m IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 11.25 lti|21 125 ut Ui2 12.2 s; itt 12.0 ■lUU Fhotograjjiic Sdmoes Garporation ^? />..**!^ ^ 4^ '^^ 23 VMST tAhXH STMIT WnSTII,N.Y. USM (i1*)t7a-4S03 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICJVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian institute for Historical IMicroraproductions / Institut Canadian da microreproductions liistoriquas ^^^r Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquaa at bibiiographiquaa Tha to til Tha Institute has attamptad to obtain tha bast original copy availabia for filming. Faaturas of this copy which may ba bibliographically unique, which may altar any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur fy] Covers damaged/ D n n Couverture endommag^a Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurte et/ou peiliculAe Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartea gtographiquas en couleur Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encra da couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ RailA avac d'autras documents ryi Tight binding may cauae shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrte peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intArieure Blank leaves added during reatoration may appear within the text. Whenever poaaibla, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certainea pagea blanches ajouttes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsqua cela itait possible, ces pagea n'ont pas 6t4 f ilmtes. Additional comments:/ Commentairea supplAmantairaa: L'institut a microfilm* la meilleur exemplaira qu'il lui a 4tA possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaira qui sont paut-Atre uniquea du point da vue bibliographiqua, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mAthoda normala da filmaga sont indiqute cl-dessous. I I Coloured pagea/ D Pagea da couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagtes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurtea et/ou pellicultea n~| Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ The posi of tr filmi Crigi begi the I sion, othe first sion, or ill Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages dieoiortes, tachat^es ou piqutes □ Pages detached/ Pages ditachfos 0Showthrough/ Transparence □ Quality of print varies/ Qualit^ InAgala de I'impresslon □ Includes suppienfientary material/ Comprend du material suppKmantaira □ Only edition available/ Seule Mition diaponibia The shall TINl whic Mapi diffe entir bagii right requi metli Pagea wholly or partially obacurad by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pagea totalament ou partiallement obscurcies par un fauillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont H^ filmtes it nouveau da fapon h obtanir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document eat film* au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X n 32X X 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X y^^^^ mi Tht copy fllm«d her* hat bon reprodue«d thanks to tho gonorosity of: L'oxomplairo film* f ut reprodult grica A la gAn6rotitA da: New Brunswick MuMum St. John Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality possibia considaring tha condition and lagibiiity of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract spacif ications. Original copies In printed papar covers ara filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies ere filmed beginning 'on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shell contain the symbol ^^- (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Now Brunswick Museum St. John Les images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avac la plus grand soin, compta tenu de la condition at da la nettet* de Texemplaira f llmA. et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat da filmaga. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprim6e sent filmAs en commen^ant par la premier plat at en terminant soit par la derniire page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustrstion, soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commen9ant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la darniire page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon ie cas: Ie symbols -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte h des taux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grsnd pour Atre reprodult en un seui clichA, il est film* A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bes, en prenant la nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammas suivants illustrent la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 32X ■^ r^' I ' .J-^ji^^ mm ill ^^^ 1 '^-^ ■•■'■■■■ s'-''-- ''^¥^MMl' ^"^1- -^J*', m -iw- y.:/!,-.;-' r-'^ i!''l "^^^mm. i!2,#-: ,';vk.4^.r L^ 7 ■•»V< ■"»" 'HE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER} OB MEMOIRS OF THE NOTED ENKY MOKE SMITH, CONTAINING correct account of his extraordinary conduct during the "thirteen Months of his confinement in the Jail of King'3 County, Province of New Brunswick, where he was convicted of Horse Stealing, and under sentence of death. ALSO, iSketch of his Life and Character, fomliis first appearance at "Windsor, in Nova Scotia, in the year 1812, to the time of his apprehension and confinement. TO WHICH IS ADDED A HISTORY OF HIS GAEEER, Embraoing an account of his IfRISONMENTS AND ESCAPES, \ted from the most authentic sources^ hothx>uhUc and private: BT WALTER BATES, Esquire. SAINT JOHN, N. B. : PRINTED BY GEO. W. DAY, 46 CHARLOTTE STREET. 1872. A, vo '» ^ 81 col ei E( th| m ce| in ir ci ci Is 1 ir^ 7.k ations. After his reinoval to Windsor, and his marriaajo to Miss Bond, he entereA^on a new line of business, uniting that of the tailor and pedpr to- gether. In this character he made frequent visits to Halifax, always bringing with him a quantity of goods, of various de- scripUons. At one time he was known to bring home a con- siderable sum ef money, and upon being asked how ho pro- cured it and »11 those articles and goods he brought home, he replied that a friend by the name oi' Wilson supplied him with anything he wanted as a tailor. It is remarkable, however, that in all his trips to Halifax, he uniformily set out in the forenoon and returned the next morning. A certain gentle- man, speaking of him as a tailor, remarked that he could' cut "very well and make up any article of clothing in a superior manner. In fact, his genius was extraordinary, and he could execute any thing wfll that he turned his attention to. A young man having applied to him for a new coat, he accord- ingly took his measure, and promised to bring the cloth with Mm the first time he went to Halifax. Very soon after, he made his journey to Halifax, and on his return, happening to meet with the young man, he showed him, from his portman- teau, the cloth, which was of a superior quality, and promised to have it made up on a certain day, which he punctually per- formed to the entire satisfaction of his employer, who paid him his price and carried off the coat. About this time a number of unaccountable and mysterious thefts were committed in Halifax. Articles of plate were missing from gentlemen's housed; silver watches and many HENRY MORE SMITH. ormofl an inselfinto idanco on vitli ro Halifax, irious de- ne a con- ^ ho pro- home, he him with however, ut in the in gentle- could" cut I superior ! he could >n to. A le accord- loth with after, he pening to portman- promised I ally per- ATho paid ysterions ate were id many other valuaV)le artioles were taken from Silversmith's shops, nnd all done in ho mysterious a manner, that no marks of the robber's hands wore to bo socn. Three volumes oflate acts of Parliament, relating: to the. Court of Admiralty, were missing from the ollico of Chief Jnstioo Strange about the same time ; he offered a reward of three guineas to any person who would restore them, with an assurance that no questions should be asked. In a few days after, Mr. More produced the volumes, which he said be had purchased from a stranger, and received the three guineas reward without having to answer any en- quiries. This aflair laid the foundati«)n for strong suspicions that Mr. More must hav(^ been the individual who committed those secret and mysterious thefts which produced so much astonishment in various quarters ; and just at this crisis, these suspicions received not only strong corroboration, but were decidedly confirmed by the followimr remarkable fact. While the young man whom ho had furnished with the new coat, aa was previously noticed, was passing through the streets of Halifax with the coat on his back, ho was arrested by a gentle- man who claimed the coat as his own, affirming that it had been stolen from him some time since. This singular afif'air, which to the young man was extremely mortifying and afflic- tive, threw immediate light upon all those secret and unac- countable robberies. A special warrant was immediately issued for the apprehension of More; however, before the warrant reached Rawden, he had made his escape, and was next heard of as travelling on horseback, with a portmanteau well filled with articles which he olfered for sale, as he pro- ceeded on his way by the River Philip; and early in the month of July, 1814, he made his appearance in Saint John, New Brunswick, by the name of Henry More Smith. He did not, however, enter the City with his horse, but put hiiu up, and took lodgings at the house of one Mr. Stackhouse, who resided in a bye-place within a mile of the City, and came in- to the town upon foot. He found means to become rcquaint- ed with the officers of the 99th Regiment, who, finding him something of a military character, and well acquainted with horsemanship, showed him the stud of horses belonging to the regiment. Smith, perceiving that the pair of horses which the Colonel drove In his carriage did not match, they being of different colours, and one of them black, observed to the Colonel, that he knew of an excellent black horse in Cumber- land, that would match his black one peifectly. The Colonel replied, that if he were as good as his own, he would give fifty pounds for him. Smith then proposed, that if he, the Colonel, would advance him fifteen pounds, he would leave his own horse in pledge, and take his passage in a sloop bound for Cumberland, and bring him the black horse. To this the Colonel readily consented, and paid him down the fifteen pounds. This opened the way to Smith for a most flattering speculation ; he had observed a valuable mare feeding on the 6 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF marsh oontifipt which ti— 'h, fifteen Qd a large s old. URMAN, land, and ict of his im, with- n Dixon, ding that 3 further, ill speed. > wait till i by Mr. ^as takea and bis I County s an en- nlesa the night be any one ► of hav- bis ex- n ml nation what occupation be followed in the country, be replied, ** No one in particular," Mr. Knox then hastily asked how he got his living. He replied, with great firmness and self-possession, **By my honesty ,Sir." After this examin- ation, a regular commitment was made out, and he returned to prison. He submitted to bis confinement without a mur- mur, with much seeming resignation ; but complained of a severe pain in bis side, occasioned by cold be bad received. He seemed anxious for an opportunity to send for bis port- manteau, which be said he had left, with some other articles, in the care of Mr. Stackbouse, near S<:. John. The portcr«an- teau, be said, contained bis clothes, which be would be oblig- ed to sell to raise money lor the purpose of procuring neces- saries and engaging a lawyer, repeating again, that, as be was a stranger and bad no friends to help him, there would be but little chance for him, though innocent, except the thief who stole the horse were taken and brought to justice. It so happened, on the dav following, that I bad occasion to go to the City of Haint John in company with Dr. Adino Pad- dock, 8r., when on our way, be bad occasion to call at Mr. Nathaniel Oolding'^ tavern, in Hampton ; and while placing our horses under his shed, we perceived a man mounting a horse in great haste, that was standing at the steps of the door, who immediately rode oft' with all possible speed, as though he were in fear of being overtaken. On inquiring who be was, we were informed by Mrs. Golding that he was a stranger who bad called there once or twice before, and that she believed bis name was Chuman, or Churman. I observ- ed to the Doctor, that that was the name of the man from whom the prisoner. Smith, said be purchased the horse ; upon which Mrs. Oolding said that she could ascertain that by in- quiring in the other room, which she was requested to do, and was answered in the affirmative. We made frequent inquiries by the way, as we proceeded towards St. John, bat could ascertain nothing further of the stranger by that name. After mj' return from St. John I in- formed the prisoner. Smith, of what had happened by the way ; be appeared exceedingly elated with the idea of his be- ing the man that bad sold him the horse, and said if be bad money or friends be could have him taken and brought to justice, and would soon be restored to liberty again himself; but that if be were suffered to make his escape out of the country, bis own case would be deplorable indeed, though be was innocent. He again reiterated bis complaint, that he was destitute of money and friends, in a strange country; although anxious to employ a lawyer^e did not know ot any to whom he could apply for advice. He was recommended to Charles J. Peters, Esq., Attorney in St. John, with the assurance, that if there were any possibility in the case, of getting him clear, Mr. Peters would exert himself in bis behalf most fiEtithfully. The first opportunity that offered, he sent an 2 10 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF V I K !.' order to Mr. Stackhouse for his portmanteau, with instruc- tions to apply the proceeds of certain articles, which he had left with him for sale, if disposed of, in retaining Mr. Peters as his Attorney. The return brought a handsome portman- teau and a pair of boots, leaving a small sum in the hands of Mr, Peters, as part of liis retainer, which was to be increased to five guineas before the sitting of the Court. This atrange- ment seemed to be productive of much satisiaction to the prisoner, and for the purpose of fulfilling the engagement with Mr. Peters, he expressed a desire to dispose of the con- tents of his portmanteau, as far as was necessary for making up the sum. He gave me the key, with which I opened his portmanteau, and found it well filled with various articles of valuable clothing; two or three genteel coats, with vests and pantaloons, of the first quality and cut; a superior top-coat, of the latest fashion, faced with black silk; with silk stock- ings and gloves, and a variety of books, consisting of a neat pocket-Bible and Prayer-book, a London Gazetteer, a Ready Reckoner, and several other useful books. He had also a night and day spy-glass of the best kind, and a small magni- fying-glass in a tol'toise-sheli case, with many other usefu I articles. Suspicions of his not having come honestly by tho contents of his portmanteau was not the impression that was made ; but rather that he had been handsomely and respect- ably fitted out by careful and atfectionate parents, anxious for his comfort and happiness, and that he was, in all proba- bility, innocent of the charge alleged against him. He soon commenced selling off his little stock, and for the purpose of affording him a facility, persons, wishing to purchase from him, were permitted to come to the wicket door, through which he could make his bargain, and dispose of his things. He never failed to endeavour to excite the pity of those who came to visit him, by representing his deplorable situation, in being reduced to the necessity of selling liis clothing to raise the means of defending his innocence in a strange coun- try from the unfortunate charge preferred against him. Nor did he fail of his purpose, for many, from pure sympathy for his unfortunate situation, purchased from him, and paid him liberally. Among those who came to see him, there was a young man, who said he had known the prisoner in St. John, and professed to visit him from motives of friendship ; he had access to him through :he grates of the wmdow, and some of the glass being broken, he could hold free conversation through the grates. The last time he came he carried off the night and da^*^ glass for debt, which he said he owed him while in St. John ; but the probability rather was that he had given him a watch in exchange. The prison was then kept by Mr. Walter Dibble, a man of learning and talents, who for several years had been afflicted with a painful disease, so that for a great part of his time, he was confined to the houso, and frequently to his room, in the ith instruo- |hich he had Mr. Peters e portman- he hands of e increased is airange- tion to the engagement of the con- for making opened his s articles of th vests and lior top-coat, \ silk stock* ng of a neat eer, a Ready ) had also a mall uriagni- other usefu I lestly by tho ion that was and respciet- nts, anxious in all proba- m. He soon le purpose o( irchase from oor, through >f his things, of those who »le situation, 3 clothing to trange coun- it him. Nor ympathy for ud paid him there was a • in St. John, ship; he had and some of conversation rried off the 9 owed him I that he had le, a man of >een afflicted hia time, he room, in the HENRY MORE SMITH, U ounty Court liouse, where he taught a school, by which means, together with the fees and perquisites of the gaol and court house, afforded him a comfortable living for himself and family, consisting of his wife and daughter and one son named John, about nineteen years of age, who constantly attended his father. It may be also necessary to mention, that Mr. Dibble was one of the principal members ot the Masonic liOdge held at Kingston, and was in high esteem among them ; besides he was regarded by all wlio know him as a man of honesty and integrity, and well worthy to fill any situation of responsibility or trust. I am induced to advert to those particulars of Mr. Dibble's character because I am indebted to him for many of the particulars relative to the prisoner, and because, being a person who could be relied on there was the less necessity for my visiting the prisoner very frequently, which did not exceed once in a week gener- ally, except upon special occasions. Shortly after the commitment of the prisoner he was visited by Lieutenant Baxter, an officer in the New Brunswick Begi- ment, then recruiting at Kingston. The officer proposed to the prisoner to enlist him, as a means by which he might be released from his confinement. This idea he spurned with contempt, and chose rather to await the issue of his trial, def>ending on his professed innocence of the crime for which he stood committed. He was however prevailed on to write to his Attorney on the subject, and received for his answer that such a measure was inadmissible, and advised him to content himself and await the issue of his trial. He appeared