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UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 CALL No. 
 
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 TO 
 
 JolppMcl^eo^vn, Esq 
 
 Crowq Attorqey for the 
 
 CXIUNTY CF LINCOLN, 
 
 These few liqes are by 
 
 perrrjissioq respectfully 
 
 inscribed. 
 
 The author Reserves all Rights of Publications. 
 
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 PERSONS REPRESENTED. 
 
 Fmlerick Dickson. AVtp/j of-pvinUd Sheriff- vf Lyndtn. 
 
 Waller G. Tench. Ex-acting, and Deputy Sluriff of Lyndtn. 
 
 John McMahon, County Crown Altvnuy for Linden. 
 
 Donald Green, A Constable for Lynden. 
 
 Frank Dardanus. The man who committed the murder. 
 
 Jolin Fisher, The man who was murdered. 
 
 Douglas Cameron, A mesienger. 
 
 Tt)B Sfprie^altii of Lupden, 
 
 SCENE l.—Shertfs Office, Town of Atcona. 
 
 Enter Walter G. Tench and Donald Green. 
 
 W. G. T. So now the Government of Oronto, 
 hath appointed 
 Frederick Dickson, Sheriff of this county : 
 And as acting sheriff will I now retire [in order, 
 For the new appointee : see thou that all things are 
 As doth become the office of a sheriff, {to D. G.) 
 
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The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
 D. G. Your honor, I have every thing in its place: ! 
 The rooms are swept, ^ind in perfect order. 
 Sficriff Dickson me thinks, will be a civil gentleman 
 Anrl to pleasure him, I will my best endeavors. 
 Though with you-r honor I've no fault to find. 
 And I could serve thee ever while I live. 
 
 \V. G. T. I would the new sheriff did appear 
 And claim the position which to him belongs. 
 What ho ! I do hear footsteps in the hall ; 
 It is the new sheriff. 
 
 Enter Sheriff Dickson. 
 
 S. D. To assume the duties of mine office. 
 After months delay and impatient waiting, 
 The writ from the Oronto Government came, 
 Advising me of my appointment, to 
 The vacant shrievalty of Lynden. 
 So many were aspirants for the office. 
 Whose many claims could not be well overlooked. 
 Were laid before the provincial council ; 
 When that august body did consider well, 
 Aiifl weigh closely each aspirants claim, 
 An onerous duty and perplexing task 
 To give to each, acknowledgement and credit due 
 I 'or their loyalty in their party's cause. 
 And when 'twas shewn that all behaved so well, 
 In conducting many political contests, 
 And their victories in many glorious fights. 
 
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 Tin. SUKIhVALTY OF Lynden. 
 
 '■.< . U- si'.n iinl)Ia/5on''(l on their golden shields. 
 'L:cr loni; dibatc, tlie lords in council gave 
 rin ir decision, and appointed me : 
 WlutliLr 'twas due to my unceasing toil, 
 III the many contests I have fought and wen, 
 C)r was it that my Adonislike form hath sped me, 
 Or other potent reasons did bear me through. 
 Well here am I clothed with a sheriffs power. 
 To act in rigour, or in mercy bend. 
 
 Enter John McMahon. [welcome, 
 y. McM. Oh ! my sweet cousin, let me give thee 
 As sheriff of this county, welcome here. 
 The government, could ne'er have appointed 
 So lit a person as thou to fill that office : 
 And whilst I give thee welcome, I do proffer 
 My services, as counsel in thy office duties. 
 For the intricacies of the law, may oft entangle 
 The most prudent man in the law unversed : 
 And leave thee with many losses on thy hands. 
 Most simple to me, is the knowledge of the law, 
 To acquire it commenced I in my youth. 
 And continued I its pursuit until the present. 
 Therefore with it, so filled am ' with knowledge. 
 That beshrew me, I can hold no more. 
 Like unto the well riped acorn of the oak. 
 Whose kernal fills the area of its shell : 
 Or like the fresh lain egg^ the shell of which 
 
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 The SiiKiLVALTV OF Lynden. 
 
