^ ^!^^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1^ z 4^ 1.0 1.1 11.25 m m 140 25 2.2 Huu u 1^ ■I ^ V ^> .»" '/ /A Hiotographic .Sciences Corporalioii 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 I/. > CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVI/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter 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 I I Covers damaged/ D D D D Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaur^e et/ou pellicuiie I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur □ Coloured init (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de 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/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents [7T| Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge int^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages hianches ajouttes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires; The toti L'Institut a microfiimi le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 4tA possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la methods normale de filmage sont indiqute ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ D Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommagtes Pages restored and/oi Pages restaurtes et/ou peliiculies Pages discoloured, stained or foxet Pages d6color6es, tachettes ou piqu6es Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality in^gaie de I'impression Includes supplementary materif Comprend du mat6riel suppKmentaire Only edition available/ Seule Mition disponible I — I Pages damaged/ I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ r~y| Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ I I Pages detached/ rri Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ I I Only edition available/ The post OftI filmi Orig beg! the I sion othfl first sion or ill The shall TINl whi< Map diffa entir begii right requ metl Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been ref limed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont M film6es d nouveau de fapon i obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filmi au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X lire details jes du modifier ler une filmage 6e8 The copy filmed here hae been reproduced thanlce to the generosity of: Library of the Pubiic Archives of Canada The images appearing here are the best quaiity possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. Original copies in printed paper covers are 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 are 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 shall contain the symbol — ^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), whichever applies. L'exemplaire filmA fut reproduit grAce h la ginArositA de: La bibiiothique des Archives publiques du Canada Las images suivantes ont 4t« reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at de la nettet* de l'exemplaire film*, et en conformity avec las conditions du contrat de filmage. Les exempiaises originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimte sont filmte en commenpant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une emprelnte d'impression ou d'illustration. soit par le second plat, salon le ces. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmte en commen^ant par la premlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la dernlAre imege de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole -^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols y signifie "FIN". re 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 it des taux de rMuction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clichA, 11 est film* i partir de I'angle supAr'aur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. y errata td to nt ie peiure, 9on A n 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 r'CiTrjrs.T'i^z: Tr"ozd?-xo](v, SAINT JOHN, N. B.: G. W DAY, PRINTER, 67 CHARLOTTK STREET. ' ' 1378: 'i ' I ii y • ;.T^ 'rr--. '■\'"- Wholesale and Retail I>ealer in SCHOOL BOOKS, SCHOOL STATld^IilfeY, standard and Miscellaneous Bool^a^.^j'tio m MUSIO, MUSIO BOOKS, AHD MUOICAL MStMlMNn Bibles, Gbttrch Services, Hymn Book8» (all DeooilQatiODS). SpeoialDisoounttoTeaoh&rs and Oler^rynaen. Corner King •iid Oermain StiPOftf^ SAIJ^T JOHN, N. B. A^fi.n a hi r-OJO" "TSirrT?^;'- '\ Gaxim^ Fidd aitd Flower '.r{\ I ti- '.. A GENERAL ASS^^^^^ENT OF Peas, Beans, Beei^ age. Celery. Oitt^n, Caeuntlier, JLettiice, lUeleii, Hask, NastarUan, Pairftnliif) Pot Hertis, Pamvi^lK/ Pai«ley, aadteU, S^«p»b, f^plnaeh. Tf^ato, TfiriMMl^ sreat Aiifl all lea^lBK kind of fteed» for general nse. Clovei- aiidt^^TTiinotliy S^^^odl Also, a large assortment of FLOWBR 8BBDS. No. 59 Charlotte 81. j op. King Square j St. John, N, B. U. D. McARTHtIR, Peoprietor. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER; OR, MEMOIRS OF THE NOTED HENRY MORE SMITH, CONTAINING A correct accouht of his extraordinary conduct during the thirteen months of his confinement in the Jail of King's County, Province of Ne'w Brunswick, where he WCU9 convicted of Horse Stealing, and !*' under sentence of death. ALSO, A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE AND CHARACTER Prom his first appearance at "Windsor, in Nova Scotia, in the year 1812, to the time of his apprehension and confinement, ; . r TO WHICH IS ADDED ^v A HISTORY OF HIS CAREER, EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS IMPRISONMENTS AND ESCAPES, Selected firom the most authentic sources, both public and \ ;■! i! ;■' , > ■• .1^1^. B. ETOR. £ .^ J BY WALTER BATES, Esquire. SAINT JOHN, N. B. : Q. W. Day, Steam Book and Job Printing Establishment, 67 Charlotte Street 1878. M/ /isr' << iuUnT?'/f' n vXi . nxmv: mm V) mvww nTii,"/ aj]( JT t J •J U'-^. n\AK ■31;> \ v.A.W •:^,■'^ XA'^N I', i f / : ^'H-J 'II inTVlH / .fcl"' -'"•■ ("V" » •,■•■■ ^-•l : •^- **'^"'"'i' I, Oil. -nj: fgi/qnlH . TKIAri He subje the y ceriiii lie af ment, On be a Tail busiiK gentee and se Alt! every close fully c to the his pr( Fine Mr. Bj agreed condtj ous, e[ his en fectly liquor^ guageJ engag] pany ject hi| he ch( to sleel but as I 1 1 \ i i rj. "-Vv^y?' ^ m x?e iv" .■ >vcr ^\>^\ocv v:iv>um'vy.{vi ' 'THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF linn -iMiMi i ;jii i^iiiiiiorn HENRY MORE SMITH. t ' HI »;i I' -hV Henry More Smith, the noted inclivicliial who forms the subject of this narrative made his first appearance among us in the year 1812. Previous to this, we have no information con- cerning him. Some time in the month of July, in this 3'ear, | he appeared at Windsor, in Nova Scotia, looking for employ* i ment, and pretended to have emigrated lately from England, ii On being asked what his occupation was, he stated that he was ■ a Tailor ; but could turn his hand to any kind of mechanical - business or country employment. He was decently clothed,/ genteel in his appearance, and prepossessing in his manner,') and seemed to understand himself very well. • j Although an entire stranger, he seemed to be acquainted with every part of the Province, but studiously avoided to enter into close intimacy with any person, associated with few, and care* .4 fully concealed all knowledge of the means by which he catne t to the country, and also of his origin and connexions, keeping his previous life and history in entire obscurity. Finding no better employment, he engaged in the service of Mr. Bond, a respectable farmer in the village of Rawden, who agreed with him for a month on trial, during which time he conducted himseii .vith propriety and honesty; was industri- ous, careful, and