much displeased with the abruptness of his Attorney's answer, and seemed rather to look upon this short and summary re- ply, as an indication of his displeasure with him, and as an omen that he, his Attorney, would not interest himself much in his behalf. About this time, Sept. 7th, I received a letter from the Clerk of the Circuit Court enclosing a Precept to summon a Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, to be held at Kin rston on Tuesday 27th of September. On the ap- proach of the period for his trial, he was encouraged by his friends to rely with full confidence on his Attorney, with re- peated assurances, thai ho would give his case all possible at- tention ; but with all his professed ignorance of the law, (and this ignorance he had often declared with much apparent sim- plicity,) the prisoner knew too much of it to resign himself with confidence to the issue of a cause which coula promise him nothing but convicton, and confirm his guilt. He there- fore upon his professed dissatisfaction with his Attorney, ap- peared to think no more about him, nor to renew his enqui- ries concorning him, but set about a more summary method of extricating himself from the power of the law. He turned his attention to the Bible, and perused it with an air of much seriousness, as though the concerns of the unseen world en- VHH 18 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF m ?j i:^ '' l?i > ;> C grossed all bis thoughts ; he behaved himself, in every re- spect, with becoming]; propriety, and his whole demeanor was such as to enf^age much interest in his behalf. About this time he discovered symptoms of a severe cold, being troubled with a hollow sounding cough, and complain- ed of a pain in the side, but still submitted to his confine- ment without a murmur or complaint. He would frequently advert to the illusage which he said he had received b^' the way from Piotou, after he was made prisoner, particularly of a blow in the side with a pistol, given by Mr. Knox, which felled him to the ground, as he expressed it, like a dead man ;- that when he had recovered his respiration which had been for some time suspended, he raised blood, and continued to raise blood occasionally by the way for two or three davs ; that the pain had never'left him since, and was, as he believ- ed, approaching to a gathering in the inside, which he feared would finally prove fatal to him. He showed a bruised spot on his side which was swelled and much discolored, and ap- parently very painful. All this was accompanied with loss of appetite and increased feebleness of body ; but he still dis- covered a remarkable resignation to his fate. His situation was such as to excite sympathy and feeling, so that an en- deavor was made to render him as comfortable as possible, by keeping his apartment properly tempered with heat, mid providing him with such food as was adapted to the delicacy of his constitution. * His disease, however, continued to increase, and his strength to decline, with all the symptoms of approaching dissolution ; pain in the head and eyes, dizziness, with sick- ness at the stomach, frequent rising of blood, and of increased paintulness of the contusion on his side. It w?s now consid- ered high time to apply to a physician, and on the 11th of September sent for a doctor, who examined his side, and the general state of his diseases and gave him some medicine. On the 12th, appeared a little better. Thirteenth, at evening, grew worse. Fourteenth, unable to walk— very high fever, with frequent chills of ague. Fifteenth, vomiting and arising blood more frequently. Sixteenth, the Rev. Mr. Scovil visited him in the morning, found him very ill, and sent him toast and wine and some other cordials. Same day the doctor at- tended him at 3 o'clock, and gave him medicine. At 6 o'clock, no better, and vomiting whatever he took. I^ighteenth, ap- peared still to grow worse ; was visited by Judge Pickett and several other neighbors, and being asked whether he wanted anything, or what he oonld take, answered *' nothing, except an orange or a lemon." Nineteenth, appeared to decline very fast ; at 2 o'clock, was visited by the doctor, who said the man must be removed out of that room, that he was too ill to be kept there, and that it was of no use to give him medicine in so damp a place. Twentieth, in the morning, found him still declining; at 10 o'clock, Mr. Thaddeus Scribner and others HENRY MORE SMITH, 1> every re- leanor wa» levere cold, I complnin- ia confine- frequently ved by the icularly of ox, which dead man ;- ti had been ntinued to hree dava ; Is he believ- 3h he teared )rui8ed spot ed, and ap- »d with loss he stiil dis- lis situation that an en- as possible, h beat, mid the delicacy se, and his approaching s, with sick- of increased now consid- the 11th of lide, and the e medicine. at evening, high fever, and arising covil visited at him toast le doctor at- lt6o»clock, iteenth, ap- Pickett and r he wanted ling, except leclinevery lid the man too ill to be medicine in ad him still and others went in to see him, inspecting the room, but found no damp- ness that could injure even a sick man taking medicine. The Rev. Mr. Scovil visited him in the afternoon, and in- troduced the subject of his approaching end. The prisoner conversed freely on the s object, and expressed his conviction that theie was little or no hope of his recovery. He stated to Mr. Scovil that he was born in England, that his parents were formerly attached to the Church of England, but had lately joined the Methodists; that became from England on account of the war, and that be expected his parents to come to the country next Spring, which last circumstance seemed to excite in him strong emotions. Twenty-first, the Rev. Mr. S. with others of the neighbourhood visited bim in the morning: no favorable symptoms. Twenty-second, the prisoner very low : violent fever, accompanied with chills and ague. Inflammation of the bowels, with evacuations of blood for the last two days, extremities cold, and strength greatly reduced, insomuch that he could only just articulate above his breath. Was understood to say, that he should die for want of medical assistance, as the Doctor had refused to attend him any more in that place, and the Sheriff refused to remove him. His situation had by this time excited general sympathy and pity ; his seeming simplicity, passiveness, and resignation greatly contributing to produce the effect. At 6 o'clock, the Rev. Mr. Scovil and a great number of the. neigh- bours came and sat with him till 10 o'clock, and then left him with the impression that he would not live till morning. Friday, 23rd, went to the jail early in the morning, found the prisoner lying on the floor, naked., and seemingly in grei^ distress : said he had fallen, through pain and weakness, and could not get up again. He was taken up and carried to his bed ; appeared as though he would instantly expire ; continu- ed in a low and almost lifeless state till 5 o'clock in the after- noon, when he appeared to all present to be really dying. Rev. Mr. Scovil, Mr. Perkins, Mr. G. Raymond, all near neighbours, and Mr. Eddy, from Saint John, who happened to be in Kingston at the time, all supposed him to be in the agonies of death. He fell into a state of insensibility, and con- tinued so until a phial of hartshorn was brought from an adjoining room, the application of which seemed to revive bim a little. After some time he recovered so far as to be able to articulate, and upon its being observed to him that he had had a fit, he replied that he was sensible of it, and that it was Yn» family infirmity ^ and that many of his connexions had died in the same way ; and further remarked, that he did not think he could survive another, which would probably come upon him about the same time the next day : that he was sensible he should not recover ; but that God would have him. He then asked Mr. Scovil to pray with him ; his desire was com- plied with, and prayer offered up in the most solemn and aovout manner; the occasion was deeply affecting, and all 14 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF departed with the full conviction that the patient would not linger till the morning. Previous to this, no regular watchers had attended him ; but it was now considered highly necessary that .some persons should sit with him till the morning: and consequently John Dibble and Charles Cambrean were appointed by tiie sherilf to watch him through the night. The next morning the following letter was dispatched to Mr. Peters, the prisoner's Attorney : — Dear Sir:— I fear we shall be disappointed in our expecta- tions of the trial of the prisoner, More Smith, at the approach- ing Court, as I presume, from appearance, he will be removed by death before that time. Pie is dying in consequence of a blow that he received, as he says, from Mr. Knox, with a pis- , ^ tol, which he has regulary complained of since he has been in ('I ! jail, and is now considered past recovery. As it will be mat- ter of enquiry, and new to me, I wilf thank you to let me know by the bearer what would be the necessary steps for me to take; and not fail, as I have but little hopes of his con- tinuing till morning. Yours, <&c. WALTER BATES. The return of the bearer brought the following answer :— St. John, Sept. 24th,— Dear Sir,— Your favour of yesterday I received this morning, and I am sorry to hear so despond- ing an account of the unfortunate man in your custotly. It will be your duty, I conceive to have a Coroner's Inquest on the body, and then have it decently enterred. With respect to the cause of the death, that is a circumstance which must rest v/holly on facts ; if any physician shall attend him, let him be particular in taking down in writting what the man says in his last moments, as to the circumstances ; and if a Justice should be then present, it would not be amiss. In haste, yours, sincerely, Walter Bates, Esq. C. J. PETERS. Saturday, 24th. — The watchers reported that he had passed a very restless night, and but just survived tae morning: that he complained for want of medical assistance. The fol- lowing note was then sent to the Doctor who had attended him: — Kingston, Sept. 24th, 1814.— Dear Doctor :— Smith, the pris- oner, says that he is suffering lor want of medical assistance, and that you will not attend him unless he is removed into another room, which cannot be permitted ; he must take his fate where he now is, and if he dies in jail, an enquiry will take place which may prove to your disadvantage. I must therefore request your attention. I am truly yours, I must (fee, ATES. lie whole neiuhborhood was excited to the highest dej^reo. The family of the Rev. Mr. Scovil, especially, manifested deep concern lor him, and sent him every thin}^ that they thought would either comfort or relieve him: as did also the family of Mr. Perkins, and that of Mr. Raymond ; all these having been in the immediate neighbourhood. But the prisoner used little or none of their cordials or delicacies. Mr. Perkins visited him about 10 o'clock, a. m., and kindly proposed to watch with him the ensuing niglit, for which he discovered much thankfulness. In the course of the day tiie doctor came, and gave him some medicine; but found him so weak, that he re- quited to be lifted and supported while he was receiving it. The doctor acknowledged his low state, but did not think him so near his ^nd as to die before morning, unless he should go otl'in a fit. This, the patient said, was what he had reason to fear would be his fate before morning, and therefore wished to make his Will. All his clothes, at his death, he willed to John Dibble ; and his money, about three pounds, which he always kept by him in his berth, he bequeathed to the Gaoler, for his kind atten- tion to him ill his sickness. The money Mr. Dibble proposed to take charge of ; but Smith said it was safe whore it was for the present. Mr, N. Perkins having had occasion to call that day on Mr. W. H. Lyon, was enquired of by him concerning the state of the prisoner. Mr. Perkins informed him that he was alive when he left him; but thought he would be dead before night. This information Mr. Lyon communicated the same evening to a number of persons who were assembled at the house of Mr. Scribner ; and added, that he was dead, for thai while he was on his way to Mr. Scribner's, fit having been in the dusk of the evening), he had seen Smithes Ghost pass by him at a short distance off, without touching the ground. This singular report, as it came from a quarter that could not be well disputed, very much alarmed the whole company, and formed the subject of their conversation, for the evening. But to return to our narrative. After the prisoner had made his Will, he was, for a short time, left alone, with the probability that he would shortly be seized by another fit, which he was not expected to survive. About G o'clock in the evening, the Rev. Mr. Scovil observed to his family, that it was then about the same hour of the day at whicn Smith had had his fit on the day preceeding: that he thought ho would die suddenly; he would theretbre walk over to the Court I|ouse, and be ready there at the time, as it must bo unplea^nt for Mr. Dibble to be alone. This so much awak- ened the sensibilities of Mrs. Scovil, that she could not bear the reflection^ that a child of parents that were perhaps re- spectable, should be so near her, In a strange country, sick and dying, on a bed of straw. She therefore called Amy, her wench ; '* here," said she, ** take this feather bed, and carry 16 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF !• » K. it to the gaol, and tell Mr. Dibble that I have sent it for Sini': to die on/' Mr. Scovil bad been in the bouse, and noated with Mr. Dibble but a very short time, wh^i a noise was heard from Smith in the gaol. John Dibble, who constant- ly attended on him, ran in haste, unlocked the prison door, and found him in the agonies of a fit, - ud almost expiring. He made an effort to speak, and begged of John to run and heat a brick that was near, and apply it to his feet, to give him one moment's relief while he was dying, for that his feet and legs were already cold and dead to the knees. John, willing to afford what relief he could to the dying man, ran in great haste from the gaol through the passage round the stairway that led to the kitchen, where was a large Are of coals into which he cast the brick, waited but a few minutes, and returned with the heated brick to the prison ; but to his indiscribable astonishment, and almost unwilling to believe the evidence of his senses, the dying man had disappeared, and could not be found ! ! ! John ran with the tidings to his father and the Rev. Mr. Scovil, who were sitting in a room which the prisoner must have passed in making his escape. They were entirely incredulous to the report of an affair so ! unparalleled, and would not yield their belief until they searched ever^r corner of the apartment themselves, and found that Smith had not only effected his escape but had also carried his money, his boots, and every article of his clothing away with him I ! It is impossible to conceive or describe the feeling of aston- ishment with which every one about the house was tilled, when they found that the man, who had been groaning and agonizing under the pain of an accumulation of diseases, which, night after night, seemed to have been wasting his strenffth, and bringing him nearer to the close of his unhappy life-«liaa, in a moment, and the very moment which was thought to be his last, seized the opportunity of his prison door being open, and rushed from bis confinement, leaving] not a vestige of his moveables behind him. As soon as search through the prison confirmed the fact of his elopement, | the inmates hastened outside, and continued their search | around the premises. At this moment. Amy, the wench, made her appearance, carrying the t(Bather bed : and seeing the people around the house, she said to them, ** Misses send this bed for Smit to die on." Her master told her to take it home, and tell her mistress that Smith was gone. Amv ran! home and told her mistress that massa say Smit dead and] gone— he no want im bed I **Ah !" exclaimed her mistress,! ** poor man, is he dead ? Then, Amy, you may run and oarryj this shirt and winding-sheet, to lay Smith out in.'* Amy in- stantly obeyed, and told her master accordingly. **You may! take them back," said he, ** Smith is gone!" *' Where hei gone, massa?" ** I don't know," said he, ** except the devilf as taken him off!" Amy hastened back to her mistress,| HEyjlY MORE .SMITH. 11 itforSini;: , and noated a noise was lo consiant- >rison door, St expiring, to run and feet, to give that bis feet lees. John, ig man, ran e round the large fire of 'ew minutes, ; but to bis ng to believe disappeared, idings to bis ng in a room i: bis escape. f an affair so | 9f until tbey mselves, and cape but bad article of bis tlingof aston- ,se was tilled, groaning and a of diseases, n wasting bis f bis unbappy Qc wbicb was of bis prison tiient, leaving I As soon as ai lis elopement,! tbeir searclil r, ttie wench,! i: and seeing ** Misses send] her lo take it ne. Amv ran >mit dead and her mistress,! run and carryj in.'