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 Is filled with its coiilents the full capacity : 
 
 Or like unto the emblematic maple, 
 
 Whose sap vessels are filled to o'erflowinsr. 
 
 And tapped by sylvan rustics in the ides of March, 
 
 Thus yieldin;,' its sweet and luscious syrup. 
 
 Therefore my friend, I ani ever at thy service, 
 
 To guide, council and assist the in thine office, [aid 
 
 S. D. Sweet cousin , T thank thee for thy proffered 
 And will gladly seek thy i ;)nsel when in want. 
 But is there nothing, which I can offer thee. 
 In fair exchange for A.iat tliou'llt .'o for me ? 
 
 J. McM. I would that .vou abate the nuisance. 
 Of loud f'dlk and disturbing aoises: 
 Too frequently indulged in, by a constable 
 Donald Green ; who hath long found 
 Employment in this office, and doth disturb 
 The peace and quietness of these halls : 
 In coversation, in manner loud and piercing. 
 And grating harshly on the tympanum of mine ear : 
 Causing deep shock to my nervous system, and make 
 Me bristle all over, like the fretful porcupine. 
 Preventing mine entertainment of deep thought, 
 Thereby causing grave injustice, and much injury 
 Generally, to Her Majesty's liege and contented 
 Subjects : and disturb the quiet of this castle. 
 Some several years ago I did cause abate 
 Within these walls, a nuisance that had grown 
 
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 To huge proportions in its fearful smell ; 
 
 That generated in the dark vaults beneath 
 
 The floors we stand on, and thence ascended, 
 
 Filling this building with gross and frightful oders, 
 
 Until mine olfactories were so much assailed, 
 
 As to cause a heaving of the innerman. 
 
 In vain appealed I to those rustic reeves, 
 
 Who sate in council, having in their charge ■ 
 
 The hygiene, within these spacious walls. 
 
 And not until after many years of toil, 
 
 In halls of justice, and with warlike tongue, 
 
 Did I abate the nuisance of those smells. 
 
 S. D. to D.G. 
 What sayest thou Donald to this mighty charge, 
 Against thy gifted but stentorian voice ? [harsh, 
 
 D. G. So please your honor, I know my voice is 
 A fault, if it be a fault, was in my younger days 
 Acquired by me, in my country's service : 
 In many battles, admidst shouts, yells and carnage. 
 And loud reports of cannons, guns and mortars, 
 When strife ran high in the loud din of battle. 
 There it was, when my ears were deafened : 
 And where dispatches were not conveyed in whispei. 
 But the full uses of my lungs I learned, 
 Admidst deadly charges, and shouts ot victory. 
 
 S. D. Donald Green, now hast thou well spoke, 
 And given satisfaction in thy good excuses. 
 
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 Ex-acting sheriff, how hast Donald bore himself •• 
 Concerning the office duties confided to him ? 
 
 W. G. T. 
 Like unto a fiend incarnate when protecting, 
 Distress and seizure from all lawless hands : 
 And Cerberus, at Hades gates set watching. 
 Would be no equal match for Donald Green : 
 No Hercules could at his post subdue him, 
 Nor make him fear or quale while at his post. 
 
 S.D. Now my good friends, this lucid explanation 
 Full satisfies me, and so we now must part, 
 You unto your tasks and destinations. 
 And I to commune within myself tny part. 
 Exeunt Omnes. 
 SCENE U.— Sheriff's Private Office. 
 Enter Sheiriff Dickson. 
 
 S.D. Long have I waited for this welcome hour, 
 To stand here clothed with a sheriff's power ; 
 Not until after long weary months delay. 
 Did the Crown Patent, for which I oft did pray. 
 Issue from the Royal ministers of state, 
 My appointment to this shrievalty : e'en late. 
 And now must I equip myself with gear, 
 That in court I may with dignity appear. 
 Let a court coat my Adonis form adorn, 
 That I no part of my dignity be shorn. 
 Then I a sword must wear to grace my side, 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
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 As warning to all, that they in peace abide. 
 