useful, to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Bond^ his employer, and even beyond his expectations. He was per- fectly inotiensive, gentle, and obliging; used no intoxicating liquors, refrained from idle conversation and all improper lan- guage, and was apparently free from every evil habit. Being engaged for some time in working on a new road with ft com-/ pany of men, whose lodging w'as in a camp ; rather than sub- ject himself to the pain of their loose conversation in the camp, he chose to retire to some, neighbouring barn, as he pretended^., to sleep in quiet, and was always early at work in the morning fr but as the sequel will discover, he was very difterently engaged. !, 't r 1 1 1 r 4 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF A ready conformity to Mr. Bond's religious principlea, wlio was a very religious man of the Baptist persuasion, formed an easy yet successful means for further ingratiating himself into the favour of Mr. Bond and his family; his attendance on morning and evening prayers was always marked with regu- laritv and seriousness ; and in the absence of Mr. Bond, he would himself officiate in the most solemn and devout manner. This well directed aim ot his hypocrisy secured for him almost all he could wish or expect from this family ; lie not only ob- tained the full confidence of Mr. Bond himself, but gained most effectually the affections of his favourite daughter, who was unable to conceal the strength of her attachment to him, and formed a resolution to give her hand to him in marriage. Ap- plication was made to Mr. Bond for his concurrence, and, although a refusal was the consequence, yet so strong was the attachment, and so firmly were they determined to consum- mate their wishes, that neither the advice, the entreaties, nor the remonstrances of her friends, were of any avail. She went with him from her father's house to Windsor, and under the name of Frederick Henry More, he there married her on the 3£th ef March, 1813, her name having been Elizabeth P. While he remained at Bawden, although he professed to be a Tailor, he did not pursue his business; but was chiefly en- gaged in farming or country occupations. After his removal to Windsor, and his marriage to Miss Bond, he entered on a new line of business, uniting that of the tailor and pedlar to- gether. In this character he made frequent visits to Halifax, always bringing with him a quantity of goods, of various des- Qriptions. At one time he was known to bring home a con- siderable sum of money, and upon being asked how he pro- cured it and all those articles and goods he brought home, he replied that a friend by the name of Wilson supplied him with any thing he wanted as a tailor. It is remarkable, however, that in all his trips to Halifax, he uniformly set out in the fore- noon and returned the next morning. A certain gentlemaHy 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, bis genius was extraordinary, and he could execute any thing well that he turned bis attention to. A youn^ man hav- ing applied to him for a new coat, he accordingly took his measure, and promised to bring the cloth with him the first time he went to Halifax. Very soon after, he made his journey efi, who med an elf into mce on h regu- ond, be manner. i almost only ob- ted most irho was Lim, and ^e. Ap- ce, and, was the consum- ties, nor \i\. She id under d her on abetb P. sedto be liefly en- removal »red on a )6dlar to- Halifaxy •ious des- nae a con- iv he pro- home, he him with however, 1 the fore- entleman, i cut very >r manner, cecute any ; man hav- y took his n the first lis journey - BENE Y MORE SMITH' f to Halifax, and on his return, happening to meet with the young man, he showed him, from his portmanteau, the cloth, which was of a superior quality, and promised to have it made up on a certain day, which he punctually performed 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 Ilalifux. Articles of plate were missing from gentlemen's houses; silver watches and many other valuable articles were taken from Silversmith's shops, and all done in so mysterious a manner, that no marks of tne robber's hands were to be seen. Three volumes of late acts of Parliament, relating to the Court of Admiralty, were missing from the office of Chief Justice 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 he had purchased from a stranger, and received the three guineas reward without having to answer any en- quiries. This affair laid the foundation tor strong suspicions that Mr. More must have been the individual who committed those secret and mvsterious 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 following remarkable fact. While the young man whom ho had furnished with the new coat, as was previously noticed, was passing through the streets of Halifax with the coat on his back, he was arrested by a gentle- man who clainied the coat as his own, affirming that it had been stolen from him some time since. This singular affair, which to the young man was extremely mortifying and afflictive, threw immediate light upon all those secret and unaccountable 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 offered for sale, as he proceeded 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 Hbkby Mobib Smith. He did not, however^ enter the City with his horse, but put him up, ahd took lodgings attiie house Of one Mr. Btackhouse, who resided in a bye-place with* I I 6 HIE MYSIERIOVS DOINGS OF in a mile of tlio City, and came into the town upon foot. Ho found means to become acquainted with theotHcePfj of the 09th Regiment, who, finding liim something of a miiitary character, and well acquainted with horaemanship, showed liim the stud of horses belonging to the regiment. Smith, I'crceiving that the pair of horses uhicli the Colonel drove in hi:^ 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 iu Cumberland, that would match his black one perfectly. The Colonel replied, that if he were ns 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 ,hor^e 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 wa^' to Smith for a most flat- tering speculation ; he had observed a valuable mare feeding on the marsh contiguous to the place where ho had taken his lodg- ings, and cast his eye upon a fine saddle and bridle belonging to Major King, which he could put his hand on iutlio night. With these facilities in view. Smith entered on his scheme ; he put himself in possession of the saddle and bridle^ determined tx) steal the mare he saw feeding on the m^rsh, ride her to Nova Scotia, audthere sell her; then steal the black horse from Cum- berland, bring him to the Colonel, receive his two hundred dol- lars, and without loss of time transport himself within the boundaries of the United States. '^w'/ >;/%;j .. This scheme, so deeply laid, efnd so well concerted; failed, howevei*, of executioii, and pioved the means of his future apprehension. Already in possession of saddle and bridle, he sp6nt:most of the night in fruitless efforts to take the nlare, which was running at large in the pasture, Abandoning this part of his plan as hopeless, and turning his horse-stealing geliius in a different direction, he recollected to have seen; a fine horse feeding in a field near the highway as he passed through the Parish of NortoUj, about thirty miles on^ on his journej'. Upon this fresh scheme, he set off on foot, with the . fidle 4nd saxidle in the form of a pack on his' back^ pasfsing *along all: the sticceedlng day in the character of a pedlef. Night came on, and put- him in possession of a fine black horse, which he