* Amy in- Y, "You mayj ' *• Where bel cept the devil] her mistress,! and told her that ** massa say Sinit be doad and gone, and the devil has taken him away I" So much was tho mind of every one prepared K) hear of his death, tliat the expression, "Smith is prone!" served to convey no other idea. The Sheriff him- self, who had not been present, and did not liear of the affair immediately, gave the sentence the same interpretation. A messenger having been dispatched to him with the tidings, met him on his way to tho gao!, expecting to witness the last moments of the patient. On l)eing informed by the messenger that "Smith was gone,'* ** Ah ! poor fellow," ho exclaimed, *I expected it. What ti mo did he die?" "But he is gone j(;lear off." ** It is impossible," rejoined the Sheriff, ^* that he (•an be far from his sick bed." " Why," replied the inessen- ger, "they w^ere all about the gaol looking lor him, and no I one could tell which way he had gone." " Unparalleled and abominable deception!" replied the Sheriff. "How did he I get out of gaol?" He believed John Dibble left the door open I while he ran to heat a brick, and then Smith made his escape. This was to us the tirst development of the true character |of Henry More Smith, and thus, by means of a counterfeit illness, wbicb melted the feelings and drew the sympathies lof the whole neighbourhood; which battled every power of detection, and imposed even upon the physican himself, did this accomplished villain effect his release, and was now again running at large, glorying in the issue of his scheme. But before we pursue his history in his succeeding adventures, it niay be necessary, for those who are unacquainted with the [local situation of the gaol, from which he escaped, to give a isbort description of it, Kingston is situated on a neck or [tongue of land, formed by the Kiver Saint John and Bellisle [Bay, running north-east and south-west on the western side >f the neck, and by the river Keunebeccasls running the same [course on the western side, leaving a tract of land between itbe two rivers about five miles in breadth and thirty miles in {length. The winter road from Fredericton, the seat of Government, bo the City of St. John, crosses the land i^t Kingston to the Kennebeccasis, and this road is inhabited on both sides. The road is intersected in the centre of Kingston by another road 'unning north-easterly to the head of Bellisle Bay, and is also inhabited on both sides. At the intersection ot these roads, m an eminence, stands the Court House, (under which is the )ri8on,) and church, facing each other, east and west, at the listance of about eight rods. At the distance of about ten rods from the gaol stands tho house of Mr. F. N. Perkins, to bhe Bortb, and an equal distance to the south the house of the lev. E. Scovil is situated, with various other bouses in differ- ent directions ; the land clear all around to a consicerable dis^ tance, affording no hiding place. From a prison thus situat- ed, and surrounded with dwelling houses, did our hero escape, without any eye having seen hi'n, and leaving no mark nor 3 It THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF iltH' i ^' '-i i track behind which could direct in the pursuit of him. Find- ing ourselves unable to pursue in any certain direction, our i;onclu8ionaweie that he must either liave taken the road to Saint John or that leading to Nova Scotia, the waj bj which he came, and the only roiul he was known to be acquainted with. Accordingly men were despatched in pursuit of him on the St. John road, and others sent to the different ferries, while I myself, with Mr. Moses Foster, the Deputy Sberiif. took the road to Nova Scotia, with all speed, in the night, and rode on until we began to think that we must have passed him. Having arrived at a house which he ooald not well pass without being seen, we stationed watchers there, and also set watchertt In other stations, and maintained a dos* look-out all night, but to no purpose. At daylight I furnish- ed Mr. Foster with money, and sent him on, upon the same road, with directions to proceed as far as Mr. M'Leod's tavern, distant forty miles, and in case of hearing nothing of liim, to discontinue the pursuit and return. At the same time I returned to Kiagston myself, where I was iotbrmed, towards evening, that a man, who answered his desoripik>n, had crossed the ferry over the Bellisle Bay the evening before in great haste, stating that he was going on an express to Fredericton, and must be there by ten o'clock the next morn- ing. This account compared with Mr. Lyon's story, which the reader will recollect, of having seen Smith's ghost or ap- parition the same evening in the twilight, confirmed the opinion that we had now got upon the direction of our run- away. And when we remember further, that the dppat'Uion was passing without touching the ground, we will have some idea of the rapidity with which our self-released hero was scudding along as he carried his neck from the halter. It was now Sunday evening, and he had twenty-four hours of a start, leaving little hopes of his being overtaken by me. As my only alternative, I forwarded advertisements, and proposed a reward of twenty dollars for his apprehension and re-oom- mitment to custody ; but with very little prospect of success, knowing that he was escaping for his life, and would succeed in getting out of the country before he would be overtaken. Monday morning, the 26th instant, Mr. Moses Foster re- turned from his route, and by this time many un&vorable reports concerning the prisoner's escape had begun to be cir- culated. The Court at which he was to receive his trial was now to meet on the Tuesday following, and a Jury summon- ed from different parts of the county for the express purpose of trying the horse-stealer. My whole time and attention were now required to make the necessary preparations for the Court, and I felt myself not a little chagrined on reflecting on the circumstances in which I was placed. This leeimg became heightened to a painful degree when I came to understand, by Mr. E. Jones, that the viilian, instead of escaping for his life, and getting BEXIiY MORE f^MITH. 19 out of my reach with all possible hasto, had only travelled about ten miles the flrst nip;lit, and was seen lying on some straw before the barn of Mr. Robert Bniles, the next morn- ingr, on the road toQagetown, having lain there till twelve I o'clock in the day. But Smith did not lie on his bed of straw for rest merely, [even there he was projecting fresh schemes of villainy, wait- ing for an opportnnit}' to carry away some booty from the house of Mr. Bailes ; and it so happened that he did not miss his aim, for Mr. and Mrs. Bailes had occasion to leave the house to go some distance, leaving the door unlocked, when the robber entered, broke open a trunk, and carried o£f a sil- ver watoh, eight dollars in money, a pair of new velvet panta- loons, and a pocket book, with several other articles. He then walked leisurely on his way, stopping at the next houso land at all the houses that were contiguous to the road, so that he did not make more than throe or four miles belbre dark. When Mr. Bailes returned to his houso and found it had been robbed, he immediately tixed his suspicion on the man who had laid before the barn door, from having observed the print of a boot heel, which, was thought to be his, and gave the alarm to his neighbours. They immediately set out fn pur- suit of him, and naving heard that he had been seen on the road at no great distance before them, they followed on in high spirits, expecting shortly to seize him ; but in this the3^ were disappointed, for the robber warily turned aside from the road, leaving his pursuers to exercise a painful and dili- gent search, without being able to ascertain which way he had gone. Having followed as far as Gagetown, they posted up advertisements, descriptive of his person, add also of the watch ; and sent some of them on to Fredericton. Late on Sunday night, a man called at the house of Mr. Green, who resided on an island at the mouth ol the Wash- ademoac Lake. He said he was a Frenchman, on his way to Fredericton about land, and called for the purpose of enquir- ing the way. Mr. Green informed him that he was on an island, and that he had better stay till the morning, and that he would then direct him on his journey. He made on a large fire, by which the man examined his pocket book, and was observed to cast several papers into the fire, and finally- he threw in the pocket book also. Mr. Green on seeing this, had an immediate impression that the man must be some improper character, which idea was strengthened by the cir- cumstance of its being a time of war. In the morning there- fore he took him in his canoe, and carried him directly to Justice Colwell, a neighbouring Magistrate, that he might give an account of himself. On his examination , he answered with so much apparent simplicity, that the Justice could find no just ground fbr detaining him, and consequently dismiscd him. He then made his way to an Indian camp, and hired an Indian, as he said, to carry him to Fredericton : and cross- 20 Tin: MYf^TERIOUS DOI^^GS OP incr tho river, went to Vuil's tnverii, on Orimross neck, where lie ordered breakfast for iiiinself and bin Indian, and bad IiIh boots cleaned. At tliis nionionl, Mr.Baile.s, wbom be bad rob- bed tlie day preceding, was ^ettinfi; breakfast at Mr. Vail'H, and writing advertiseinonts in fjucst of tlie robber. About eleven o'clock, lie, with ins Indian, started aji^ain, leaving Mr. Vall's unknown and nndctoctLMl ; but not without taking with him a set of silver teaspoons from a hide closet In the parlour. The time was now como for the sitting of tho Court, and about eleven o'clock on Tuesday morning, the Attorney Gene- ral arrived from Frcdoricton, with very unfavourable impres- sions on his mind, bringing information tliat the robber was still traversing tlio countrN', stealing and robbing wherever he came, without suIELciont effort being made for bis appre- hension. Tlie Jury also wore collecting trom the different Parishes of tho CiMinty, bringing with them unfavour.^k>le ideas, from the reports in circulation concerning l^is e^^pe. Among the many opinions that were formed on tbp snl^^i^ct, one, particularly, was very industriously circulated. O^b© prisoner was a Freemason, and it will be recollected that Mr. Dibble, the jailer, was stated in a former part of the narrative to be a Freemason also, and that there was a Freemaspn Lodge held at Kingston. The public mind was strongly pre- judiced against us, unwilling to believe the real circumstances of his elopement ; and the Court assembled under the strong- est impressions that his escape was connived at. The Honor- able Judge Chipman presided on the occasion. The Court was now ready for business, but no prisoner: yet high expectations were cherished that every hour would bring tidings of his apprehension, as he was pursued in every direc- tion. The Grand Jury was empannelled, and the Court ad- journed till next day at eleven o'clock, waiting anxiously for tho proceeds of the intermediate time. And to render the means for his apprehension as effectual as possible, Mr. Ben- jamin Furnald, with a boat well manned, was despatched in the pursuit with directions to follow on as far as he could get any account of him. Wednesday, the Court again met and commenced other business; biit nothing from Smith yet. In the afternoon, Mr. John Pearson, witness against him, arrived from Nova Scotia, a distance of two hundred and eighty miles. Towards even- ing conclusions were beginning to be drawn that he had elud- ed all his pursuers, and was making hisiHyay back to Nova Scotia, and the conjecture almost amounted' to a certainty by the circumstance of a man being seen crossing the Washade- moac and making towards Bellisle Bay. Nothing more was heard till Thursday morning early, when Mr. B. Furnald returned, and reported that he had found his course and pursued him through Maugerville : that the night before he (Mr. F.) reached Maugerville, the robber had lodged at Mr. Solomon Perley's, and stole a pair of new boots, and HKXIiY MORE SMITH, 91 ^fld offered the silver teaspoons for sale that bo had stolen at [r. Vail's. That he then walked up as far as Mr. Bailey's ivern, where he stoppod some time, and that he was af^fer- rards seen towards evfenin<; under a bridge, counting bis loney. This was the last that could be heard of him in this ^Ince, it was now ijnliovcd flint he had taken an Indian to ►ilot hina, and had gon^ by way of the Washadomoac and lead of Bellisle, for Nova Hnotfa. This was in accordance rith the idea entertained at Kingston before Mr. Furnald's )turn. At ten o'clock on Thursday morning, the Court met accord- ig to adjournment, to bring the business then before them a close, without much hope of hearing any further of the ^orse-stealer at this time ; when about three in the afternoon, servant of Mr. Knox's, (who it will be remembered was the Maintiff in the cause) came direct to the Court with informa- ion to his master, that his other horse was missing out of the Pasture; that he had been known to be in the pasture at one r clock at night, and was gone in the morning; and that a (trange Indian had been seen about the place. This extraor- linary news produced much excitement in the Court ; and the foinoidence of the Indian crossing the country with the rob- ber, with the Indian seen at Mr. Knox's, confirmed the opin- >n, that Smith had made himself owner of Mr. Knox's other ^orse also ! ! ! Mr. Knox, on hearing this news, became ex- keedingly agitated, had no doubt that Smith was the thief [gain, would not listen to the Sheriff, who was not just willing credit the report of the horse being stolen, and affirmed mt his life was in danger if Smith was suffered to run at irge. His Honor the Judge expressed his opinion that great [emissness of duty appeared. A general Warrant was issued by the Court, directed to all Ihe Sheriffs and Ministers of Justice throughout the Province, )ommanding them to apprehend the said More Smith and ^ring him to justice. In the mean time, men were appointed commenee a fresh march in quest of him, to go in different iirectious. Mr. Knox, with Henry Lyon and Isaiah Smith, >ok the road to Nova Scotia ; and Moses Foster, the Deputy Iheriff, and Nathan Deforest, directed their course towards i^redericton, by the Lead of Bellisle Bay, with orders to con- linue their search as far as they could get information of him, >r to the American settlement. The Sheriff then wrote adver- tisements for the public papers, offering a reward of forty dollars for his apprehension ; and the Attorney General in- creased the sum to eighty dollars. Indictments were prepared, md the Grand Jury found a Bill against the Sheriff and Jailer, for negligence in suffering the prisoner to escape. They were held to Bail to appear at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer \o traverse the indictments. The business of the Court being It the close, the Sheriff paid the witness, Mr. Pearson, from Tova Scotia, for his travel and attendance, amounting to one 98 THE MYSTEBIOm DOIKOS OP h ':i I ii ; J hundred dollars, after which the Court finally adjourned. Nothing was beard of our adventurer till after the return of Mr. Knox with his party from a fruitless search «f ten dayH In the Province of Nova Scotia, and as far as Riohibiieto. The day following, Mr. Foster and Mr. Deforest returned from their chase, and reported that after they had proceeded to within three miles of Fredericton they heard of a stranger, answering to his description, having lodged all night at a pri- vate house ; but had gone on the road towards Woodstock. They continued the pursuit, and found that he had stopped at Mr. Ingrham's tavern the night following, slept late in the morning, be'ng fatigued, paid bis bill and went off; but not without giving another serious proof of his characteristic vil- liany. He broke open a trunk, which was in the room ad- joining the one he had slept in, and carried off a full suit of clothes belonging to Mr. Ingraham, that cost him forty dol- lars, and a silk cloak, with ouier articles, which he concealed so as not to be discovered. This information gave his pur- suers sufficient proof that he was indeed the noted horse- stealer. But Mr. Ingraham, not having missed his clothes immediately, the robber travelled on unmolested, and the next day went only as far as Mr. Robertson's, where he found a collection ot young people, played the fiddle for them, and remained the next day and night. He then proceeded to-^ wards Woodstock, leaving the spoons with Mrs. Robertson in exchange for a shirt, and taking passage in a canoe, happened to fall in company with another canoe that had been ai Fred- ericton, in which the Rev. Mr. Dibble, Missionary at Wood* stock, was passenger, with a young man poling the canoe. The young man had seen Mr, Bailes' advertisement »t Fred- ericton, describing the man and watch, which had a singular steel chain ; and observed to Mr. Dibble, that they both an- swered to the appearance of the stranger. Mr. D. remarked to the young man that he might be mistaken, and asked the stranger to let him see the watch. The stranger handed the watch with all willingness, and it was found so exactly to an- swer to the marks of Mr. Bailes' watch that Mr. D. challenged it as the property of Mr. Bailes. Smith very gravely replied, that it was a favourite watch that he had owned for a long time ; but that if he had heard of one like it having been stolen, he had no objection to leave it with him until he re- turned, which would be in about two weeks. Mr. D. replied that the suspicion was so strong, that he thought he would detain him also, until he could hear from Frederictoi . Smith rejoined that he was on important business and could not be detained; but if he would pay his expenses and make him- self responsible for the damage incurred by his detention, he would have no objection to stop till he could send to Freder- icton. Otherwise, he would leave the watch, as he proposed before, and would return in ten or twelve days, during which time Mr. D. might satisfy himself as to the watch. He ap- HENRY MORE S'MITIT. Ha }ared so perfectl;^ at ease, wi(Jiout discovering the slightest kdications of guilt, that on these conditions they suffered lina to pass on. He continued his march through Woodstock Intil he came to the road that leads to the American settle- lent. and as it drew towards evening he enquired of a resi- lent by the way concerning the road to the American side ; |ut was asked by the man to tarry till mornins;. as it was len near night and the settlement yet twelve miles distimt. [e did not choose to comply v/ith the invitation, and advanc- [), as an apology, that two men had gone on before him, and ke feared tney would leave him in the morning if he did not Proceed. It happened in a very short time after, that two ^oung men arrived there from the settlement, and being ask- ' whether they had met two men on the road, they answered the negative. It was then concluded that Smith was a de- }rter, and they turned about and followed him to the Ameri- m settlement, but found nothing of him. The day following [r. Foster and Mr. DeForest arrived at Woodstock, and find- ig themselves still on the track of him, they pursued on to le American lines, but could hear nothing concerning him. ?hey then informed the inhabitants of Smith's character ; and >roposed a reward of twenty pounds for his apprehension. ?ha people seemed well disposed and promised to do their itmost. Messrs. F. and D. then made their way back to the river St Tohn, and there, most unexpectedly, came across the path of >ur adventurer again. They found that he had crossed the ^iver, stopped at several houses for refreshment, and called nmself Bond. That he had assumed the character of a pur- uiant in quest of the thief who had broken out of Kingston caol ; said that he was a notorious villian, and would certain - be hung if taken, and appeared to be extremely anxious lat he should be apprehended. They traced him down to pe river were the Indians were encamped, and found that he bad agreed with an Indian to conduct him through the woods to the United States, by the way of Eel River, a route not un- frequently travelled ; and hence had baffled all the efforts of lis pursuers, and finally escaped. Messrs. F. and D. thought It was now time to return and make their report. It after- rards appeared that the Indian, his conductor, after having jone about two days on the route, began to be weary of his fob, (perhaps finding that it might not be productive of much >roflt,) and discovered that Smith carried a pistol, which be lid not like very much, refused to guide him any longer, iave him back part of bis money and returned. This ma- terially turned the scale with our adventurer, and Fortune, that had hitherto smiled on his enterprise, refused, like the Indian, to conduct him much further. Unable to pursue his journey alone, he was, of course, obliged to return, and he pad now no alternative but to try his chance by the