 Another thing, and of no small affair, 
 
 A cocked hat would become- me well to wear, 
 
 When this official gear I'll have me girt about, 
 
 Me thinks I'll hear the people cheer and shout : 
 
 Lo ! Here's the new sheriff they all will cry ; 
 
 And thus they'll greet me as I pass them by. 
 
 Now my official duties I them must learn, 
 
 They'r of great moment, and of much concern : - 
 
 The writs of seizure, of distress and rent. 
 
 And other executions will to me be sent. 
 
 To levy such 'gainst the afflicted poor will rend. 
 
 My gentle heart, to which my softer feelings tend. 
 
 And when evicted tenants thrown on the street. 
 
 Without the means, their lawful rent to meet ; 
 
 Will greatly blame me for the part I took. 
 
 Against them, and they'll show it by their look. 
 
 And thus whilst I my official power >yield, 
 
 To them in sympathy, my tender heart must yield. 
 
 It is in courts of law where all suits begin, 
 
 Not only criminal, but civil suits therein. 
 
 Therefore the fault of litigation rests not with me, 
 
 But in the divers suiters, as I plainly see ; 
 
 And in courts conducted, as justice may demand. 
 
 Where prisoners and suiters, upon their trials stand, 
 
 And where judgement or conviction may be had : 
 
 And where justice will prevail against the bad. 
 
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 12 
 
 The Shrievalty of Lyndek. 
 
 Thence from the courts of law to sheriffs are sent, 
 All writs of execution, and of extent. 
 Then they to distress and seizure must resort, 
 Or make return of nulla bona to the court. 
 When commitment in the sheriffs hand is placed 
 To take to durance vile, for a crime that's traced, 
 To some misguided man, whose base passion lead 
 Him from the path of virtue, and the dread 
 Of punishment by law for his misdeed, 
 Is banished to prison, with the utmost speed. 
 Oh ! The stern duties of a sheriff thus to part, 
 A man from wife and child, so near his heart. 
 And when the sheriff with handcuffs now appears, 
 And finds the prisoner's faithful wife in tears : 
 And yielding to her husband's close enbrace. 
 Whilst briny tears suffuse her saddened face. 
 At length t)iey exchange their last lingering kiss^ 
 As months may pass ere they repeat this bliss. 
 And now to prison, his victim the sheriff takes. 
 And him to the gloomy cell, the jailor rakes ; 
 Thus separated from his wife and friends, 
 Until the term of his inprisonment ends. 
 Then there are those, who murder do commit, 
 When on their victims, corner's inquest sit. 
 And after trial, condemned to execution, 
 The means for which, is a cruel institution. 
 Let me think on't for a moment if I can : 
 
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 13 
 
 If a court of justice should condenm a man, 
 To death by hanging, for some dreadful crime, • 
 Within my shrievalty at some future time : 
 And suppose it was a woman thus condemned, 
 Fancy the position in which I would be hemmed. 
 Or if in some rash moment a maiden young, 
 Should some foul murder do, and for which be hung: 
 And in any of these cases, if I could not get 
 Some man to hang them, I would sorely fret. 
 Woe is my sou! should I to hangman turn, 
 For then in my heart, I would ever burn. 
 Keep still my soul, ani^ thou my heart be firm : 
 I have it now, I'd make the guilty squirm. 
 Some men aie tempted by the proffered gold, 
 And at all times willing to let themselves be sold. 
 So in the future I need not be distressed. 
 In this regard my mind shall be at rest. 
 Therefore I'll ne'er borrow trouble 'till the day, 
 When it shall come, then to meet it as I may. 
 Exit Sheriff Dickson. 
 SCENE III.— Sheriff's Public Of. ce. ' ' 
 Enter Sheriff Dickson, John McM ahon and Walter 
 