won n ted and rode on in* prosecution of his desigii, which he looked upon now as already accomplished But with *'^*V' HENRY MORE SMITH. • t. hot. Ho the 09th huractcr, the Btutt ving that riage did of them excellent lack one )od as his proposed, ouiidfl, he saage in « ick horse. down the most flat- leeding on 1 his lodg- belonging tlio night. iherae ; he letermined ler to Nova from Cum- artdred dol- within the rted. failed, • his future i bridle, he e the mare, idoning this >ree- stealing have seen, a 8 he passed on; on his lot, with the ack, passing of a pedler. black horee, r his desi^ii, i ' But with ;a\ll the certainty of success, his object proved a failure, and that through means which all his vigilance could neither foresee nor prevent. From the want of sleep the preceding night, and the fatigue of travelling in the day, he became drowsy and exhaust- ed, and stopped in a barn beloneing to William Fairweather, at the bridge that crosses the Millstreara, to take a short sleep, and start again in the night, su as to puss the village before daylight. But, as fate would have it, he overslept; and his horse was discovered on the barn floor in the morning, and he was seen crossing the bridge by daylight. Had he succeeded in crossing in the night, he would in all probability have car- ried out his desifjn ; for it was not till the afternoon of the same day, that Mr. luiox the owner of the horse, missed him from the pastui'e. Pursuit was immediately made in quest of the 'horse, and the circumstance of the robber having put him up at the barn proved the means of restoring the horse to hm owner, and committing the robber to custody ; for there, at Mr. FiiirNveather's, information was given which directed the pur- siiii in the direct tragk. Mr. Knox, through means of obtain- ing fresh horses on the way, pursued him, without loss of time, thro!:gh the Province of Kova Scotia, as far as Pictou, a dis- tance of ope hundred and seventy miles, which the thief had performed with the stolen horse in the space of three days. There, on the 24th July, the horse having been stolon on tlie 2!0th, Mr. Kuox had him apprehended by the Deputy Sheriff, John parsons, Esq., and taken before the County Justices in Court then sitting. Besides the horse, there were a watch and fifteen gnineas. found with the prisoner; and a warrant was issued by the Court for his conveyance through the several Counties to the gaol of King's County, Province of New Brunswick, ^here to take his trial. Mr. Knox states thati he, the. prisoner, assumed different names, and committed several TobbeHes by the way; that a watch and a piece of Indian cot- ton were found with him and returned to the owners; that on the way to Kingston ffaol be made several attempts to escape fron) the Sheriff, and that but for his own vigilance he never would hare been able to." re?ich the prison with him, observing at the $a?ne ^t^me^ that unless he we,r^ well taken care of and secured, 'he wpuld certainlymake his escape. He was received into pi^igou for.examihation on the warraiit of cqnveyance with- out a re^cular commitment. I .( ^i^ I ^: The prisoner had rode all day in the rain, and having had no 8 THE MY81ER10US DOINGS OF 1 1 opportunity of changing his clothes, which by this time had become very wet, it was thought necessary, lest he should sustain injury, to put him into the debtors' room, handcuffed, where he could have an opportunity of warming and drying himself at the fire ; the stove having been out of repair in the criminal's room* The day following he was removed into the criminal's room, where irons were considered unnecessary; and, as he appeared quite peaceable, his handcuffs were taken off, and being furnished with a comfortable berth, he seemed reconciled to his situation. On the ISth of August I received the following letter from the Clerk of the Circuit Court: — Dear Sir,— Mr. Knox has left with me the examination, etc., relating to More • Smith, the horse stealer, now in yoor jail ; these are all taken in thu PfoTince of JNofa Sootia^ befiore Magpstrates there, and 1 woald reoommend that be be brought up before the Magistrates in your County, and examined* and the examinatiOD committed to writing. 1 do not know nnaer what warrant ho is io your custody ; but I think it would b» as well for the same Magistrates to make out a Mitimoa after the examination, as It would be UM^re aooordmg to form. 1 remain, dear sir, yours, WARD CHIPMAN. After proper notice, Jud^e Pickett, Mr. Justice Ketchum, and Mr. Knox, all attended iiis examination ; in the course of which, he said his name was Hpnry More Smith, twentv years of age, came from England on account of the war^ had been in America about a year and § half, that he was born in Brighton, that his father and motlier were living there now, and that he expected them out to Halifax the ensuing Spring; that he j^urchased a farm for them on the River Philip, and had written tor them to come. He also stated that he came to St John on business, where he fell in with Colonel Daniel, of the 99th Begiment, who proposed to give him two hundred dollars if he would bring him a black horse, within a fortnight, that would span with his own of the same color, that he told the Colonel he knew one that would match his perfectly, and that if he would lend him fifteen £;uineas, he would leave his own mare in pledge until he woulif bring the horse, as he knew there was a vessel then in St. John, l^und to Cumberland, where the horse was. To this proposal he said the Colonel agreed, and haying received the money and left the mare, went to his lodg- ings ;l)ut before he could return, the vessel had left him ; and haying no other cpnT^yaiicebjr water, he w^ obliged to set out otifoot; end having a long journey ^to tray$)]^and but ajiort time to pert^p^riqa it m, h^ tir^i^^Ued %irnight, and at daylight HENR Y MORE SMITH. 9^ ae had bbould Icuffed, drying r in the nto the essary; 8 taken seemed :er from ig to More Toviiice of b« broo^bt ADlilMdOD rcastody ; aMitimoa IPMAN. ietchum, course of ity years been in righton, that he that he written John on the 99th Lars if he at would e Colonel ihat if he wn mare there was inhere the ^reed, and • his lodg- lim; and to set out but.stiort daylight was overtaken by a stranger with a large horse and a small mare, which he offered for sale, and that he being weary with walking all night, offered him ten pounds for the mare, which he accepted. That they continued their journey some time^ and began to find out that the mare would not auswei his pur- pose ; the horse being a good-looking one, which he might sell again for the money, he bantered the stranger for a swap, which was effected by giving the mare and fifteen pounds in exchange for the horse, saddle, and bridle. Ue then produced a receipt which he said the stranger gave him, to the following effect : — Receited. Jaly SOth, 1814, of Henry More Snith, fifteen pounds, in swap of a horse between a small mare and a large horse. 