known froad. It was now the 10th of October, and he re-appeared on 24 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OP the old ground, wanting refreshment and in quest, as he said,; of a deserter. While his breakfast was preparing, informa tion of his presence was circulated among the inhabitants,' and Dr. Bice, who was a pricipal character in the place, efiect-^| ed his apprehension, and had him secured. The clothes he had stolen from Mr. Ingrahain he had on, excepting the pantaloons, which he had exchanged for a pistol. He said ne had purchased the clothes very cheap from a man who he believed was a Yankee. He was then taken in charge by Mr. A. Putman and Mr. Watson, who set ont with their prisoner for Fredericton. On their way they stopped at the Attorney General's, three miles trorn Fredericton, and then proceeded into town, where the Supreme Court was then sit- ting. The prisoner was brought before the Court in the pre- sence of a large number of spectators. The Hon. Judge Saunders asked him his name, and he unhesitatingly answer- ed, " Smith." ** Are you the man that escaped from the gaol at Kingston?" "Yes." On being asked how he effected his escape, he said the Jailor opened the door and the Priest prayed him out. He was then ordered to prison for the night, and the next day he was remanded to Kingston jail. Putuam and Watson set out with him in an Indian canoe, one at each end, and the prisoner, handcuffed and pinioned, and tied to the bar of the canoe, in the centre. They were obliged to watch him the first night at the place where they lodged, and the next day they reached the house of Mr. Bailes, opposite Spqon Island, where he had stolen the watch and the money, <^. It was near night, and the passage to Kingston rather difficult; and they being strangers, Mr. B. proposed that if they would stop with him till morning, he would, conduct tnem to Kingston himself. They willingly complied, and they having oeen up the preceeding night Mr. B. proposed that if they would retire and take some rest, be with his family would keep watch of the prisoner. After they had re- tired, the prisoner enquired the way to Saint John, and whether there were any ferries on this side the river. J^e then asked for a blanket and leave to lie down. Mrs. B. made him a bed on the floor ; but before he would lie down, he said hje had occasion to go to the door. Mr. B, awakned Mr. Watson, who got up to attend him to the door. Smith said to him that if he had any apprehension, he had better tie a rope to his arm, which he accordingly did, fastening it above the handoa£G9, with the other end wound round his own hand« In this 8|tK|ia- tion they went out of doors ; but in an unguarded npoxx^ent, Smith watching his opportunity, knocked him down with his handcuffs, leavmg the rope in the hands of his keeper, ^^viqg slipped the other end over his hand without untieing me Icnot. Thus, handcuffed and pinioned, and bound with a rope, the ingenious horse stealer, by another effort of his unfai^ug in- genuity, akin to his mock-sickness in the gaol, had effected a second escape from his keepers, leaving it as a matter of choice, IP HENRY MOEE SMITH, 25 !ll*^A® ®**^'^^6^^®^ ^^ institute a hopeless search for him in the darkness * ' ^ f night, or sit down in sullen consultation on what plan they ad best pursue in the morning. Nothinc: could exceed tho Imjjjrin of Putnam and Watson on finding themselves robbed f their prisoner, except the confusion which filled myself and e Jailer on the knowled;j;e of his unexampled and noted scape from the gaol. To pursue him in the night, which was nuaually dark, and rain3'' besides, was both hopeless and ing, informa inhabitants, 9 place, effect-^ »m he had on, id for a pistol. > from a man ken in charge nt with their opped at the on, and then was then sit- rt in the pre- Hon, Judge nglyanswer- from the gaol e effected his id the Priest for the night, ail. Putnam e, one at each d, and tied. to re obliged to lodged, and iles, opposite 1 the money, agston rather posed that if >uld conduct ►mplied, and B. proposed be with his they had re- John, and Br. ^e then ). made him )» he said Ym tfr. Watson, to him that atohis^riQ, e handonfiis, Q this 8|ti|a- »d npoment ivn with his per, li^yiqg igtheJcnot. a rope, the nfai^ing in- i efi^^cted a Jr of choice, rain ; it was therefore thought best to inform the Sheriflf in Ihe morning of what had taken place, and receive his advice |s to future proceedings. In the morning, accordingly, Mr. 'utnam proceeded to Kingston, and on communicating the lews to the Sheriff, received a supply of money, with orders pursue the road to Saint John, while the Sheriff, with two nen, proceeded to Mr. Bailes'. There they received informa- [ion that Smith had changed his course, and crossing the Ot- labog Lake in the night, was directing his course towards b'redericton again ! It will be remembered that previous to lis escape, while a prisoner at Mr. Bailes', he made particular mquiries whether there were any ferries in the way to Saint Fohn, on this side of the river. At this time it would seem that he had looked upon his scheme as successful, and evi- lently directed those enquiries concerning the road with a '^iew to mislead, vjrhlle it was his policy to return upon the bourse which would be judged the most unlikely ot all he should take. But to return to our story. He came to the lake the same evening he had got clear of Mr. Watson and the rope, and there urged as a reason of his haste in crossing the lake in the night, that he was on his way to Fredericton bo purchase land, and that he had arranged it with Putman md Watson, who had gone to Kingston with the Thief, to take him up in their canoe on their return, and was to meet them at the intervale above, early the next morning. This |well varnished and characteristic story procured him a speedy >assage over the lake, and now our adventurer is in undis- puted possession of the country, at liberty to choose which |way he should turn his face. On being put in possession of these particulars, we immedi- lately and naturally supposed that he was wisely and pru- dently directing his course to the United States, by the way of the Oromocto ; and so we followed up his retreat accord- ingly ; but in that direction no intelligence could be obtained, and we remained in total ignorance of his proceedings and history up to the 26th of October. At this date, when it was supposed that be had transported himself into the United States, to our astonishment and surprise we find him again in I the proseoutlon of hia usual business in the immediate vici- \ nity of Fredericton. His first appearance there again, was in a bye-place, at a small house not then occupied as a dwelling. It was drawing towards night, and the day having been rainy, he came to the house wet and cold. An old man by the name 4 26 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF 1 I mi ^ami 1 1 Iff (1 i fit '• : ] n ' ■■" 1 ■« 1 it^ I m } wml ': Mh\ . Ilii A ■t of Wicks, with his son, was enga^od iu reparing the house, in whioii they had some potatoes. There was also a quantity oi dry wood in the house, but as the old man was about quitting work for the day, he had suffered the fire to burn down. The stranger was anxious to lod^e in their humble habitation for the night, but the old man observed to him, that they did not lodge there at night, and gave him an invitation to the next house, where he could accommodate him better. He did not uccept the invitation, but said that he must go on eight or ten miles that night, and so he departed. The old man and his son secured the door and retired to their lodgings ; but when the morning came it was found that Smith had returned to the old house, spent the night, burneci up all the wood, regaled himself on roasted potatoes, and again took his departure. The following night,, he paid a sweeping visit at the house of Air. Wilmot, seven miles from Fredericton. Finding a large quantity of linens, sprinkled and ready for ironing, he made a full seizure of the whole, together with a new coat belonging to a young man belonging to the house. The plunderer, finding his booty rather bur- thensome, took a saddle and bridle, which he happened to discover, put them on a small black pony, which was feeding in the pasture, and thus rode with his luggage tilL he came within two miles of Fredericton. There he found a barrack or hovel, filled with hay, belonging to Jack Patterson, a mul- latto, which presented a convenient retreat Where he could feed his horse and conceal his plunder. Here he remained some days undisturbed ; would turn his horse out to feed on the common in the day, concealing himself in the hav, and would catch him again at night, ride into town, make what plunder he could, return to his retreat, and conceal it in the hay. Our adventurer thought it was now high time to pay his respects to the Attorney General himself, who lived about three miles distant. Here he was not altogether unacquainted, ] laving made a previous call on his passage as a prisoner from Woodstock to Fredericton. He arrived on the spot about 9 o'clock in the evening, retaining, no doubt, an accurate re- membrance of the entrance to the house; and every thing] ])roved propitious to the object of his visit: for it happened | that there was much company at the Attorney Qeueral's on j the same evening, whose over-coats, cloaks, tippets, comior-i ters, m the you no- ass,; was in- laking a saw, iplish his re- dinner knifo le with a saw t of its utility, ice become a ve thought it have the saw n, the Sheriff removal from ed to examine landciiils, and iut hesitation les, all to his -the sleeves, r of his head; o put on his ^at and shoes, enty two feet on the sides, between the welve inches D inch plank, n bar hinges, 3posite posts, having also a • » grates with- le outside, so terior undis- )or is twenty the entrance as also kepi through the ocked doors, ►le the jailor, rho from his infirm state of health, never left the house day ►r ni{fht. Having learned a lesson by former experience, we main- lined the most unbending strictness, sutJering no intercourse ith the prisoner whatever. In this manner secured, we put fn his right leg an iron shackle, with an iron chain no more lan long enough to allow him to reach the necessary, and ike his provision at the wicket door. The end of the chain ras fastened to the timber of the lloor by a strong staple, near lie partition wall, so that he could not reach the grated win- low by five or six feet. He was provided witii a bunk, straw, ind blankets, as a bed: and his wrists having been much Iwellod with the handcuffs, I considered it unnecessary to :eep them on, especially as he wasj so thorouiihly secured in ►ther respects. In this situation I left him, with directions t> the jailor to look to him frequently through the wicket loor, to see that he remained secure, intending at the same jime to visit him occasionally myself. The jailor came to look at him frequently at the wicket loor, as directed, and always found him quiet and peaceable, either sitting up reading, or lying down in his berth; he never ittered any complaints, but appeared resigned to his confine- lent. I visited him once or twice in the week to see, for lyself, that his irons remained secure ; and always finding lim as yet, in the same state of security in which I had left dm, I made up my mind that we should be able to keep him rithout any additional trouble. He manifested good nature IS well as resignation, for he always came up to the wicket loor when I wished to see that his irons were in order, with the greatest seeming willingness. On the twelfth day of his confinement, I was informed that Tr. Newman Perkins had heard an unusual noise in the ^ight, which induced him to think that 8mith had been at rork at the grates. On making more particular enquiry, I learned from Mrs. Pr>rkins that she had heard a noise like 'ubbing or filing, lato in the night ; and by holding her bead )ut of the window, she considered the sound to proceed from the jail. Knowing the situation of the prisoner, chained, that he could not reach the grates by five or six feet ; and :nowing, also, that after the search we had made, it was im- )os8ible that he could have retained abouS his person any- thing by which he could operate on the grates, we judged it lore than improbable that the sound could have proceeded from him. Nevertheless, we did not treat the information rith disregard or neglect. I went immediately to the prison , loeompanied by Moses Foster, George Raymond, Allen |Basten, and Mr. Dibblee, the jailor, with several others. It rat then the evening, and we carried with us two or three :andle9. On opening the door, we found him lying in his >erth, chained, just as I had left him. I said to him '* Smith , rou have not got out yet;** he answered, " no, not quite." I 30 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF II then examined every bar of the grates as olosoly a=< pnssiblo, as also did every one present, again and ajxain, until we were; all satisfied that the cause of the a'arm was only imajjinary. Smith all the while lying quiet, answering readily any arid every question that was put to him. Mr. Basten had yet continued scratching and examinin*; the inner grates, when it was discovered by all present that there was a small chip lying on the flat bar of the outer grate. which was supposed to' have been there accidentally. Mr. l^asten, however, being fully satisfied that the inner prate re- mained secure, was led, rather by curiosity, to reach througli his hand, and take up the chip that hi}' on the bar of the outer grate; on doing this, he thought he could perceive that the bar was inclined to hang in a small degree. This led to fur- ther examination ; and to the utter astonishment of all that were present, it was found that the bar xvas cut one-third off. and artfully concealed with the feather edge of the chip. Ouis astonisnient was increased by the faet that it was impossible] to reach the outer grate without tirst removing the inner.; This gave the hint lor a more effectual examination, wheri] it was found that ho had cut one of the inner bars soj neatly, that he could remove and replace it at pleasure.] having contrived to conceal the incisions in such a man- ner as almost to preclude the possibility of detection. There is little or no doubt that in two or three nights] more he would have effected his second escape, had not hisi works been discovered, through the very means which, artfulj as he was, he employed to conceal them. On being asked] what instrument he used in cutting the grate, he answered with perfect indifference, " With this saw and file;" and with out hesitation, handed me from his berth a case-knife, steely blade, neatly cut in fine teeth, and a common hand-saw file. I then asked him how he got to the grates, or whether he had slipped the shackles off his feet? he answered me, no: but^ that he had cut the chain ; and then showed me very calmly where he had cut the chain in the joint of the links, a partj where the cut could not very readily be discovered. On being asked where he got his tools, he answered that h< bad left them in the gaol when he went away, and that those! he had given me were all the tools he had left". But perceiviniij from the shape of the knife, (it having been much thicker on the back than the edge,) that the bars could never have beeni cut so neatly through with that instrument, we were inducedj to make a stricter search, and found, in a broken part of thtj lime wall, near the grates, a very neat spring saw, having a cord tied at one end. I then asked him who gave him thosti stools ; to which he replied with great tirmnefjs:— ** You neec not ask me again, for I never \yill tell you." After I hadl finished these enquires, I searched his bed and his clothesJ and renewed the chain again to his leg, fastening it firmly toj the floor with a staple ; and i)utting on a pair of strong hand- IIENR 1 MORE >SMITII. 81 iflT^ of I bolt. Wo thon loft hhii, it being about 11 o'clock on kturday ni.^ht. On the next Sunday at 4 o'clock, I revisited |e Raol, when the jailor inl'ormed me that the prisoner was [in« in his berth with all his irons on, and had been enquir- jg ol him if the Sheriir was not coming t(»ey line his chains, (bout 12 o'clock thn Hamo ni;;ht I was alarmb.i by a man sent the jailor, to inform mc tliat Smith had fi;ot loose from all ( irons, and having' worked his way thrt)U<^h the inner jrrate, |as cuttinfif the outer gralo, and had nearly escaped ! Here, the dead hour of midnij^ht, when it mij^llt bo expected that cry eye would be sunk in the stillness of sleep, through tho ij^ilant attention of Mr. Dibble, the jaiior, this astonishing^ )ing, who set hand-cuirs, and shackles, and chains at deti- [ice, had all but effected another escape. Mr. Dibble, on find- 1*5 him to be at work at the grates, was determined, if possi- le, to take him in the act; and by fastening a candle to tho hd of a stick three feet in length, and shoving the lighc irough the wicket gate, he was enabled to discover him at ^ork before he could have time to retreat to his berth. Mr. Nibble, on perceiving how ho was employed, ordered him to )ave everything he had, and take to his berth ; he instantly [beyed, but as suddenly rettirned to tho grates ag^in, placed iimself in a position in which he could not be seen by the lilor. Remaining here but a moment, he went quickly to ne necessary, and threw sojiiething down which was dis- inctly heard, and finally retired to his berth. Mr. Dibblo haintained a close watch until I arrived at tho gaol, which we knmedi&tely entered, and to our amazement found him extri- cated from all his irons. lie had cut his way through the in- ter grate, and had all his clothes collected, and with him ready [o elope, and had cut the bar of the outer grate two thirds oii\ hich, no doubt, he would have completed long before morn- fng, and made his escape. I said to him, *' Smith, you keep It work yet;" he answered that he had done work now, that |dl his tools were down the necessary. The truth of this, how- jver, we proved by letting down a caudle, by which we could jlearly see the bottom ; but no tools were to be seen there, lis return to the necessary and dropping, or pretening U> drop something down, was no doubt, an artifice, by which he tttempted to divert out attention from the real spot where his tools were concealed. But in this also, with all his cunning, pie overshot the mark, by his over eagerness to tell us where he had cast his tools, instead of allowing us rather to draw the conclusion ourselves, from his return to the place, and drop- ping something down. We next proceeded to strip off aud examine his clothing, carefully searching every hem and seam. iHis berth we knocked all to pieces, examining every joint and jplit; we swept out and searched every part of the prison, [knowing that he must have his instruments in some part of lit; but all to no purpose— nothing could w^e discover. We [next replaced all his chains with padlocks ; put on him a pair 32 TUB MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF i i u I ol" screw handcuffs, which cohflned his hands close together. :ind