 G. Tench. 
 S.D. So nowl'vehad experienceinmineofficeduties, 
 Which at first to my tender heart gave pain : 
 And causing me much remorse of conscience 
 And concernment, in regard to the apparent 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
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 Cruelty, consequent upon my official duties : // 
 
 For oft in the dead of v'\^\ my soul was harrassed 
 To such extent, that the god of somnes, 
 Though often sought, could grant me no relief. 
 And thus for months continued I in this purturbation, 
 And tossing on my pillow with oppressive thought: 
 Now have I become inured to ihe stern duties 
 Of a sheriff, and tender feelings somewhat seared ; 
 And in my capacity official, with skill and courage, 
 Do I now perform the requirements of mine office. 
 County attorney McMahon, what thinkest thou 
 Of the knowledge I have gained, and progress made ? 
 
 J. McM. 
 Thou hast done nobly well my friend and much 
 Capacity shewn, in thy acquirements of 
 The laws and usage pertaining to thine office. 
 Your princely bearing whilst in open court, 
 Hath not been by me unnoticed, nor hath 
 Thy courtly gear in vain sought admiration. 
 Clad as thou wert, in regulation coat, 
 And on thy head cocked hat with stately plume, 
 And at thy side a courtly sword didst wear, 
 Which made thee, the observed of all observers. 
 In appearance thou well hast made thy mark. 
 And of thy functions, thou hnst discharged them well. 
 Proceed with caution, as thou didst well begin. 
 And "P'iat Justitia, ruat ceolum." 
 
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 What sayest thou ma er Tench ? 
 
 W. G. T. Quite right 
 Master McMahon, your words are wise and prudent, 
 As I know through long experience as acting sheriff ; 
 Through which I did acquire, immense knowledge 
 Pertinent to the workings of this office. 
 And clear and free left I the shrievalty of Lynden, 
 To the new appointee, Master Sheriff Dickson. 
 Although whilst I had in charge this office. 
 No court coat my airylike form encased, 
 Nor no cocked hat and plume adorned my head, 
 No sword nor sabre at m} side displayed ; 
 And no other badge of power, or royal state 
 Didst weai, hut simply an ordinary costume 
 Did grace my person whilst in official role. 
 
 SCENE IV. 
 EnteV Donald Green. 
 
 D.G.toS.D. 
 Your honor, I have learned that a magistrate 
 Hath sent, to the county jail to wait his trial, 
 A man, Frank Dardanus. who a murder 
 Did commit, upon the person of one John Fisher. 
 
 S.D. Oh! Then is this harbinger of thecomingon 
 Of my fate, which at a former time I did premise ? 
 The portending storm I fear, hath well nigh reach 
 Me, to envelope me in its dark and dismal folds : 
 So soon ! Ah ! yet so soon, must I thus be, 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
 The instrument of a sudden cutting off, 
 
 Of a fellow creature from this ten.poral life, 
 
 His earthly strife, his sorrows and his joys as well. 
 
 J. McM. 
 Take not so gravely, this matter to thy heart, 
 The prisoner is but committed, to await 
 His trial, and his trial hath not yet begun. 
 Do thou therefore abide in peace thy soul. 
 Until thou hearest the sentence of the court 
 Pronounced upon the prisoner, as perchance 
 The evidence adduced against him, may 
 Not be sufficient to convict, and then 
 Him, the court and jury must acquit. 
 Then the part thou dreadestbe not required 
 Of thee ; and thus a respite for some time 
 Indefinite, be then vouchsafed to thee. 
 Exeunt Omnes. 
 SCENE V. 
 Enter Sheriff Dickson, John McMahon, Walter G. 
 Tench and Donald Green. 
 