1 let him have, with a star, six or seven years old. JAMES CHURMAN. He then stated that he proceeded on to Cumberland, and bargained for the black horse which was the object of his pur- suit ; and not having money enough to pay for him, without selling the one he rode, and hearing that Captain Dixon, of Truro, wanted to purchase such a horse, and finding that he, Captain Dixon, had gone on to Picton, forty miles further, to attend Court, he was obliged to follow him with all speed. That the next day being Sunday, he was obliged to wait till Monday to sell his horse, and was there apprehended by Mr. Knox, and charged with stealing his horse ; that he was taken before the Court, and had all his money, his watch, and his horse, taken from him, and was sent back to King's County gaol to take his trial ; and complained, that as he was an entire stranger, and had no one to speak for him, unless the man were taken who sold him the horse, his case might be desperate, for he had neither friends nor money, nor any one who knew him to take his part. He complained also of having been badly used by Mr. Knox on the way. Havine been aiked by Mr. Knox, in the course of his exami- nation what occupation he followed in the country, he replied, " No one in particular.*' Mr. Knox then hastily asked him how he got his living. He replied, with great firmness and self- possession, ** By my honesty, Sir.'' — After this examination, a regular commitment was made out, and he returned to prison. He submitted to his <^onfinement without a murmur, and with much seeming resignation ; but complained of a severe pain in 148 side, occasioneaby oold h^ had received. He seemed anzi- I ops jfor an opportunity to send for his nprtmanteau, which he sfiid he had left with apm^ otheir artiQleB in the. care of Mr. *! ;• i ; ,( 10 2 HE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF M Stackhouse near St. John. The portmanteau, he said, con- tained his clothes, which he would be obliged to sell to raise money for the purpose of procuring necessaries and engaging a lawyer, repeating again, that, as he was a stranger and had no Iriends 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 day following, that I had occasion to go to the City of Saint John in company with Dr. Adino Pad- dock, senr., when, on our way, he had occasion to call at Mr. Nathaniel Golding's tavern, in Hampton; r.nd while placing our horses under his shed^ we perceived a man mountirtg a horse in great haste, that was standing at the steps of the door, who immediately rode off with all possible speed, as though he were in fear of being overtaken. On inquiring who he was, we were informed by Mrs. Qolding that he was a stranger who had called there once or twice before, and that she believed his name was Chumau, or'Churraan. I observed to the Doctor, that that was the name of the man from whom the prisoner, Smith, said he purchased the horse; upon which Mrs. Golding said that she could ascertain that by inquiring in the other room, w'hicli she was requested to do, and was answered in the affirmative. We made frequent inquiries by the way, as we proceeded to- wards St. John, but could ascertain nothing further of the stranger by that name. After my return from St. John I in- iforiued the prisoner, Smith, of what had happened by the way ; he appeared exceedingly elated with the idea of his being tne man that had sold him the horse, and said if he had money or friends he could have him taken and brought to justice, and would soon be restored to liberty again himself; but that if hel were suffered to make his escape out of the country, lii'sownl •case would be deplorable indeed, though he was innocent. Hel again reiterated his complaint, that he was destitute of moneyl and friends, in a strange country, although an-xious to ettiploJ a lawyer, he did not know of any to whom he could apply for advice. He was recommended to Charles J. Petere, Esq , At-| torney in St. John, with the assurance, that if there wereanj possibility in the case, of getting him clear, Mr. Peters Wodh ♦exert ^himself iii his behalf mbst faithfully. The "first oppprj tnnity that offered, he sent an oriicrto Jlr* Stackhouse for hig portmanteau, with in&tructions to apply fhe proceeds of certaii AHicies, which he had left with him tbr sale, if disposed of, ij vu c HENRY 31 ORE SMITH. ^^^ 11 id, con- to raise ngaging i had no for him, jre taken casion to lino Pad- all at Mr. 3 placing ig a horse loor, who h he were 3, we were had called name was it that was th, said he d that she Which she itiye. oce^ded to- cher of the John I in- ^y the way ; is being the 4 money or justice, and lit that if hel try, lii's.own! nocent. lie' te of raoneyl IS to employj aid apply ^oi' 51^, Esq , At 3re were an; Peters woiil e "first opppr :hOuse lor hi Bdsof certai lisposed of, i retaining Mr. Peters as his Attorney* The return brought a handsome portmanteau and a pair of boots, leaving a small sum in the hiinds of Mr. Peters, as part of bis retainer, which was to be increased to live guineas before the sitting of the Court. This arrangement seemed to be productive of much satisfaction to the prisoner, and for the purpose of fulfiHing the engagement with Mr. Peters, he expressed a desire to dispose of the contents of his portmanteau, as far as was necessary for making up the sum. lie gave me the key, with which I opened his portmahtoau, and fonnd'it well filled witli 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 biacksilk; with silk stockings 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 mognifying glass in a tortoise-shell case, with many other useful articles. Suspicions of his not having come hofiestly by the contents of his port- manteau was not the impression that Was made; but rather that he had been handsomely and respectably fitted out by care- ful and afiectionate parents, anxious for his comfort and hap- iness, and that he was, in all probability, innocent of the harge allcdged against him. He soon commenced selling ofi' is little stock, and for the purpose of affording him a facility, ersons, wishing to purchase frOm him, were permitted to come o the wicket door, through which he could make his bargain, nd dispose of his things. He never failed to endeavor to xcite the pity of those who came to visit him, by representing is deplorable situation, he being reduced to the necessity of elling his clothing to raise the means of defending his innO- ence in a strange country from the unfortunate charge pre- erred against him. Nor did he fail of his purpose, for many, Vom pure sympathy for his unfortunate sitnatior, purchased I'om him, and paid him liberally. Among those who came . to ee him, ther6 was a young man, who said he had known the risoner in St. John, and profesf^ed to visit him from motives of 'iendship; he had access to him through the grates of the iudow, and some of the= glass bein^ broken, he could hold ee conversation through the- grates. The last time he me^e carried off the niglit and day glass for debt, which esaidheowfed him whjle in feaint John: biit the proba- '■f 'I. I ! i ll I 12 IHE MYS1ER10U8 DOINGS OF bility rather was that he had given him a watch in exchaDge.l The prison was then kept by Mr. Walter Dibble, a man ofl learning and talents, who for several years had been alflictedr with a painful disease, so that lor a great part of the time, hel was confined to the house, and frequentlv to his room, in the! County Court House, where he taught a school, by which means,! together with the fees and perquisities of the jail and courti house, afforded him a comfortable living for himself and family,! consisting of his wife and daughter and one sou named John,! about nineteen years of age, who constantly attended hisi father. It may be also necessary to mention, that Mr. Dibblel was one of the principal members of the Masonic Lodj^o heldl at Kingston, and was in high esteem among them ; besides he| was regarded by all who knew him as a man of honesty an(' integrity, and well worthy to fill any situation of responsibility or trust. I am induced to advert to those particulars of MrJ Dibble's character because I am indebted to him for many of the particulars relative to th") prisoner, and because, having