thus left him about 4 o'clock on Monday morning. On the day following, Mr. Jarvis, the blacksmith, having re- paired the grates, came to put them in, when we found Smith lying on the lloor apparently as wo left him ; but, on examin- ing the new handcuffs, which screwed his hands close to- gether when put on, wo found them soporated in such a man- ner, that he could put them oif and on when he pleased. On l>eing asked why ho destroyed those valuable handcuffs, | "because," ho said, "they are so .stiff that nobody can wear | them. No doubt then remained that he must have his saws con- cealed about his body, and having been ordered to take off his clothes, he complied with his usual readiness. On taking off his shirt, whicli had not been done at any time previous in our searches about his body, Dr. A. Paddock, who was present, and employed in the search, aiscovered a small muslin cord about his thigh, close to his body, and drawn so close that it could not be felt by the hand passing over it, with the shirt becwean. This small cord was found to conceal! on the inside of his left thigh, a fine steel saw plate, two inches] broad and ten inches long, the teeth neatly cut on both the] edges, no doubt of his own work. After this discovery we« put on him light handcuffs, secured his chains with padlocks; again, and set four men to watch him the whole night. The next day we secured the inner grate, filling the squares with* brick, lime and sand, leaving a space at the upper corner of j only four by five inches, in which was inserted a pane of glass' in the centre of the wall. This small opening in a wall three feet thick, admitted little or no light, so that the room was rendered almost a dungeon, which prevented the prisoner from being seen at any time from the door without the light of a candle. From this time we never entered the prison without candles and two or three men. On the 13th of November, I addressed a letter to Judge Chipmau, to which I received the following answer : — "Saint John, November 14, 1814,— Dear Sir,— -I received your letter of yesterday relating to the new attempts of H. M. Smith to escape. I have forwarded the same to Fredericton , ! and presume that a Court Nvill be ordered for his trial as soon as may be practicable for the state of travelling, and the ne- cessity of procuring the witness from Nova Scotia ; though I should suppose not before the ice makes. In the meantime I the utmost vigilance and precaution must be made use of to { secure him; you will be justified in any measures of severity | that you may find it necessary to adopt for this purpose. I am, dear Sir, faithfully yours, W. Bates, Esquire. W. CHIPMaN." Wednesday, the 16th, we entered his prison and found that ! he had been employed in breaking the plaster ofif the par- u^ HENRY MORE iS Ml H. S8 |oso together, loniing. On I, having re- found Smith on oxamiii- ids closo to- such a rnan- I pleased. On fe handcutis, )dy can wear Ills sawu con- led to take of} On taking ine previous ck, who was )red a small md drawn so ssing over it, ind to concea! te, two inches It on both the discovery wo vith padlocks e night. The squares with 3per corner of I pane of glass n a wall three the room was the prisoner lout the light 3d the prison tter to Judge iver: — r,— I received uptsofH. M. Fredericton, 3 trial as soon , and the ne- ia ; though I lie meantime ide use of to I es of severity )urpose. I CHIPMaN." I id found that ! • oft' the par- 1 ition wall with his chains, and broken '^e of th padlockR, md appeared to have been loose: seeme*. very a ;iouh. nd iaid he ** would burn and destroy the building—would ^« It smoke before he left it," and that we would see it si ke. I then prepared a pair of steel fetters, case-hardened, ab« 1 10 [nches long, which we put on his legs, with a chain fron. the liddle, 7 feet long, which we stapled to the floor ; we also >ut an iron collar about his neck, with a chain about 8 feet |ong, stapled also to the floor in a direction opposite to the >ther : atid also a chain from his fetters to the neck collar, rith handcuflis, bolted to the middle of his chain in such a Inanner as to prevent his hand.s from reaching his head and feet when standing, leaving it just possible for him to feed limself when sitting. All these irons and chains he received ritbout discovering the least concern or regard. When the >lacksmith had flnished riveting the whole, I said to him, f* Now, Smith, I would advise you to be quiet after this, for If you are not you will next have an iron band put round rour body and stapled fast down to the floor." He very balmly replied, **01d man, if you are not satisfied, you may but it rayers and portions of the Scriptures. With a tremendous roioe he would cry out, ** Oh you cruel devils«~you murderer's -you man-slayers — you tormentors of man ! How I burn to )e revenged ; help, help, help me ; Lord help me to be re- renged ot those devils ; help me that I may tear up this place, that I may turn it upside down, that there may not be one itick or stone of it left. My hair shall not be shorn, nor my tails cut, till I grow as strong as Sampson, then will I be re- venged of all my enemies. Help, help, O Lord help me to destroy these tormentors, murderers of man, tormenting me in chainil and darkness ;" shouting, "darkness, darkness, O larkuess-^not light to read the Word of God— -not one word >f comfort from any. All is,— you rogue, you thief, you vil- lian, — ^you deserve to be hanged. No pity, not one word of sonsolation,— all darkness, all trouble ;" singing " trouble, ^rouble, trouble ; O God help me, and have mercy upon me ; fear there is no mercy for me ;— yes, there is mercy, it is in Feaus, whose arms stand open to receive ; but how shall I dare to look at him whom I have offended." Then he would call |upon his parents, and deprecate his wicked life ; then rave tgain, ** murderers, tormentors, consider you have souls to 5 34 THE MY>^TERIOUA DOINGS Or II Have, consider you have souls to lose as well ns I a poor priso- ner ; consider you iiave children that may be brought toUrou- b!e as well as I ; consider I have parents as well as they. O! if my parents know my situation, it would kill them. Myl wife, begone from my sight; why will you torment me! It U- for you that I suffer all my sorrow,— it is for you my heart bleeds. Not a friend comes to see me,— nothing before ni* i but pain and sorrow, chains and darkness, misery and death.| <)! wretched me, how long am I to suffer in this place of tor- ment ! Am I to linger a life of pain and sorrow in chains and; misery ? No, I will cut the thread of life and be r&lieved fronis this place of darkness and trouble:** ninging 'trouble, trou-^ ble, trouble,*' a thousand times repeated. In this ntanner h« continued raving till he became very hoarse and exhausted, would take no notice of anything that w^s said to him, and linally left off speaking entirely. The weather having become very cold, he was allowed his] berth again, with a comfortable bed of straw and blankets but the blankets had to be iaken away from him again, oin acco'mt of his having attempted to hang himself with one oil tliem made into a rope. Me next attempted to starve himseli'J but this he gave over, after having fasted three or four days.] He now dropped into a state of quietness, and lay in his bedj the most of the time, day as well as night ; but on the 16th of| l3ecember we found on examining liis prison, thal^ ho had; broken the iron collar from his neck, and drawn the staple^ from the timber: but replaced it again so as to prevent de*' tection. On the 17th, we put a chain about his neck, and stapled it to^ the floor in such a manner that he could not reach either of ^ the staples. In this situation he remained secure and rather < more quiet, yet with occasional shouting and screaming until the 15th of January. The weather having now become very cold, and no fire allowed him, fears were entertained that he might freeze ; to prevent wiiich it became necessary to remove his irons, which, with the exception of his fetters and hand- cuffs, were accordingly taken off. For this relief Smith discovered no sign of thankfulness, I but became more noisy and troublesome, especially in the night, disturbing all within the reach of his voice, with screeching and howling, and all manner of hideous noises, entirely unlike the human voice, and tremenduously loud,{ even beyond conception. In this manner he continued for live months, occasionally committing violence upon himselfl and breaking his chains, during whic£ period he could n^veri be surprised into the utterance of one single word orarticu-j late sound, and took no notice of any person or thing, or ofl what was said to him, no more than if he had been a dumb.f senseless animal : yet performing many curious and astonish- ing actions as will be related hereafter. In the New Testament, which be always kept by him, a IIENliY MORE HMITIl. pt by him, a |af was observed to be turnocl down, under which, upon ox- lination, was found tbo t'ollowinjf Soripture, in tlie 3d Clmp- >r of Ist Corinthians, "And I, bretberu, couid not spoalv jnto you," Ac. Tho wtatber having been intonsoiy cold throughout tho lonth of Januarv, and be having bad no Are, groat fears were itortainod tlmt he rnuMt perinb from cold, 1)Ut astoniHliing to )lHtc hJH baiidn and feet were always found to be warm, and ren Ills chains ! In February, when the weatlier began to loderate a little, be 1)ecaine more troublesome ; began to tear "" the lime, wall, and lathing from tbo partition, and break rery thing he oould roach. A strong iron-hooped bucket lat contained his drink lie broke all to pieces ; tne bo'^ps ho jroke up into pieces not exceeding three inches long, and rould throw the pieces with such dexterity, though hand- hffed, as to put out the candle when the jailor would bring le light to the wieket d'mr to examine what he was doinir. As the weather moderated he bncame more noisy and vi- pous, as will appear by the following letter which I received rom the Jailor cm the lOth February : ** Dkar Siu,— There must be something done with Smith-— e is determined to lof me know what he is if no one else oes,— he sleeps in the day time, and when I go to tell him to eep still at ni ^ht, he yells so as not to hear what I say to him. nstead of thanks for taking otf' his irons, be makes all the oises he can by yelling and screaming all night, and knock- ig very loud all night with some part of his irons. I wish ou would come up early and advise what is best to be done. W. DIBBLE." I came to the gaol accordingly, and found his irons unin- |ured, and to prevent him from using his hands so freely, )cked a chain from bis fetters to his hand-cuffs, and left hi m On Sunday, two gentlemen from Nova Scotia, at the request ^f Smith's wife, come to make enquiry after him. I went rith them to the gaol to see if he would speak or take any lotice of them, or of what they would say to him from his rife. They told him that his wife wished to know if he would lave her come to see him, and what she would do with the solt he left ; that she would sell it for two hundred dollars, md have the money sent to him. But all they said had- no effect on him, any more than if he had been a lifeles statue, rhich convinced us all that he would go to the gallows with- mt speaking a word or changing his countenance. The next week he became more restless and vicious, and on landay, on going into the gaol with Mr, Rulofson, from lainpton, and ^lr. Griffith, from Woodstock, found he bad >roken up part of his berth, had broken his chain from the land-cuffs, leaving one link to the staple, the parted links con- sealed ; tore up part of his bedding and stopped the funnel of the necessary. It appeared also that ho bad been at tho ^4i; ■(1 ^^ 111 ft til it- 36 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF grates; but how he got there was a mystery, for the chain, by which his legs were bound, was unbroken, and the staple fast in the timber. We then raised the staple and again put on the chain to his hand-cuffs, fastening the staple in another place, more out of his reach. The next day I found he had again broken the chain from his band-cuffs and torn off a large portion of lathing and plas- tering from th© middle wall. Findincr this, I determined to confine him more closely than ever, and so put a chain from his feet round his neck, stapled to the floor, securing the hand- cuffs to the middle of this chain. He had already given such mysterious and astonishing proofs of his strength and inven- tion, that I feared he wouhl finally baffle all my ingenuity to prevent his escape. The twistingof the iron collar from his neck and drawing the staple from the timber, was a feat that filled every one with wonder. The collar was made of a fiat bar of iron, an inch and a half wide, with the edges rounded. This he twisted as if it were a piece of leather, and broke it into two parts, which no man of common strength could have done with one end of the bar fastened in a smith's vice. The broken collar was kept a long time and shown to many a "wonderer. As might be expected, his wrists were frequently much swelled and\ery sore from his exertions to break and get loose from his irons ; yet he appeared as insensible and as regardless of his situation as if he had in reality been a furious maniac. Notwithstanding the seeming insanity which characterised these works of his in the prison, yet other parts of his per- formance there indicated the most astonishing genius and in- vention ; perhaps in a manner and degree unequalled in the memory of man. On the 1st of March, on entering his prison in the evening, we found him walking in front of an effigy or likeness of hiswife^ which he had made and placed before him against the wall as large as life. When the light was thrown upon this scene, which he had prepared and got up in the dark, it not only filled us with amazement, but drew out all the sensibilities of the heart with the magic of a tragedy, not so much imaginary as real. This effigy he intended to repre- sent his wife, visiting his wretched abode, and manifesting signs of disconsolation, anguish and despair, on beholding her wretched husband moving before her in chains and fetters, with dejected mien, and misery and despair depicted in his countenance. The effigy was formed out of his bedding and the clothes and shirt he tore off his body, together with a trough three or four feet in length, which was used in the gaol to contain water for his drink. Rough as the materials were, yet he displayed such ingenuity in its formation, atid con- ducted the scene in a manner so affecting, that the 6fi^Ct it produced when viewed with the light of the candles, way real- ly astonishing, and had a kind of magical power in drawing out the sympathies of every one who witnessed it. \ HENRlr MORE SMITH. sor the chain, bv Ihe staple fast lai^ain put on \Q in another e chain from ing and plas- etermined to chain from ng the hand- y given such ill and inven- ingenuity to •liar from his ^as a feat that made of a flat ges rounded, and broke it th could have 8 vice. Tlie 'n to many a re frequently to break and msibleand as )een a furious characterised ts of his per- enius and in- I'lalled in the ng his prison fan ejgigy w d before him fc was thrown ?ot up in the drew out all tragedy, not ded to repre- inanifesting n beholding s and fetters, piotedin his bedding and vith a trough 1 the gaol to terials were, 3n, atid tf&n- : the 6fi^ct it es, was^ real- ■ in dfawing e continued noisy and troublesome till the 5th of March, en we took his irons otf, and caused him to wash himself d comb his hair, which had not been cut since he was put gaol ; neither had his beard been shaved. On receiving a ice of soap for washing, he ate a part, and used the rest. We len gave him a clean shirt, which he put on himself with ie rest of his clothing, after which we replaced his irons, ich he received in the same manner as an ox would bis >ke, or a horse his harness. [The term of the Court of Common Pleas was now coming on, |hioh required much of my attention for the necessary pre- Tations; and Mr. Dibble, the jailor, being about to remove Sussex Vale, to take charge of the Academy there, my uation began to look rather awkward and unpleasant. Ac- Tdingly the jailor moved away on the 11th of March, after e sitting of the Court, and from the extraordinary trouble hich the prisoner was known to have given, I had little hope " finding any one who would be willing to take the charge, owever, I prevailed upon Mr. James Reid (a man in whom could confide) to undertake the charge of him; who, with is family, moved into the house the day following. After this. Smith appeared more cheerful, and became rather ore quiet, until the 24th of March, when I was called on by le jailor, and informed that Smith was attempting to break rough the partition where the stove-pipe passed through to the debtors* room. On entering the gaol we tbUnd him lose from all his irons,— his neck-chain was broken into three ieces ; the chain from his neck to his feet into three pieces ; is screw hand-cufi's in four pieces and all hanging on nails in the partition. His great coat was torn into two parts, ihrough the back, and then rent into small strips, one of which e used as a belt, and supported with it a wooden sword which e had formed out of a lath, and with which he amused him- lelf by going through the ** sword exercise," which he appear- id to understand very well. The chains from his legs were isengaged from the staples, and tied together with a strip of he torn coat. His hands, his feet, and his clothes, were all loody ; and his whole appearance presented that of an Infnri- ited madman. There we**e present on this occasion Messrs. [Daniel Mioheau, Moses Foster, George Raymond, Walker isdale, the Jailor, and some others. I then raised the staple, lecured him by the leg chain, put on a pairof stiff hand-cu£f8, ind added a chain to his neck, stapled to the floor. In this [situation we left him until the 28th, when I was again called by the jailor, who said that he believed he was loose again, land about some mischief. On entering the gaol, I accordingly Ibund him loose,— the chain from his neck in three parts ; he had beaten the lime off the wall with a piece of his chain three feet long. We left him for the purpose of getting his chains repaired ; at night we added a new chain from his fet- ters to his neck, and stapled him to the floor with a chain about (I If i I I 88 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF \ four feet lonj?; we secured his hand-cuffs to the chahi between i his neck and feet, so that when standing, he could not reaclij in any direction. In this situation he remained until tlie 31st, spending the time in singing and hallooing occasionally. Ij was then again called by the jaih^r, who on opening the| wicket-door, found a piece of chain hanging on the inside. I went immediately to the gaol and found that he had separ-j ated all liis chains, had tied his feet chain to the staple again, and was lying in his bed as unconcerned as if nothing had happened, having a piece of chaian about his neck. We then took his bunk bedstead from him, and removed everything! out of his reach, but could not discover by what means he could separate his chains: no link in them appeared to b6 twisted, nor were there any broken links to be seen ; irom this we inferred that he still liiust have some means of cuttinj; his chains. At this moment, however, it occurred to us that he might have the broken links concealed in the privy. Wc accordingly let down a candle, by which we could see the bottom, and with an iron hook prepared for this purpose, we brought up a bunch of broken links which he had tied up in a piece of his shirt, together with a piece of his neck-chain a foot long. This convinced us that he had not destroyed his chains by means of cutting them, but by the applieaticm ot some unknown mysterious power. I then determined to break the enchantment, if strength of chain would do it, and added to his fetters a large timber chain, which had been used as the bunk-chain of a bob-sled, by which four or five logs were usually^ hauled to the mill at once. The chains wo had previ- ously used were of the size between that of a common ox - chain and a large horse trace-chain. Secured in this manner we left him, and on the 6th of April found his neck-chain parted again. I then replaced it with a strong ox-chain about seven feet long, firmly stapled to the timber. The next morning tlic jailor informed me that from the uncommon noise he made in the night, he was convinced he must be loose from some ot his irons or chains. I then coticluded that he must have broken his steel fetters, as I judged it impossible for human strength or invention, in his stiuatjon, to break either of the ox-chains ; but to my utter astonishment, I found the ox-chain parted and tied with a string to the staple, his handcuffs, fetters, and. log chain hav- ing remained unitijured. We fastened the ox-chain to his neck again, by driving the staple into another link, After this, he remained moije quiet, his wrists haviqg been wpiueh galled and swelled by his irons, and bruised ancl send^red sore by his exertions to free himself from them. - At this timel mceivod a letter from the Clerk of the Oirouit, of which the following is a copy : — St. John, March 15.