 S. D. 
 Oh ! Now hast come to pass, that which I so long 
 Have dreaded. The trial over, and the prisoner 
 Hath been condemned, to execution on the gallows. 
 The empannelled jurors upon the trial, found 
 The prisoner guilty ; such was their verdict. 
 And the Lord Chief Justice, presiding on the bench. 
 
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 17 
 
 Did then pass sentence upon the prisoner, 
 That he be hanged for his awful crime. 
 I have not wasted time in advertising, for 
 A bold man as hangman, at the .execution. 
 Large sums of gold have I therein offered : 
 But no response to my liberal offer 
 Have I received, therefore, I now do call 
 Upon my friends, to assist me in this execution. 
 Now Donald Green, thou hast long been in 
 The army, and well tried for bravery and nerve ; 
 Can'st thou then tackle, and hang the guilty man ? 
 Can I depend on you in this trying hour ? 
 
 D. G. Your honor, I am waxing old, and 
 My nerves are in condition shattered. 
 Oh l^when fought I in the British Army, 
 I was at that time young and strong, and had 
 The courage ot a lion, and in those days 
 Could acquit myself to thy satisfaction. 
 Now, in my old age I would not shed the blood 
 Of any man, nor take his life for fear 
 His ghost might in the dead of night arise, 
 And frighten me, clean out of my senses. 
 
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 Now Master Tench, I've only thee to look to, 
 For assistance in this emergencv and trying 
 Hour : cannot you perform this execution ? 
 
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 W.G.T. Master Sheriff Dickson, I would that I 
 Knew how : The art of tying a rope 
 For that intent, hath been neglected 
 In my early education, and since which 
 Time, I have not made improvement. 
 But sir, if you would but adjust the knot. 
 And pull the cap, I think I could spring 
 The trap, and "shuffle off his mortal coil." 
 
 S. D. Oh ! has it come to this, when I myself 
 Must turn hangman, and do this dreadful deed ? 
 Oh ! Why do they not invent some newer method 
 To put to death, these malefactors, in manner 
 Less repugnanc to a tender hearted man ? 
 For instance, a battery charged with electricity 
 Of such force and power, that when applied, 
 Would instantauneosly kill the victim. 
 And would not death in some milder form 
 Have as great an effect as hanging , 
 To cause sufficient terror to deter 
 People, from commission of heinous crimes? 
 
 J. McM. No my friend, I see you are far astray 
 In your idea, concerning the dread of death 
 By those, who usually do commit great crimes. 
 Death by electricity in the manner named, 
 Would not be sufficient, to strike with terror, 
 Those who are inclined to commit such crimes. 
 For those who attempt to take their lives, 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
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 Most always do, the easiest method take 
 As death by drowning is but Httle more than 
 Sleep, and such would be in death by electricity. 
 Therefore, to assure the peace against great crimes, 
 The well tried style of hanging, is the only means. 
 S. D. Oh ! That a writ of pardon or reprieve, 
 Would come to me, ere the sentance of the court 
 Be carried out to its full extent. 
 I dreamed but yestern night that a petition 
 Hath been sent, to the executive authorities 
 At Ottawa, shewing circumstances, by 
 Which Dardanus' crime is much mitigated : 
 And a possible chance for pardon or repriave. 
 But in the meanwhile I must well prepare, 
 To carry into effect the law, to the bitter end. 
 Therefore, to-morrowat sunrise, at the jail we'll meet. 
 The cap, rope and scaffold, are now ready : 
 Also, I have ordered to be prepared, a most 
 Sumptuous breakfast, for the man condemned, 
 So that he may with strengthened nerves be blest, 
 To walk with firmness, to meet his coming doom.. 
 Now let us part and seek our grateful couch, 
 And meet to-morrow, at the break of day. 
 Exeunt Omnes. 
 SCENE VI.— In rear of County Jail. 
 Enter Sheriff Dickson, Walter W. Tench, Donald 
 Green and others. 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
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 S. D. Ascending the steps of the gallows, 
 Here 1 see all things ready for the execution : 
 The beam is firm, to which is tied the rope 
 Of regulation length, also here the trap 
 Upon which the prisoner stands, awaiting: 
 The time he bids farwell to all things earthly 
 And here the cord by which his hands are pinioned, 
 To prevent him struggling for his existence. 
 Yonder stands the gaping crowd, now watching 
 With levity and heartlessness, for the awful end 
 Of the man condemned, who will shortly stand 
 Upon this gallows, to answer to the law's decree, 
 As a dread example to all evil doers. 
 Now then will I for the prisoner call, 
 And get me through with this dreadful task: 
 As procrastination is the thief of time. 
 Ho ! Master Jailor, send to me the prisoner. 
 