had a person who could be relied on, there was the less necessity for my visiting the prisoner very frequently, which did noli exceea once in a week generally, except upon special ocj casions. Shortly after the commitment of the prisoner he wa9 visited by Lieutenant Baxter, an officer in the New Brunswick Regij ment, then recruiting at Kingston. The officer proposed the prisoner to enlist him, as a means by which he might b^ released from his confinement. This idea he spurned with coi tempt, and chose rather to await the issue of his trial, depend! ing on his professed innocence of the crime for which he stooif committed. He was, however, prevailed on to write to hij Attorney on the subject, and received for his answer that sucf a measure was inadmissible, and advised him to content himj self and await the issue of his trial. He appeared much dis pleased with the abruptness of his Attorney's answer, anij seemed rather to look upon this short and summary reply, an indication of his displeasure with him, and as an omei that he, his Attorney, would not interest himself much in hi| behalf. About thi() tip^e, Sept 7th, I received a letter from the Clerj of the circuit 0ptirt Enclosing a Precept to summon a Court Oyer and Tmjdaer and General Goaf Delivery^ to be held SingBton oj^ The Rev. Mr. Scovil visited him in the afternoon, and intro- duced the subject of his approaching end. The prisoner con- versed freely on the subject, and expressed his conviction that] there was little or no hope of his recovery. He stated to Mr. Scovil that he was born in England, that his parents were for- merly attached to the Church of England, but had lately joined the Methodists ; that he came from England on account of the! war, and that he expected his parents to come to the countryl next Spring, which last circumstance seemed to excite in himl strong emotions. Twenty-first, the Rev. Mr. S. with others of the neighborhood visited him in the morning ; no favorablel symptoms. Twenty-second, the prisoner very low ; violent feverJ accompanied with chills and ague, inflammation ef the bowekJ with evacuations of blood for the kst two days, extremities! cold, and strength greatly reduced, insomuch that he could onlyl just articulate above his breath. Was understood to say, tbaf he should die for want of medical assistance, as the Doctor hac refused to attend him any more in that place, and the Sherii '^y, HENRY MORE 8M12H. lb refused to remove him. His situation had by this time excited 'eneral sympathy and pity ; his seeming simplicity, passiveness md resignation, greatly contributing to produce the effect. At |[) o'clock, Rev. Mr. Scovil and a great number of the neighbors jame and sat with him till 10 o'clok, and then left him with the Impression that he would not live till morning. Friday, 23rd, Invent to the jail early in the morning, found the prisoner lying )U the floor, naked, and seemingly in great distress ; said he liad fallen, through pain and weakness, and could not get up [igain. He was taken up and carried to his bed ; appeared as Lhougli he would instantly expire : continued in a low and ilmost lifeless state till 5 o'clock in the afternoon, when he ap- )eared to all present to be really dying. Rev. Mr. Scovil, Mr. *erkins, Mr. G. Raymond, all near neighbors, and Mr. Eddy, |['rom Saint John, who happened to be in Kingston at the time^ ill supposed him to be in the agoni-es of death. He fell into a jtate of insensibility, and continued so until a phial of hartshorn [vas brought from an adjoining room, the application ol which geemed to revive him a little. After some time he recovered 30 far as to be able to articulate, and upon its being observed to lim that he had had a fit, he replied that he was sensible of it, md that it was his family wfirmiiy, and that many of his connex- ions had died in the same way ; and further remarked, that he lid not think he could survive another, which would probably bme upon him about the same time next day ; that he was sen- iible ho should not recover ; but that God would have him. He (hen asked Mr, Scovil to pray with him, his desire was complied rith, and prayer offered up in the most solemn and devout man- ier ; the occasion was deeply affecting, and all departed with |he full conviction that the patient would not linger till the ^^^"^°g- ^ fir Previous to this, no regular watchers had attended him ; but I was now considered highly necessary that some persons should lit .vith him till the morning: and consequently John Dibble ad Charles Carabreau were appointed by the sherifi' to watch jim through the night. The nex morning the following letter was dispatched to Mr. [eters, the prisoner's Attorney : — I Dear Sir , — I fear we shall be disappointed in our ezpeotalions of the trial o^ be prisoner, More Smith, at the approaching Coiirt, as I presume from appear- bce, he will be removed by death before that time. He is dying in consequence a blow that be receiTed,'as beaaya. from Mr. Knox, with a pistol, which be regularly complained of since he baa been in jail, and is now considered past \ ; ' .' u ■J r I' IHE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF recovery. Art it will be a matter of eoqairy, and new to me. I will thank yoa 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 continuing till mornins. Yours, Ac. WALTER BATES. The return of the bearer brought the following answer : — St. Joh.v, Sept. 34rb,— Dear Sir, — Your favour of yesterday 1 received tbis morning, and I am sorry to hear so despondini^ an account of the unfortunate man in your custody. It will be your dutjr, 1 conceive to have a Coroner's In- quest on the body, and then have it decently interred. With respect to the cause of the death, that is a circumstance which must resc wholly on facts ; if any phy- «ician shall attend him, let him be particular in taking down in writin|^ what the man says in his last moments, as to the circum&tances ; and if a Justice should be then present, it would noi 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 the morning : that he complained for want of medical assistance. The following note I was then sent to the Doctor who had attended him : — Kingston, Sept, 24tb, 1814 —Dear Doctor .—Smith, the prisoner, says that he is suffering for want of medical assistance, and that you will not attend him un* less he is removed into another room, whioh cannot be permitted ; he must take ills 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, &c.. Dr. a. Paddock, Jr. WALTER BATES. At this time the sympathy and compassion of the whole neigh- Ijorhood was excited to the highest degree. The family of the Rev. Mr. Scovil, especially, manifested deep concern for him, and sent him everything that they thought would either com- fort or relieve him : as did also the family of Mr. Perkins, and that of Mr. Raymond ; all these having been in the immediate neighborhood. But the prisoner used little or none of their cor- dials or delicacies. Mr. Perkins visited him about 10 o'clock, A. H., and kindly proposed to watch with him the ensuing night, for which he discoverd much thankfulness. In the course of the day the Doctor came, and gave him some medicine ; but found him so weak, that he required to be lifted and supported while he was receiving it. The Doctor acknowledged his low state, but did not thmk him so near his end as to die before morning, unless he should go off in a fit. This, the patient said, was what he had reason to fear would be his fate before mom- dng, and therefore wished to make his Will. A Viiis Clothes, at his death, he willed to John Dibble ; and oue legs HENRY MORE SMITH. 