— Dear Sir,— At length | enclose you the precept for summoning a Court of Oyer and Terminer HENR Y MORE /SMITH, 39 k1 Gaol Deliver3' ii your County, on Thursday, the 20th of Ipril, for the trial of the horse stealer— I also enclose a letter fom Major King, for his saddle stolen from him at the same Ime. Youis, &c., . WARD CHIPMAN. [o Walter Bates, Esq., High Sheriff. After this our prisoner remained for some time rather more 3aceable, and amused himself with braiding straw, which he lid in a curious manner, and made a kind of straw basket rhich he hum? on the partition to-contain his bread. Some- fmes he would make the likeness of a man, and sometimes lat of a woman, and place them in postures singularly strik- ig; discovering much curious ingenuity. At this he would imusH himself in the day ; but spent the night in shouting and |allooing, and beating the floor with his chains. On entering the gaol, we discovered the image or likeness If a woman, intended to represent his wife. He had it placed ^1 a sitting posture, at the head of his bed, with the New Tes- iment open before her, as though reading to him, while he lat in the attitude of hearing with serious attention. I was iiduced to look into the New Testament, and found it open at he 12th chapter of St. Luke, and the leaf turned down on the Isth verse, which read as follows : •* When thou goest with Ihine adversary to the Magistrate, as thou art in the way, give liligence that thou mayest bedelivored from him ; lest he hale Ihee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and |he officer cast thee into prison." It would seem as though le had intended to represent her as reproaching him for his bscape from the constables on his y^ay to Kingston, while he kould defend his conduct by referring to the above portion of [he Scripture. He produced many other likenesses, which pe would place in different significant postures, manifesting [he most remarkable ingenuity and invention. A Special Court for his trial had been summoned to meet at Kingston on the 20th of April ; but it was postponed until the tth of May, on account of the ice having remamed unusually fate in the river, aa will appear by the following letters :— Saint John, 5th April, 1815.— Dear Sir,— I have received ronr letter detailing the very extraordinary conduct of the jimlprit in your custody. There is certainly a mystery in this man's means and character which is unfathomable, and I fear there 'Will be considerable difficulty with him on the trial. Your vigilance and exertions of course cannot be relaxed. As the best thing to be done, I despatched your letter without lelay, to the Attorney General, that they might adopt, at [ead Quarters, any such measures as they might think ex- )edlent for the further safeguard and security of the prisoner. Very respectfully yours, :o W. Bates, Esq. W. CHIPMAN. 40 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINOS OF \ 'mm Sunday, 16th April, 1815.— Dear Sir,— I have just received! by express from Fredericton, a letter from the Attorney GenI eral, btating, that from the state of the river, it will be iinpraci ticable for him to be at Kingston by the 20th, and as he haj hitherto taken the whole burthen of the trial upon himself i cannot go on without him. From this circumstance, there fore, and as the present state of the travelling would probabll render it dangerous to my father's health (who is not no\l very well) to hold the Court this week, he has determined iil put it off till Thursday, the 4th of May, for which day \A wishes you to summon your jury, and to proclaim the holding of the Court. He regxets much giving y«»u this additional trouble: but it must j^ettribu ted to the extraordinary back] wardness of the season, which was not probably foreseen when it was recommended to Hold the Court on the 20th of Aprilj I have not time to forward a new precept by this conveyance! but I will forward one in time, or tlie one you have may ba altered. This can be easily arranged when we go up to thtj Court. Your's truly, W. CHIPMAN. W. Bates, Esquire. The Court was accordingly"^ proclaimed, and at the same time 1 wrote a letter, inclosing the proclamation to Mr. Dibble, the former jailor, to which 1 received the following answer :— "Dear Sir,— I yesterday received your letter, inclosing! your proclamation of the Circuit Court, for the trial of SmitbJ the horse-stealer. I shall be very sorry if Judge Chipman'sl health should be such as to prevent Lis attending the trial.l Should the Attorney General attempt to prosecute on recog-l nizance for the escape, I think his (the Judge's) influence atl Court would prevent it. I am quiteof your opinion, that itl will be the most difficult case that has yet been before any! court for trial in this county. As for his behaving much bet-l ter after I left the gaol, it was what I expected he would do,| to put Beid off his guard. Those parts of his chains that were hanging in convenient situations, were powerM weapons: and had Beid come into the gaol alone, or weak-handed, he would have felt the weight of them. It is remaz^able that the villain, with all his art and cunning, should n;i«nage it so ill ; and it seems altogether providential that frona the k^egiu- ning (except his sickness) he has either delayed too long or has been too hasty, which has prevented his eiacape before, and I hope and trust will be the same with you. I am sorry for the trouble you have with him, and confidently hope and trust he will not evade your vigilajice. You are too w^ell ac-| quainted with his conduct to need my advice.. I must claim | from you the particulars of his conduct at the trial. I remain yours truly, W.Bates Esquire. W. DIBBLE," >F JtENRY MORE SMITH, tk just received! ittorney Ger 11 beiiiiprac] ud as he h] on ijimself stance, there )iil(l probablj <> is not no\I determined tJ which day b( m the holdinii lis additions rdinary back] bresee'n when, 20th of April i conveyance! have may h\ Ko up to thj :jhipman. the same time r. Dibble, the inswer :— ter, inclosingl irial of Smith,! le Chipman'sl ding the trial.| ;ute onrecog* influence atl pinion, that itl eu before anyl Dg much bet- tie would do, lins that were ftJl weapons: k-handed, he lar^able that iXianage it so >in the l^egiu- 1 too long or tscape before, . I am sorry itly hope and eioo well ac-| I must claim I al. DIBBLE.'* On the 30th of April, I went to the gaol and found Smith lying quietly with all his irons and chains uninjured, and told him that on Thursday next, the 4th of May, he must have lis trial before the Court for bis life or death ; and that Mr. ^earson, the Deputy Sheriff who apprehended him at Pictou, )ad come to witness against him ; out he paid no attention to rbat I said. The second day Mr. Pearson came to see him, md told him that his ^Smith's) wife was coming to see him ; \^\JLi he took no notice of him, no more than if he could neither 4ee nor hear, and set at defiance all attempts to extort one single expression, as though he were destitute of every sense. The third day we found that he had been at the stone wall, lis face bruised and bloody. I renewed my attempts to elicit !iomething from him, by telling him that the next day he rould be brought before the Court for his trial ; but all was in rain. He gave me the most decided indications of confirmed insanity ; patted his hands, hallooed, sang without articulat- ing, and continued to sing and beat the floor with his chains the most of the night. The 4th of May, the day appointed for his trial, being now some, the Court began to assemble early in the morning, and lumerous spectators crowded from every part of the County. ibout 11 o'clock his Honor Judge Saunders, and the Attorney General arrived from Fredericton. About one o'clock the ^hole Court moved in procession to the Court House, which J9& unusually crowded with spectators. After the opening >f the Court in the usual form, the prisoner was called to the )ar. The jailor and four constables brought him and placed him in the criminal's box. He made no resistance, nor took my notice of the Court, and, as uscial, acted the fool or the ladman, snapping his Angers and patting his hands ; he leniM and ha'd, took off* his shoes and socks, tore his shirt, ^very eye was fixed on him with wonder and astonishment, ifter the Attorney General had read his Indictment, the Fudge asked him how he pleaded to that Indictment, guilty }r not guilty. He stood KP si II o um -and ailent, without regard- ing what was said to hinir The Judge then remonstrated with lim, and warned him that if he stood mute, out of obstinacy, lis trial would go on, and he would be deprived of the oppor- tunity of putting himself on his country for defence; and that intenoe would be given against him : he therefore advised lim to plead not guilty. . He still continued mute, and acting 'le fool without betraying the slightest emotion. The Judge then directed the Sheriff to empannel a Jury of twelve men, ^ enquire whether the prisoner at the bar stood mute will- TuUv and obstinately, or by the visitation of God. From the evidence brought before the Jury on this enquiry, it appeared *iat he had been in the same state for the three months pre- 3ding, during which time he could not be surprised into the itterftUce of one word. The Jury consequently returned their ^erdiot that the prisoner stood mute by the visitation of God. 6 42 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF pi i The Judge then directed the Attorney General to enter the plea of not guilty ; and Counsel for the prisoner was admitted. The Court then adjourned till ten o'clock the next morning. The next morning, Friday, the Court assembled accordingly, and the prisoner was again brought to the bar, and placed in I the criminal's box as before. He sat down quietly, and main- tained his usual silence and inattention. The most profound silence reigned in the Court, which was still crowded with spectators, and every eye was fixed dn the prisoner with the most eager attention. The Judge then arose, and observed that the prisoner appeared more calm, this niornmg, and di- rected the Attorney General to proceed with his trial. After the Jury had been empannelied and had taken their seats, and the witnesses brought before the Court, the prisoner was ordered to stand up for bis defence, bold up his hand, and hear the evidence; but he still maintained the same disregard and indifference, giving no attention to any thing that was said to him. The constables were then directed to hold up his hand, but to this he offered the most determined resistance, and fought and struggled with tbeni so furiously, that they were unable to manage him. They then procured a cord and pinioned his arms ; but this was of no avail ^ he would flounce and clear himself from them all, as thou^^h he had the strength of some furious animal. They then procured a rope and lashed his arms back to the railings of the box ; but he still continued his struggling, and reaching the railings before him would break them like a pipe-stem. They then procured another rope and bound hi» hands together, and secured them to the railing in opposite directions. Finding himself overpowered in his hands, his immediately availed himself of bis feet, with which he kicked most lustily, and soon demolished all the railing in front of the box, notwithstanding all the efforts of the constables to prevent him. Another rope was then procured, and bis feet bound each way from the posts of the box, so that he was ren- dered incapable of further mischief. After securing him in this manner, all the constables being in readiness for his^ movements, wbile be himself sat as unconcerned as though nothing had happened, tbe Attojrney General proceeded to read his Indictment, in which the prisoner stood charged with having feloniously stolen a certain bay horsey the property of Frederick Willis Knox, Esq. , of the value of thirty-n ve pounds. Mr. Knox having been sworn, stated the manner of his pur- suit after the prisoner, with all the circumstances, uintil he^ came to Truro, as has already been detailed. At Triirb he engaged Mr. Pearson, Deputy Sheriff, to pursue on to F'ictou,, whither he was informed the prisoner had gone, tp sell the* horse. Mr. Peters, Counsel for the prisoner, on the crossrexjeM^lQii^. tion of Mr. Knox, asked him how he wrote his cliritttiiui name—" Willis" or " Wills." He answered, " I am christen- HENRY MORE SMITH, W{\ and named after my f(od-father, Lord North, the Earl of Wlllaborough, and I never write my name Willis." Mr. Peters then produced authorities to show where one letter omitted or inserted in a man's name had quashed an indict- ment, and moved that the prisoner fae discharged from this indictment. This move was over-niled by the Judge, but 'was reserved for a question in the Court above. The witness Pearson having been sworn, deposed and said, that he pursued after the prisoner the v/hole night, and early i the next morning was shown the prisoner, and arrested him on suspicion of having stolen the horse, and told him that the owner of the horse would soon be present. He seemed but little surprised, and only replied that he came honestly by the iiorse. The witness further stated, that he then asked the prisoner where the horse was, who unhesitatingly pointed to the house where he soon after found him. Witness went on to state that he took the prisoner before a Justice for exami- nation, and thence to the gaol at Pictou. That he then went to the house which the prisoner had pointed out to him, and there found the horse; that he returned homewards with the horse about ten jniles, and met Mr. Knox, who immediately knew the horse, and called his name "Brittain." That they then returned to Pictou, where the prisoner remained in gaol, and on examination was found to have in his possession a watch, and about fifteen guineas in money, with a number of watch seals and other articles, some of which it appeared he had stolen on his way as he escaped with the horse. That he was committed to the charge of a constable and Mr. Knox, to be conveyed b^ a warrant A*om Nova Scotia to the gaol at King's County, in New Brunswick. That before he was taken ftrom the gaol at Pictou he had cift the bolt of his hand-cuifs nearly through, anti had artfully concealed it, which was fortunately discovered, and new hand-cuffs provided, other- wise he must certaintly have escaped from his keepers before he arrived %t Kingston. The circumstances against the prisoner were, that he gave contradictory statements as to the way in which he came by the horse: at one time asserting that he bought him from a pedler; at another, from a Frenchman ; again, that he swap- ped for him ; and at Amherst produced a receipt for money paid in exchange. The Counsel for the prisoner, in cross-examining, asked Mr. Knox, did you ever see the prisoner in possession of the horse? "No; but he acknowledged it."— "Did you ever hear him acknowledge that he was in possession of the horse in any other way than by saying he came honestly by him ?" **No." Mr. Pearson was cross-examined in the same manner, and answered to the sams e£fect. Mr. Peters, in defence of the prisoner, produced authorities to shew that by the evidence the prisoner was not taken in the manner as stated in the declaration, and that it was sufficient I u THE MW'^TERIOUS DOINGS OF fB m i; ''^^H i f 1 W !' for him to prove, in a general way. how he came in possession of the horse, which he was able to do by a receipt he produced for the money paid in exchaace, the best general evidence that can be given, as such is the common way in dealing in horses. He acknowledged that if the prisoner had been taken on the back of the horse, he would then have been taken in the manner aa stated by the Attorney Genera!, and conse- quently bound to prove how he came in possession; but in the present case, he himself, or any one present, might have been in this unfortunate pi isoner's situation; dragged to the prison, to Court, and to the gallows, because he could not pro- duce the person who actuall^"^ sold him the horse. The prose- cutor had not produced any evidence of the horse ever having been in possession of the prisoner, any other way than by hia own confession ; and he trusted that the Jury would not hesi- tate to find that the prisoner was not taken in the manner as stated in the declaration, but would pronounce him, by their verdict, "Not Guilty." The Judge, in his charge to the Jury, overruled the plea, by stating to the Jury thai bis having been taken in the manner, was proved by the various accounts he gave of his getting possession of the horse, thus rendering himself liable to prove how he came by him, or to stand guilty of having felonioua)y taken him, as stated in the Indictment. That they had heard* the witnesses, and if from the evidence and circumstances be- ioTQ them they were fully satisfied that the prisoner at the bar had taken the horse feloniously, as stated in the Indictment, they wonld find him Guilty ; but if they had any doubts, that leaning to mercy, they would find him Not Guilty. While the Jury was out, the Sheritt* invited the Court, and and other Gentlemen to visit the jail, where they were shown the irons and chains, and the situation in which the prisoner had been placed. The Judge observed that it was fortunate the prisoner had been sent to Kingston Jail, as no other jail in the Province would have kept him. The Jury, after an absence of about two hours, returned with a Verdict of ** Guilty." The Jndga then proceeded to pass upon him the awful sentence of the law, ** Death, without the benefit of Clergy ;" but the criminal remained unmoved and unatfected, and continued shouting and hallooing. The Court asked the Counsel tor the prisoner whether he had anything to otfer in arrest of judgement, or why the sentence of Death should not be executed upon him. Mr. Peters then rose and produced authorities to show that the present law that took away " the benefit of Clergy" for horae-stealing^ was not in force in this Colony, and that it could not be construed to be in force, and must be a question to be decided in the Higher Court, where he hoped to have the honor of discussing it. The Judge admitted the plea ; but he gave his opinion against him. The business being ended, the prisoner was returned to his cell, where he received his chains with willingness and appa- HENRY MORE SMITH. 