 [ 1 he prisoner is brought. ) 
 Ah ! Now Dardanus, hast thou come here to meet 
 Thy doom, in just punishment for thine oflfenc,?, ;, 
 The foul and awful murder of John Fisher, ' ,.. 
 Whom, with malice aforethought, thou didst slay, 
 By casting him headlong into a river, ,e 
 
 From whence he never again appeared. 
 Hast thou yet partaken of the delicious viands, 
 Which, on yestern night, I did order for thee, 
 As will also, the bottle of Guiniss's stout, 
 
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 The Shrievalty of Lynden. 
 
 21 
 
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 In order to give thee strength to meet thy fate? 
 
 Dardanus 
 Your honor, I have eaten what thou gavest me, 
 And physically, have filled the inner man. 
 For the kindness in what thou hast done for me. 
 Respectfully, I tender thee my thanks. 
 But is there no reprieve for me or pardon ? 
 I would avert if possible, this doom. 
 For I am innocent, and did not commit 
 The dreadful crime, of which I have been charged. 
 
 S. D. Ask anything in reason, and I will grant 
 Thy last request, but to release you from 
 The penalty, which you have justly earned 
 I can not, as 'tis not for me to grant. 
 Therefore stand here. and let me tie thy hands, 
 So thou canst not release thee from the rope. 
 Now then Donald Green, give me the cap, 
 There now it's on and well drawn down. 
 And now the rope, please hand to me, and then 
 The knot I'll tie, there now 'tis done. 
 Though a nuptial knot I would prefer to tie, 
 As in its consequence, there is far less danger. 
 Now master Tench, art thou at thy post ? 
 
 W.G.T. I am Master Sheriff, and ready for the cue. 
 
 S. D. When I give thee the words, once, twice, 
 three times. 
 Do thou at the word times, spring the trap. 
 
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22 
 
 The Shkievalty of Lynden. 
 
 Now then hist ! Master Tench, once, twice three — 
 
 Enter Douglas Cameron. 
 Hold ! I have here a writ from the governor, 
 Granting pardon to one, Frank Dardanus. 
 
 Hands the writ to sheriff Dickson, who reads it. 
 5. D. "His Excellency, the Governor General, 
 To Frederick Dickson, Esquire, Sheriff of 
 The County of Lynden, Oronto, sends greeting. 
 Now know ye, that whereas one Frank Dardanus, 
 Having been charged before our court of assize, 
 Within your Shrievalty, with the murder of one 
 John Fisher, whom he cast into the deep river, 
 Of Niagara, whose surging waters rush on, 
 Until through lake and river they reach the ocean. 
 And for which crime Dardanus hath been tried, 
 Convicted, and sentenced to be hanged. And 
 Since which time it hath been to me presented* 
 That the said John Fisher was net then killed, 
 But by his own act did jump down the bank 
 Of the river, catching to crag and bramble, 
 As he went, until alighting in a crevice 
 Of the rock, and there secreted himself until 
 The storm had blown over, an J now appears again 
 Alive, and without any injury to him. 
 Hence, the said Dardanus hath not been guilty. 
 Of the crime,for which he lately hath been condemned. 
 Now, therefore we command you, hang not Dardanus, 
 
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