17 ftok yoa to lie to take ; BATES, ver: — eceived Ibis anfoitunate oroner'fl In- to the oaose it any pby* ng what the istioo shoald FETTERS. passed a : that he wing note says that be itend bim un« le must take ^ place which tentioD. IR BATES. hole neigh- mily of the rn for him, either com- erkins, and immediate >f their cor- 10 o'clock, uing night, le course of iicine ; but 1 supported ^ed his low I die before )atient said, efore mom- Hbble; and his money, about three pounds, which h3 always kept by him in his berth, he bequeathed to the Jailor, for his kind attention to him in his sickness. The money Mr. Dibble proposed to take charge of; but Smith said it was safe where it was lor the pre- sent. Mr. N. Perkins having had occasion to call that day on Mr. W. H. Lyon, was enquired of by him concerning the state of tiio prisoner. Mr. Perkins informed him that he was alive when he left him ; but thought he would be dead before night. This in- formation Mr. Lyon communicated the same evening to a num- ber of persons who were assembled at the house of Mr. Scrib- and added, that he was dead, for that while he was on his ner way to Mr. Scrihner's, (it havincj been in the dusk of the even- ing,) he had seen Smitlis 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 probabili- ty that he would shortly be seized by anothef* fit, which he was not expected to survive. About 6 o'clock in the evening, the Rev. Mr. Scovil observed to his family, that it was then about the same hour of the da^^ at which Smith had had hisifit on the day preceding : that he thought he would die suddenly ; he would therefore walk over to the Court House, and be ready ' there at the time, as it must be unpleasant for Mr. Dibble to be alone. This so much awakened the sensibilities of Mrs. Scovil, that she could not bear the reflection, that a child, of parents that were perhaps respectable, should be so near her, in a strange country, sick and dying, on a bed of straw. She there- fore called Amy, her wench. " Here," said she, " take this feather bed, and carry it to the gaol, and tell Mr. Dibble that 1 have sent it for Smith to die on." Mr. Scovil had beien in the house, and seated with Mr. Dibble but a very short time, when a noise was heard from Smith in the gaol. John Dibble, who constantlv attended on him, ran in haste, unlocked the prison door, ancf found him in the agonies of a fit, and almost expir- ing. He made an effort to speak, and begged John to run and heat a brick that was near, and apply it to his feet, to give bim, oue moment's relief while he was dying, for that his feet and legs were already cold and dead to the knees. John, willing ijoi 2 if .f "^ \'\ 18 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF afford what relief he could to the djing man, ran in great haste- Irom the Jail through the passage round the stairway that led to the kitchen, where was a large fire 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 astonish- ment, and almost unwilling to believe the evidence of his sen- ges, 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 every corner of the apartment themselves, and found that Smith had not only effected his es- cape, but had also carried his money, his boots, and every arti- cle of clothing away with him ! ! It is impossible to conceive or describe the feeling of astonish- ment with which every one about the house was filled, when they found that the man, who had been groaning and agoniz- ing under the pain of an accumulation of diseases, which, night after night, seemed to have been wasting his strength, and bringing him nearer to t!fe close of his unhappy life — had, in a moment, and the very moment which was thonsrht to be his last^ Bcized the opportunity of his prison door being open, and rush- ed from his confinement, leaving not a vestige of his iuoveable& behind him. As soon as a search through the prison confirmed the fact of the elopement, the inmates hastened outside, and continued their search around the premises. At this moment, Amy, the wench, made her appearance, carrying the feather bed ; and seeing the people around the house, she said to ttiem ; ** Misses seid this bed for Smit to die on." Her master told her to take it home, and tell her mistress that Smith was gone. Amy ran home and told her mistress that massa say Smit dead and gone — he no want im bed ! " Ah !" exclaimed her mis- tress, •' poor man, is he dead ? Then, Amy, you may run and carry this shirt and winding-sheet, to lay Smith out in." Amy instantly obeyed, and told her master accordingly. " You may take them back," said he, " Smith is gone !'* " Where he gone, massa V'' " I don't know,'^ said he, " except the devil has taken him off!" Amy hastened back to her mistress, and told her that << massa say Smit be dead and gone, and the devil has taken him away !^' So much was the mind of every one pre- pared to hear of his death, that the expreiiaioii, *< Smith is HENRY MORE SMITIL' 19 gone !" served to convey no other idea. The Sheriflf himself, who had not been present, and did not hear of the affair imme- diately, gave the sentence the same interpretation. A mes- senger having been dispatched to him with the tidings, mot him on his way to the jail, expecting to witness the last moments of the patient. On being informed bv the messenger that "Smith was gone,'' ** Ah ! poor fellow,*' he exclaimed, "I expected it. What time did he die ?'' *• But he is gone clear off." "It is impossible," rejoined the Sheriff, *'that he can be far from his sick bod." " Why," replied the messenger, ** they were all about the jail looking for hira, and no one could tell which way he had gone." ** Unparalleled and abominable deception !'* replied the Sheriff " How didhcgetout of jail ?'* He oelieved John Dibble left the door open while he ran to heat a brick, and then Smith made his escape. This was to us the first development of the true character of Henry More Smith, and thus, by means of a counterfeit illness, which melted the feelings and drew the sympathies of the whole neighbourhood ; which baffled every power of detection, and imposed even upon the physician himself, did this accom- plished villain effect his release, and was now again running at large, glorying in the issue of his scheme. Sut before we pursue his history in his succeeding adventures, it may be necessary, for those who are unacquainted with the local situa- tion of the gaol, from which he escaped, to give a short descrip- tion of it. Kingston is situated on a neck or tongue of laijd, formed by the River Saint John and BellisleBay, running north- east and south-west on the western side of the neck, and by tho Kennebecasis running the. same course on the western side, leaving a tract of land between the two rivers about five miles in breadth and thirty miles in length. The winter road from Fiedericton, the seat of Government, to the City of St. John, crosses the land at Kingston to th© Kennebecasis, and this road is inhabited on both sides. The road is intersected in the centre of Kingston by another road running north-easterly to the head of Bellisle Bay, and is also inhabited on both sides, at the intersection of these roads; on an eminence, stands the Court house (under which is the prison J and church, facing each other, east and west, at the distance of about eight rods. At the distance of about ten rods from the jail stands the house of Mr. F. N. Perkins, to th0 north, and an equal distance to the south the house of the Bey- 20 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF ii B. Scovil is situated, witli