45 \ex\t satisfaction ; and the Court adjourned without delay, fbe Attorney Qeneraf, however, gave me to understand that Ihe prisoner would not be executed immediately ; and reqnest- M that I would observe his behaviour, and inform him by letter the particulars of his conduct. The next morning I Visited him, and observed to him that he was now under sent- jnce of death, and that he would be allowed only one pound >f bread every day, with water, during the short time he had fco live. That as soon as the death warrant was signed by the 'resident, he would be executed, and that a short time only m% left him to prepare for the dreadful event. But he paid 10 attention ; patted his hands, sang and acted the fool as isual. One of his visitors being much surprised at his insen- sibility, observed to him, ** Smith, it is too late for you to de- ceive any more; your fate is fixed now, and you had better jmploy your little time in making your peace with God, than to act the fool any loAger.'* On our next visit to the gaol, which was soon after, we found his Testament open, and a leaf |turned down on the following passage — *'If any man among rou seemeth to be wise, let him become a fool, that he may )io wise." From this it would appear, that he either founded |his pretended insanity on Scripture precept, or affected to do do: yet it cannot be supposed that he intended us to know rhat use he made of this Scripture, as he must have known that our conclusion would be that he was ** more rogue than fool." I kept him nine days on bread and water, during which time Ihe manifested no sign of hunger, more than when fed with ifonr times his allowance, and tore off every particle of his clothing, leaving himself entirely naked. After this tims. I allowed him other provisions, and his subsequent behaviour was briefly stated in a letter to the Attorney General, and afterwards published in the ** Royal Gazette." The following is a true copy of the letter, as it appeared in this paper, July !lith, 1815. " Copy of a letter from the High Sheriff of King's County :~ "Kingston, June 26th, 1815.— My dear Sir,— Having heard I nothing from you since the late Gaol Delivery at King*s County, I beg leave to state to you some circumstances of the criminal Henry More Smith, since bis trial and sentence. After securing him with strong chains to his neck and legs, and with hand-cuffs, he continued beating the floor, hallooing day and night with little intermission, making different sounds ; sometimes with jinking his chains, and sometimes without, apparently in different parts of the gaol, insomuch that the jailor frequently sent for me, supposing he must be loose from his chains, which I conceived and frequently ob- served was impossible, being far beyond the power of human strength or invention, in his situation ; but on the 24th of May, going into the gaol early in the morning, (after having exam- 46 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF V* of his heaviest chains separated, and lying on the floor, being part of the chain without the staple. He continued in the sam« I way until the 2nd of June, when we found the largest chain farted about the middle and tied with a string, which clearly proves that irons and chains are no security for him. I then put on a light chain, with which he has been ever since. I never discovered him at work at anything, bnt he frequently produced effigies or likenesses, very striking, representing his wife. He now produced an efflgy of a man in perfect shape, with his features painted, and joints to all his limbs, and dressed him in clothes that he had made in good shape and fttahion out of clothes he had torn off himself, (being now naked.) which was admired for its ingenuity. This he would put sometimes in one position and sometimes in another, and seemed to amuse himself with it, without talcing the least no- tice of anything else; continuing in his old wav hallooing, without any alteration, until the 13th, w)ien tlie Jailor informed me that he refused to eat, and no doubt was sick. I went to see him every day— found he did not eat— all the bread and other provisions conveyed to him he crave to his efflgy, strung 6n a string, and put iii his hands. He lay perfectly still day and night, and took no notice of anything— would drink tea or milk, which I gave him twice a day for five days, he then re- fused to drink anything for two days, which made seven days that he eat nothing. In that time he began to speak — would ask questions, but would hold no conversation. 13ut the most extraordinary, the most wonderful and mysterious of all is, that in this time he has prepared, undiscovered, and at once exhibited the most striking picture of genius, art, taste, and invention, that ever was, and I presume ever will be produced by any human being placed in his situation, in a dark room, chained and handcufted, under sentence of death, without so much as a nail of any kind to work with but his bands, and naked. The exhibition is far beyond my power to describe. To give you some faint id^a, perniit me to say, that it consists of ten characters- men, women and children— all made and painted in the most expressive manner, with all the limbs and joints of the human frame— each performing different parts ; their features, shape and form, all express their different offices and characters ; their dress is of different fashions, and suitable to the stations in which they are. To view them in their sta- tions, they appear as perfect as though alive, with all the air and gaiety of actors on the stage. Smith sits in his bed by the side of the gaol, his exhitrition begins abont a foot i^om the floor, compasses the whole space to the ceiling. The upper- most is a man whom he calls his tamborine player, or some- times Dr. Blunt, standing with all the pride and appearance of a master musician ; his left hand akimbo, his right hand on his tamborine, dressed in suitable uniform. Next him, below, is a lady genteelly dressed, gracefully sitting in a handsome swing ; at her left stands a man, neatly dressed, in the charac- HEN MY MORE SMITH. 47 tor of a servant, holding the side of the swing with his right, iiis left hand on his hip, in an easy posture waiting the lady's moting. On her right hand stands a man genteelly dressed, I In the character of a gallant, in a graceful posture for dancing. Beneath these three figures, sit a young man and a young girl (apparently about fourteen) in a posture of tilting, at each end of a board, decently dressed. Directly under these stands one whom he calls Bonaparte, or sometimes the father of his family; he stands erect, his features are prominent, his cheeks red, his teeth white and set in order, his gums and lips red, his nose shaded black, representing the nostrils ; his dress is that ot the harlequin. In one hand he holds an infant, with the other he plays or beats music; before him stands two children, apparently three or four years old, holding each other by the hand, in the act of playing or dancing, which, with a man dressed in fashion, who appears in the character of a steward, sometimes in one situation, and sometimes in another, makes up the show, all of which you have at one view. Then commences the performance. The first operation is from the tamborine player, or master, who gives two or three single strokes on his tamborine, that may be heard in any part of the house, without moving his body. He then dances gracefully a few steps, without touch- ing his tamborine ; the lady is then swung two or three times by the steward ; then the gallant takes a few steps ; then the two below tilt a few times in the most easy, pleasant manner; then the two children dance a little, holding each other by the hand ; after this. Smith begins to sing or whistle a tune, to which they are to dance, at which the tamborine strikes, and every one dances to the tune, with motion, ease, and exactness not to be described. Many havo been the observations of spec- tators ; amongst them, an old German observed that, *' when he was starving the seven days, he was making a league with the devil, and that he helped him." All acknowledged with me, that it exceeds anything they ever saw or imagined. His whole conduct' from the first has been, and is, one continued scene of mystery. He has never shown any idea or knowl> edge 6i his trial or present situation ; he seems happy ; bis irons and chains are no apparent inconvenience ; contented like a dog dr a monkey' broke to his chain ; shows no more idea of any thing, past, than if he had no recollection. He, in short, is amysterious character, possessing the art of invention, beyond common capacity. I am almost ashamed, to forward you so long a letter on the subject, and so uninteUigible ; I think, if I could have done justice in describing the exhibition, it would have been worthy a place! in the ** Ilpyal Gazette," and better worth the attention of the public than all the wax- work ever exhibited in this Province. '* 1 am, with all respect, dear Sir, your very humble servant s Walter Bates. " To Thomas Wetmore, Esq., Attorney General. 48 THE MYSTERIOUS DOlNOS OP ♦« P. S.— Wednesday, the 28th.— This morning I found he added to his worlds a drummer, placed at the left of his tarn- borine player, equal in appearance, and exceeding in perform* ance ; beate the drum with either hand, or both occasionally, in concert with the tamborine, keeping time with perfect ex* aotness ; sometimes sitting, at others standing or dancing. He had also, in a most stri Icing manner, changed the position of his scene. The lady above described to be sitting so gracefully in her swing, with so many attendants and admirers, is now represented sitting iu a dejected posture, with a young infant in her arms ; her gallant has left her, and is talcing the young girl before described, about fourteen, by the hand, with an air of great gallantryi leading her, and dancing to the tune with perfect exactness, reprenentihg more than can be described. On viewing this, an old Scotchman observed,—* Some say he is mad, others he Is a fool ; but I say he is the sharpest man I have ever seen ; his performance exceeds all I have ever met with, and I do not believe he was ever equalled by man.' This evening, a gentleman from Boston having heard the above description, came to see the performance, and declared he could say as the Queen of Sheba did, that *the half had not been told.* " To this the Editor of the *' Gazette" adds the following re- marks ; "We have given an entire copy of the above letter, which has excited our astonishment, and will, probably, that of every other person who has not^een the exhibition and performance described in it. Those who are acquainted with the Sheriff, know him to be incapable of stating falsehoods, or attempting in any way to practice a deception, and will of course give credit to the statement of facts, wonderful as they may appear to be, which he has made." The Supreme Oourt, in July ,being about to be held in Fred- ericton, and feeling anxions to know the fate of the prisoner, I attended fjr this purpose; and having ascertained from the At- torney General that his destiny would not be fatal, I returned again to Kingston, when the jailor informed me that the first night I had left Kingston, Smith had drawn the staple of the chain that was about his neck, and had so concealed them both that they could not be found ; and the glass in the brick wall was broken at the same time ; but that the chain could not have gone through that way, as the outside glass in the window was whole ; that the room and every other part of the Jail had been thoroughly searched ; but neither the chain nor staple could be found : neither could it be imagined how he broke the glass, as it was far beyond the reach of his chains. On my entering the jail. Smith said to me, "The devil told my drum- mer, if I did not put that chain out of the way. you won Id certaintly put it about my neck again ;" that he nated it, and found he I , •! his tam- n perform* 'casJonally. •erfecfc ex* I'ciiiflr. He position of I Kracefully I'^t is now mg infant the young vitli an air tune with lesoribed. '0 say he •est man I _ ever met Jan.' This the above )clared he f had not [whioh has of every formancTe 5 Sheriff, tempting arse give »y appear in Fred- isoner, I Q the At" '•cturned the first le of the em both ok wall uld not window rail had ' staple » broke Onmy dram- would ^t, and HENRY MORE SMITH. 49 murdered it, and put it under the dirt ; but he feared he lould have no peace till he raised it again. I then told him must raise it again, and if he behaved himself well I would t put it about bis neck again. Tbe next morning the chain as seen lying on the gaol floor; but where or by what means le concealed it, could never be found out. I then took oft' bis land-cutns, and gave him water to wash himself. I also gave im a clean shirt aud jacket, and a young man who was pre- ntgave him a black handkerohiof, which he put about his eolc, and seemed much pleased ; and said if he had a tlddle, r any instrument of music, he could play for his family to ance ; If he bad a set of bagpipes, he could play on them very ell, and that if we gave him wood and leather, he would ake a set. He was offered a flfe, which he handled in a lumsy way ; but he said he believed he could learn to play n it. He paid the boy for it, and then took the fife, and would lay any tune either right or left handed. I then told him if e would behave well I would not put his hand-cufis on that ay. He replied that he would then have his family in good rder for my hali; but he observed that when be put one hand o anything, the other would follow as though the hand-cuffs ere on. We gave him some materials that he wanted, and hen left him ; this was tbe 17tb of July. On the 18th we found im busily employed with his family, making improvements for the ball. I gave him pen, ink, and paint, and many articles for clothing, — the rest are all my fdmily." He seemed very HENRY MORE SMITH. 51 much pleased with his new visitor, and readily exhibited Avery part of his perlbrnianee, to the full satisfaction of the Doctor, who expressed his astonishment in the most iniquli' tied terms, and acknowledged that it far exceeded his antici- pations. August 13th.— At evening we found that he had improved his Scotch sentinel by H^ivinj): him a carved wooden head, tinished with the natural features of a bold hi(;hlander. This was the first ol his carved work. He had also much improved his pugilists. Bonaparte, by some unlucky stroke, had killed the Irishman, and had taken olS his head and huns it up at his right hand. A brawny old Scotchman had taken the Irishman's place, and was giving the Corsican a hard time of it, knocking him down as often as he got up. Next day at noon I called to see him : he had been fiddling remarkabfy well, and singing very merrily ; but on my entering I "found him busily employed at carving a head which was to take Bonaparte's place, for that bold Scotchman would overpower him soon. He observed that carving was a trade in England, and that he did not expect to do so well at it before he made the trial ; and further remarked that a man did not knoW'What be could do until he set about it; and that he had never failed in anything he undertook. He said he had never seen any such show in England as that he was now working at : that he had only dreamed of his family, and had the impression that he must ** go to work" and make them all : that if he did, it would be better with him, and if he did not, it wouhl be liad with him. That he had vorked ever since, by night and by day, and had not quite completed them yet ; that there were 9. shoemaker and a tailor that had not come yet for want of room : that he should make room if he did not go away: that he had been here until he had become perfectly contented; and "contentmt-nt," he said '* was the brightest jewel in bis life ;" and that he never enioyed himself better than he did at present with his family. lu the evening I went in to see him again ; and as my curi- osity to know the origin of so singular a character was greatly excited, I hoped that the present would have proved a favor- able opportunity to draw some information from him ; but he cautiously and studiously avoided answering any questions relative to his previous life, and atiected not to understand what I said to him.