.u.mstances of Mr. Franklin"s death; it was sudden and unaccountable, and privately spoken of with suspicion, as to its cause; yet those suspicions never a.s.sumed any definite shape.--The poor gentleman was buried without any post mortem examination, and the singular circ.u.mstances of his death were gradually forgotten. But now the awful mystery is revealed to me; he met his death at the hands of that miserable woman, at the instigation of Josephine and her mother."
But the Doctor"s most painful thoughts arose from the reflection that he had formed a criminal connection with such a vile, guilty creature as Josephine. He had learned to tolerate her licentiousness and her consummate hypocrisy; he had loved her with pa.s.sionate fervor, while he had only regarded her as a frail, beautiful woman, who, having become enamored of him, had enticed him to her arms. But now she stood before him as a wretch capable of any crime--as the murderess of her own father; and all his love and admiration for her were turned into a loathing hate; and while he had no intention of denouncing her and her mother to the authorities of justice, he determined to have but one more interview with her, and at that interview to reproach her for her crime, and cast her off forever.
"But previous to that interview," thought he, "I will make a.s.surance doubly sure; I will find means to enter the vault wherein Mr. Franklin"s body was interred; I will examine the remains, and as my knowledge of human anatomy is considerable, I shall have no difficulty in discovering the evidences of foul play, if such evidences exist. Having thus satisfied myself beyond the shadow of a doubt that Mr. Franklin was murdered, I can with confidence accuse Josephine and her mother of the deed; and from that moment, all connection between me and that wicked woman shall cease forever. I have been infatuated and enslaved by her seductive beauty and her fascinating favors; but thank G.o.d, I am myself again, and resolved to atone for the past, by leading a life of purity and virtue for the future."
That night the Doctor was called on to perform the marriage ceremony at the house of a friend, at a distant part of the city; and it was late when he set out to return to his own home.
It was a dismal night, dark and starless; the sky was laden with impending storm, and the rector shuddered as he looked forward into the gloom, and contrasted it with the scene of light and gaiety which he had just left. His heart was oppressed with a heavy weight; for he could not shake off the dreadful thought that Josephine--beautiful and accomplished Josephine--whom he had loved with a fervent though unholy pa.s.sion--was a _murderess_!
While hurrying on with rapid strides, his mind tortured by such painful reflections, a tall figure suddenly stood before him, and a voice whispered--
"Deliver your money, or die!"
The rector perceived that the robber had his arm raised, and that he held in his hand a large knife, ready to strike in case of resistance or alarm. Dr. Sinclair was no coward; had there been a single chance in his favor, he would have grappled with the robber, rather than yield to his demand; yet he was slender and by no means powerful--he was also unarmed; and besides, the idea flashed through his mind that the desperado might be of use to him, and these considerations prompted him to speak in a conciliatory tone and manner:--
"Friend," said he, "unfortunately for you I am but a poor parson, and have only about me a few dollars, which I have just received as my fee for uniting a happy couple in the holy bonds of wedlock. What I have you are welcome to; here is my purse."
The robber took the purse, and was about to move off, when the rector called to him and said,--