various other housoe in different directioim; tVie land cloar all around to a considerable distance, affording no biding place. From a prison thus situated, and surrounded with dwelling- houses, did our hero escape, without any eye having seen him, and leaving no mark nor track be- hind which could direct in the pursuit of him. Finding our- selvea una'd-a to pursue in any certain direction, our conclusions were that ha must either have taken the road to Saint John or that leaJing to Nova Scotia, the way by which he came, and the only roa4 ho wan known to !)e acquainted with. Accordingly men were despatched in pursuit of him on the Saint John road, and others sent to the ditterent ferries, while I myself, with Mr. Moses Foster, the Deputy Sheriff, took the road toward 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 could not well pass without being seen, we stationed watchers there, and also set watchers in other stations, and maintained a close lookout all night, but to no purpose. At daylight I furnished Mr. Foster with money, and sent him on, upon the same road, witt directions to proceed as far as Mr. M'Leod's tavern, distance forty miles, ana in case of hearing nothing of him, to discontinue the pursuit and return. At the same time I returned to Kingston myself, where I was informed, towards evening, that a man, who answered his description, had crossed the ferry over the Bellisle Bay the evening before in ffreat haste, stating that he was goin^ on an express to Fre- derictou, and must be there by ten o'clock the next morning. This account compared with Mr. Ljron's story, which the reader will recollect, of having seen Smith's gh')st or apparition the same evening in the twilight, confirmed the opinion that we had now got upon the direction of our runawa3\ And when we remember further, that the apparition 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 bis 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 tbrwarded advertisements, and proposed a reward of twenty dollars for his apprehension and re-commitment to custody ; but with very little prospect of success, knowing that he was escaping for his life, and would succeed in getting oat of the country beiore ha would be overtaken. HENIiY MORE SMITH. 81 lorning. e reader tion the that we id when without lity with 8 carried r, and he ss of his )rwarded oUars for vith very ig for his y hetore Monday morning, the 2Gth instant, Mr. Moses Foster returned i'rora his route, and hy this time many unfavorable reports con* corning tho prisoner's escape had begun to be circulated. The Court at whicli he wna to receive liis trial was now to moot on the Tuesday following, and a Jury summoned from different parts of the county for the express purpose of trying the horse- stealer. My whole lime and attention wero now required to make the ^lecossary preparations for the Court, and I felt myaelf not a little chagrined on rotlocting on the circumstances in which I was pi&cecl. This fcoling became heightened to a painful de- gree when I came to understand, by Mr. E. Jones, that the villain, instead of escaping for his life, and getting out of my reach with all possible haste, had only travelled abobt ton miles the iirst night, and was seen lying on some straw before the barn ot Mr. Robert Bailes, the next morning, on the road to Ga^etown, having lain there till 12 o'clock in the day. But Smith did not lie on his bed of straw for vest merelv ; even there he was projecting fresh schemes ot villainy, waiting for an opportunity 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 oif a silver watch, eight dollars in money, a pair of new velvet pantaloons, and a pocket book, with several other articles. He then walked leisurely on his way, stopping at the next house and at all the houses that were contiguous to the road, so that he did not make more than three or four miles before dark. When Mr. Bailes returned to his house and found it had been robbed, he immediately fixed his suspicion on the man who had lain 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 neigh- bours. They immediately set out in pursuit of him, and having 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 they were disappointed, for the robher warily turned aside from the road, leaving his pursuers to exer- cise a painful and diligent search, without being able to ascer- tain which way he had gone. Having followed as far as Gage- town, they posted up advertisements, descriptive of his person, and also of the watch j and sent some of them on to Fredericton. ' \\ I ■*, ' 22 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF Late on Sunday night, a man called at the house of Mr. Green, who resided ou an island at the mouth of the Wash- ademoac Lake. He said he was a Frenchman, on his way to Fredericton about land, and called for the purpose of enquiring the way. Mr. Green informed him that he was on an island, and that he Jind better stay till the morning, and that he would then direct hiin on his journey. Ho 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 chflracter, which idea was strengthened by the circumstance of its being a time of war. In the morning, therefore, he took him in his canoe, and carried him directly to Justice Colwell, a neighbour- ing 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 for detaining him, and consequently dir't ; i * i '\n 30 IRE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF if ili ironing, he made a full seizure of the whole, together with a new coat belonginoj to a young man belonging to the house. The plunderer, finding his booty rather burthensome, took a saddle and bridle, which he happened to discover, put them on a small black poney, 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 rauUatto, 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, conceal- ing himself in the hay, 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, hav- ing made a previous call on his passage as a prisoner from Woodstock to Fredericton. He arrived on the spot about nine o'clock in the evening, retaining, no doubt, an accurate remem- brance of the entrance to the house ; and every thing proved propitious to the object of his visit ; for it happened that there was much company at the Attorney General's on the same evening, whose over-ooats, cloaks, tippets, comforters, .' ! I i iX » \ I 1 i 3d TUE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF m chain from his fetters to the neck collar, with handcufis bolted to the middle of h:s chain in such a manner as to prevent \\U hands from reaching his head and feet when standing, leaving it just possible for him to feed himself when sitting. All these irons and chain?>iio received without discovering theleast concern or regard. When the blacksmith had finished riveting the whole, I said to him, " Now, Smith, t would advise you to be quiet after this, for if you are not you will next have «n iron band put round your body and stapled fast down to the floor.'' He visry calmly replied, "OKI nuin, if you are not satisfied, you may put it on now. I do not regard it, if you will let me have my hands loose you may put on as much iron as you please. I care not for ail your iron.