* Sometimes be would talk very freely, and in a prophetic 8tr«iii, of his future destiny. He said he knew be was goipg •way from home, and that he should find enemies ; every one who knew him would be afraid of him, and look upon bim with distrust and horror. That occasionally he was distressed in his sleep with all kinds of creatures coming about him. Qreat hogs and all kinds of cattle and creeping things, snakes and adders, frogs and toads, and every hateful thing. Tliat he would start up from sleep and walk about the prison : then lie 69 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF i 1 ' down and get asleep, and be annoyed with them again. That I he would sit up and talk to his family, and sometimea take his fiddle and play to amuse himself, and drive away these dreary hours of night. He said these snakes and adders he could read very well ; that he knew what they all meant, and oould understand something concerning the others ; but that these frogs and toads coming together he could not understand : only that he knew he was to leave this place and go on the water, and that he could see as clearly as he saw me standing before him, that he should find enemies, and everybody would be afraid of him ; but he would hurt no one. That he should find trouble, and have irons on him, but that they should come ofi' again. That the crickets came and would get upon his children and would sing among them ; that be liked to hear them ;.that his mother told him he must not hurt them, they were harmless, and that he must not hurt anybody. His mother, he continued to say, always gave him good ad- vice ; but he had done that which he ought not to have done, and had suffered for it ; but he forgave all hts enemies. The Lord says, if you would ask forgiveness of him, forgive thy brother also. We cannot expect forgiveness except we repent and forgive our enemies. The Word of God is plain : except you forgive your brother his trespasses, neither will your Hea- venly Father forgive you when you ask of him. All men are sinners beiore God ;— watch, therefore, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. I watch here and pray with my family night and day ; they cannot pray for themselves. But I qball not stay long : he could go to sea as supercargo of some vessel, or he oould get bis living with his family as a show in any country but England, and he had never seen such a show in England ; that he had never enjoyed himself better than with his family at present. He did not care for himself so his family looked well; he would be willing to die, and he should like to die here, raii^er than go among his enemies ; but be believed he had one friendin England, old Willie, if he is yet alive ; i^e was always bis friend, and he should like to go and see him. 4-nd he had one sister, he said, in England, that he wanted toi^ ; she played well on the pianoforte, and he himself oould play on it too. She was married to a lieutenant in the army, but he was promoted to be captain now. If he could he would go to see her in England, where he had friends. He also said he had an uncle in Liverpool, a misrehant. Then looking earnestly upon me, he said, *^ My. name is not Smith— my name is Hhnrt J. Moon. I was ednoaled in Cambridge College, in England, I understand JSmAiBh, Freneh and Latin ,well, and can speak and write flvediflafen^ languages.*' H^ also said he could write any hand aahand- oome or as .bad^ as I ever iaw. He said he had five hundred iMNHidaintha Bank of England, which waa. in the eare of-Mr. . /JPaiier, ftod, fhii be wished to have his wife get it, as he did jwtilfnoir wJiera he should go ; but he knew Seahould^ meet HENRY MORE SMITH, 58 with trouble; yet he did not fear what man could do to him, for he could but kill him, and he should like to die here. After hearkenfng to these incoherent observations for a length of time, without being able to obtain an answer to any question I put to him, I left him for that time. The next mornintr, when the jailor went in to see hirai Smith said he had been tishinp:, and had caught a large fish* The jailor, on looking, perceived the chain which Smith had formerly worn about his neck, and had been missing a long time, but never could tind out where or by what means ho concealed it. After this, he commenced a new scene of mys- tery, that of fortune-telling; in which, if he did not possess the power of divination, he was wonderfully successful. The lailor carried him his breakfast, with tea ; Smith observed to nim that he could tell him anything, past or to come. The jailor then asked him to tell him something that had happened to him. Smith replied, — **Some time ago you rode a great way on my account, and carried letters and papers about me, and about others too. Again 3'on went after a man, and you had. to go on the water before you found him, and I am not sure but that you found him on the water. While you were a* n him you saw a man at work in the mud on the hijfirhway, v«ft ;^on inquired of him for the man you wanted. He told .v« rhat you asked. You then asked him if there was any water near, that you could drink. He told you of a place where he had drank ; you went to it, but found the water so bad you did not drink it.'' The jailor was greatly astonished at this, knowing the whole iaftair to be true just as he had stated, and had no recollection of ever having mentioned the circumstance to any person. Perhaps all this may be attempted to he explained away in some manner, or may be attributed merely to his imagination, or the hazard of an opinion ; but it would be a coincidence not to be expected, and v«ry unlikely to happen. Besides, he often hit upon a development of facts, which could not be ac- counted for but up(m the supposition of i some mysterious knowledge of things beyond the reach ofisommon conception, as the following particulars will full testify : The pezt morning, Aug. 13, he told his own fortune out of his tea-cup. After looking into the cup for some time, he Hl^ljsed it, and told the jailor he was going awjiy from this place, that he was going over the water, and must havd a box to p4t his fiimily in ; that he saw three papers that were writ- ten and sent abopt him, and that one of thdm ^'as larger than the other two, and contained sometliing for him that he did not nnderstaiid, but he would soon know. ' The next. uiqrAing, Aug. lithy he loojh^ied in ^is cppi|^|n, and told. the JiMiorlhut ihese t^br^e p«ijf)^K% wfere .pn^^hflf way oonUngi and ivjp^ld be h«r^thM»J(l«7 4t4.o'«)QpkY^4,l^P4^^^ •oon know wiwt they QQ|it«k(^ .ajb^oi^l^Ri. ; JU#r^gly I 54 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINChS OF received papers from Fredericlon, containing bis Pakdon, and two letters just as he had predicted ! ! In addition to this, the followiuf? must be reararded as a very singular and remarkable prediction, which, independentiy of some unknown mysterious means, cannot be accounted for. Early in the morning he remarked to the jailor in his usual manner: ** This man over the way has a son who has gone to sea, and is at sea now ; but he will be here this night, and you shall see that I will affront him." Now mark the sequel. It so hap- pened that a fresh breeze springing up to the southward, with a strong flood tide, the vessel which contained the young man was alongside in the dck in St. John, on the same day about two o'clock. He was then and there informed that one of his sisters lay dangerously ill at Kingston, and that Dr. Smith was just going up to visit her. The young man hired a horse, and in company with the doctor, arrived at his father's about the time that we usually visited the prisoner in the evening. I called at Mr. Perkins , and found that the Doctor and young Perkins had just arrived. The Doctor said to me that he had heard much of my extraordinary prisoner, and if I had no objection, he irhould be much pleased to see him and hisshow, he had heard so much of his great performance. Young Mr. Perkins said that he would also like to see the show, and all went with me into the jail, and found Smith lying on his bed, but without appearing to take notice of any one present. Mr. Perkins, like every one else, was much astonished at the ap- pearance of liis show, as it was exhibited on the wall, and had a great desire to see the performance. He put down a quarter dollar by Smith, and said he would give it to him if be would make his puppets dance : but Smith would not take anv notice of him, and young Perkins continued to urge him to the per- formance, but wiU)out effect, until he wasquite out of patience, and finally took up his money, which he bad proposed giving for the exhibition, and left the gaol in quite an ill humor. After Perkins had left the gaol Smith said, *' now, if any of you want to see my family dance, you may see them in wel- come T'-^and took up his fiddle and went through the per- formance to the entire satisfaction of all present. Now the reader may account lor this mysterious prediction and its fulfilment upon whatever grounds he pleases; but the arrival of the young man from sea that day, his coming to Kingston, and his being affronted by Smith in the gaol, are facts which cannot be disputed. The writer is aware that he may incur the imputation of weakness for narrating some things relative to the prisoner ; but as they ar6 all cbaraoteris tic of him in a high degree, and when all united, set him forth before the world as a character, singular and unpreoedented, he oonsidered that every part of his sayings and doings bad their interest, and were necessary to bo narrated. After dos- ing the exhibition ot his fkmily for this lime, he went on to Pi ei ai HENB Y MORE SMITH, 56 |ut the ling to tol, are ihat he : some loteris a forth lented, gshad r cios- i on to say, that he had told his fortune from his tea-cup, and it came always alike ; that he could tell a great deal by dreams. The devils helped fortune telling, he said, bnt dreams were the inspiration of God. When the hogs came to him by night, he could tell a great deal by them. •♦ Your neighbor," he said to me, '* had a black sow that had pigs, some black, and some all white, and one with red spots before and behind." By them he said he could tell much, I was aware that Mr. Perkins had a sow with young pigs, and I had the curiosity to look at them, but they did not answer to his description, and I consequently allowed these remarks of his relative to the sow and pigs to pass for nothing. However, in the evening, as I was leaving the gaol, Smith said to me (and without a word having been said about my looking at the pigs,) **The pigs I told you about are not those you examined, they were six months old." I made no reply, knowing that Mr. Scovil had a sow with pigs, answering to his description iu every particular. On Saturday morning. Smith said to the jailor, " Your neighbor over the way there, has a sow that has gone away into the woods, and she Jias pigs, — some all black, some all white, and some black and white, and she will come home before night, and when she comes, she will have but one pig, and that will be a plump black pig, and they will never know what became of the others." Accordingly the sow, about 4 o'clock, came home with her one ** plump black pig," and was immediately driven back into the woods the way by which she appeared to have come ; but according to the pre- cise terms of Smith's prediction, the others were never found ! The next evening alter I had received his pardon from Fred- ericton, I went to see him, and found him in bed, but said he could not eat; asked for new potatoes, and remarked that the jailor's wife had new potatoes yesterday ; and did not appear in his usual good humour. Although he would both talk and act, at times, rationally, yet he had never recovered from his pretended insanity, nor even until his release from my cus- tody ; thus carrying out his scheme, in perfect wisdom, to the last. But now, with the pardon in my hand, I hoped to make some impression upon him, and if possible, bring him tosomo sense of his situation, by compassionately proposing my as- sistance to get him out of the Province. I then proceeded to inform him that I had received his Pardon, that his Attorney had proved his friend, and had petitioned the President and Court, stating that he was a young man, and this having been the first instance of a case for horcie-stealing before the Court in this Province, prayed that mercy might be extended and his life spared: and that the President and Council had been graciously pleased to withdraw the sentence and grant his Pardon: and that I was now authorized to release him on his entering into recognizance to appear in the Supreme Court and plead his pardon when called upon. The only reply he ■'■''■I 56 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF made was, ** I wish j'^nu would bring me some new potatoes when you come again." I proceeded to say tliat as soon as he was ready, and would let me know where hH wished to go, I would give him cloth- ing, and would give him time to put his tUmily in order, and a boK to put them up in ; observing that they might be a means of getting hitn a living until he could find better em- ployment, without being driven to the necessity of stealing. He replied. ** Have you not got boys and girls that wish to see my family dance? Bring all your family to see tliem ; I will show them as much as you please, but others must pay." I re- mained with him nearly an hour afterwards without saying any more on the subject of his pardon : during which time he continued talking incoherently as he had done the evening before. That we must watch and pray lest we enter into temptation: that he prayed witli his family; they could not pray for themselves. That we must be spiritualty minded, for to be spiritually minded was life ; but to be carnally minded was death ; and much more of this kind, repeating l]^rge portions from the New Testament, nearly whole chap- ters. He observed, ** Now you see 1 can read as well to you witliout the book as others can with the book. I can read to you almost all of any other chapter in the Bible you will name, either in the Old or New Testament, it makes not much dif- ference ; in the dark as well as in the light. My wife is a good little woman ; she would get the Bible on Sunday, and say to me; * Henry, come sit down and liear me read the Bible; but I would laugh and tell her I could read better without the book than she could with ; and would go out and look after my horse, or do anything on Sundays. I have been a bad fellow ; when I was in England I gave all my attention to reading my Bible, and became a great Methodist, and went to all the Methodist meetings ; and would pray and exhort amongst them and tinally became a Preacher, and preached In Brighton, Northampton, Southampton, and in London; and great numbers came to hear me. I was sometimes aston- ished to see how many followed to hear me preach the Scrip- tures, when I knew they were deceived. But I did not fol- low preaching long in London." He went on to state his reasons for giving up preaching, or rather the reasons that prevented his continuing to preach. He had given himself up to the company of lewd women, and had contracted the ai- sease common to such associations. A course like this could not remain long concealed, and Ihe issue was that he was prevented from preaching, and WaM eventually obliged to England, and come to this country, lie went on to say—** I have been a bad young man. I am young nov{^ only twenty-three years of age— not twenty-four yet; and did not know but he would preach again : he ooald easily find converts ^ many ^ould like to hear him preach* When he wflsiapreachei'/litf WUir spiritually mlMldii and all waa itoes fould lloth- and be a HENRY MORE SMITH. Vt name, jh rtif- ife is a y, and ad the better ut and re been tention d went exhort 'eached ondon ; } aston- Scrip- lot fol- ate his DS that iself up the ai- Eind the ud n^aft py. He I younf? ur yet; d easily When all was peace and heaven to him ; but ever since all was trouble, trouble, and misery to him. He never intended to leave this place ; he was contented and willing to stay here until he (lied ; he was better off' here than any where else, and never wished to go into the world again unless he was a preacher. After hearing him talk in this manner for some time, I left him till the next day at noon, when I went to the gaol again, and gave him a good dinner, and read his Pardon to him. When he saw the paper, he said, ** that looks like the paper whioh I dreamed I saw, with two angels and a ship on it, with something that looked **ke snakes." When I read his Pardon, he paid not tlie ^' isl ention to the nature of it, but asked (|uestionH as tbto.on to e nature I of th i- -bject as possible ; only he said he wished I would give hnn that paper: he dreamed it was coming. I told him that as soon as I would get him some clothes made, I would give him the paper: and that I would help him away with his Show in a box, and that he might not be driven to the necessity of stealing: and in the evening I went with a tailor to take his measure for a coat. When he saw the tailor with his measure, he said, ** I wish you would give me that ribbon in your hand.'^ ** It is no rib- bon,*' said the taih>r, ** but a measure to measure you for a new <;oat: come stand up." *' What !" said he, ** do you think you are tailor enough to make me a coat?" **Yes." ** But you do not look like it; let me look at your hands and fingers :" and upon seeing them, he added, ** you are no tailor, you look more like a blacksmith, you shall never make a coat for me," and would not be measured, but he said he would make it better himself, and wished I wouid give him a candle to work by, and he would make himself a waistcoat. He said I need not be afraid of his doing any harm with the candle, he would put it in the middle of the floor, and take care that bis straw and chips did not take fire and burn up his family, which he could not live without, as he could not labor for his living. Besides, he said, if he were so disposed, he could burn up the house without a candle; for, said ne, I can make fire in one hour at any time. ** When I was a boy," continued he, '* every one took notice of me as a very forward boy and I obtained a license for shooting when I was but fifteen. One day when shot^ting, I killed a rabbit on a farmer's land where I had no right. The old farmer came alter me, and I told him if he would come near me I would knock him down, but he caught me, and tied me fast to a large stack of faggots, and wentlfor^a constable. While he was gone, I made fire, and burned up the whole stack, and got off clear ; but the old liarmer never knew how his faggots took fire. You do not use faggots in this country— they are little sticks tied up iu bundles, and sold to boil the tea-kettle with ;" and if I would give him a candle, he would make a fire to light it. Accord- ingly I provided materials for hi9.jBlothes, and a lighted candle to work by. He continued to sew by the light of the candle 8 THE My^rm^^^^ DOINGS OF 5S -t-»-c- and »a»d be oouin n^test manner, and occa ^^j^ /Aid me that he had carve ^^^jg^j^e *u ^ f«lTen. God, he ba^ nrtS-r (S"^ -i.;:;^ ^«SS;r--v «.d friendless. I" »""" "a release .«""'* .°*tr „» feallnijly ■sle«l so that bis pa;''°",*p,esetited these thincs as ^^^,, :,«»;tl,anables"»?^ I'j,«P„ ^ box '" PSjov\»«. "» TaeW . s t could to him. tJave ,gave the J"'""'" »her to Nova S,d l.lm h.. -nf ^^Sld procare him * P'^'^fve no attention. bffimHSer<5«l"r.eTh^^^^^^^^ ol«aol than X 3hi^rBB reS»p"Slt;i; a^ni ipear and plead .»»« P»;^°," *id f»'''V"^.\u?dTevaU «n him Wresting "im ol his ;r"" •^iffl„„vty I ^^\^^^ot bU femlly . lotblnu. l> '•*?,* u,?irever, he ft".»"X,i °iher?and with much to leave the gaol. „°"^ of sc'issors m Aheotner.a j^^ IVone hand, «?* "P"„'t„ one ot the J"!:y,^°^^- f^ all the «lr- effortweg"th.m"|^^^„„ t„ him, and expl»^^« ^ »»"»\^„'; Mlcheau '«»i,,^l?, "ited to prod"ce It. to ^ m ^„^ j»iked ot oumstances which nni ^^ »'^"'\li5 w reooanliance, and aave no attention, hvu .^^^^^ ,eqalredhwrew«^ »,„nethlni£else. Jniige ^.^ ^ «Tt„o Indictments pend- informed him to*' "^ „ and trle^«,»o„ ^^„^„„ ToTbim%e, clipped. o* ir'JnrbXreH'^^^h'-co^^^^^^ uleCal wl'h the sc^»*;'»^a% with hl« , f"'''y;,i,rors. Vlnd- ■€ *•.* HENRY MORE SMITH. 60 could in the einent ia per- out, ho ;hat the for he &od, be d made ar, and laiacter, id mncli •ied ; but )n, and I lestitute. starve or ) rather a feelhi^ly y in, and I Tuenday r to Nova Attention, id snakes, »t I wouWl raoi than I attended at of him to so. Alter ^ith dt'cent ail on him I his family with much (Then Judge all the