** In this situation we left him, load- ed with irons, the entire weight of which was forty-six pounds, and without any thing to sit or lie upon but the naked floor. Although he was thus situated and in an entire dungeon, he appeared not in the least humbled ; but becamo more trouble- some and noisy, and exceedingly vicious against the jailer. Despair and madness seemed now to seize him, and raving and roaring would unite with the uttei'ance of prayers and portions of the Scriptures. AVith a tremendous voice he would cry out, ^' Oh you crnel devils — you murderers—you man-slayers — ^you tormentors of man ! How I burn to be revenged ; help, help, help me ; Lord help me to be revenged of those devils ; help me that I might tear up this place, that I may turn it upside •down, that there may not be one stick or stone of it left. My hair shall not be shorn, nor my nails cut, till I grow as strong as Sampson, then will 1 be revenged of all my enemies. Help, help, Lord help me to destroy these tormentors, murderers of man, tormenting me in chains and darkness;'' shouting, ** darkness, darkness, O darkness — not light to read the Word of God, — not one word of comfort from any. All is, — ^yon rogue, you thief, 30uvillian, — j^ou deserve to be hanged. No pity, not one word of consolation, — all darkness, all trouble ;'' singing, ** trouble, trouble, trouble ; O God help mo, and have niCi^cy upon m,ej tfear there is no mercy for nie; — ^}'os, there is mercy, it is in Jesus, whose arms stand open to receive ; but how shall I dare to look at him whom I have offended.*' Then be would call upon his parents, and deprecate his wicked life; then rave again, "murderers, tormentors, consider you have souls to save, consider you have souls to lose as well as I a poor prisoner ; consider you have children that may be brought to HENRY MORE SMITH. Z9 -trouble as well asl; consider I have pftrents as well as they. <) ! if my parents knew ray situation, it would kill them. My wife, begone from my siffht; why will you torment me ! It \z for you that I suffer all my sorrow, — it is for you my heart bleeds. Not a friend comes to see me, — nothing before me but pain and sorrow, chains and darkness, misery and death. O ! wretched me, bow long am I to suffer in this place of torment ! Am I to linger a life of pain and soi*row in chains and misery? Kg, I will cut the thread of life and be relieved from this place of darkness and trouble;" singing, "trouble, trouble/trouble," a thousand times repeated. In this manner he continued rav- ing till he became very hoarse and exhausted, would take no notice of anything that was said to him, and finally left off speak- ing entirely. The weather having become very cold, he was allowed his berth again, with a comfortable bed of str^^w and blankets ; but the blankets had to be taken away from him again, on account of his having attempted to hang himself with one of them made into a rope. He next attempted to starve himself, but this he gave over, after having fasted three or four days. He now dropped into a state of quietness, and lay in his bed the most of the time, day as well as night ; but on the 16th of Decem- ber we found on examining bis prison, that he had broken the iron collar from his neck, and drawn the staple from the timber ; but replaced it again so as to prevent detection. 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 mi^ht freeze ; to prevent which it became necessary to remove bis irons, which, with the exception of his fetters and handcuffs, were accordingly taken off. For this relief Smith shewed no sign of thankfulness, 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 tremendously loud, even beyond conception. In this manner he continued for five months, occasionally committing violence upon himself and breaking his chains, during which period he could never be surprised into the utterance of one single word or articulate I i ] I ^ N^ f. 4 ! I I- 40 THE MYSTERIOUS DOIJSGS OF sound, and took no notice of any person or thing, or of what was said to him, no more than if ho had beeiS a dumb, senseless animal; yet performing many curious and astonishing actions as will be related hereafter. In the New Testament, which he always kept by him, a leaf was observed to be turned down, under which, upon examina- tion, was found the following »Scripture, in the 3rd Chapter of lat Corinthians, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you,'' &c. The weather having been intensely cold throughout the aionth of January, and he having had no fire, great fears were entertained that he must perish from cold, but astonishing to relate his hands and feet were always found to be warm, and even his.chains ! In February, when the weather began to moderate a little, he became more troublesome ; began to tear off the lime, wall and lathing, from the partition, and break everything he could reach. A strong iron-hooped bucket that contained his drink he broke all to pieces ; the hoops he broke up into pieces not exceeding three inches long, and would throw the pieces with such dexterity, though haiMlcuifed, as to put out the candle when the jailor would bring the light to the wicket door to examine what he was doing. As the weather moderated he became more noisy and vicious, as will appear by the following letter which 1 received from the jailer on the lOtli February : 0*r ** Dear Siit, — There must be something done \irith Sroitb— he is determined to let me know what he U if no one else does, — he sleeps in the day time, and when 1 go to tell him to keep still at night, be yells so as not to hear what I say to him. Instead of thanks for taking off his irons, lie makes all the noises he can by yelling and screaming all night, and knocking very loud all night with some part of bis irons. I wish you would come up ear^ and advise wTiat is best to be done. W. DIBBLE.*' , I came to the jail accordinglyj and found his irons uninjured, and to prevent him from using his hands so freely, locked a chain from his fetters to his handcuffs, and left him. On Sunda^r, two gentlemen from Nova Scotia, at the request of Smith's wife, came to make enouiry after him. I went with them to the jail to see if he would speak or take any notice of them, or of what they would say to him from his wife. They told him that his wife wished to know if he would have her come to see him, and what she would do with the colt he left; that she would sell it for two hundred dollars, and have the f what Dseless actions , a leaf :ainina- )hapter k unto ecroined to , and wheo at I say to ises he can with some I best to be BBLE." linjured, locked a request rent with notice of B. They have her t he left ; have the HENRY MORE SMllB. \\\ 41 money sent to him. But all they said had no efiect on him, any more than if he had been a lifeless statue, which convinced us that he would go to the gallows without speaking a word or changing his countenance. The next week he became more restless and vicious, and on Sunday, on going into the jail with Mr. Rulofson, from Hamp- ton, and Mr. Griffith, from Woodstock, found he had broken up part of his berth, had broken his chain from the handcuffs, leaving one link to the staple, the parted links concealed ; tore up part of his bedding and stopped the funnel of the neces- sary. It appeared also that he had been at the grates; but how he got there was a m^'stery, for the chain, by which his legs were bound, was unbroken, and the staple fast in the tim- ber. We then raised the staple and again put on the chain to his handcuffs, fastening the staple in another place, more out of his reach. The next day I found. he had again broken the chain from his handcuffs and torn oft'a large portion of lathing and plaster- ing from the middle wall. Finding this, I determined t6 con- fine him more closely than ever, and so put a chain from his feet round his neck, stapled to the floor, securing the handcuffs to the middle of the chain;^ He had already giVen such mys- terious and astonishing proofs of his str6nii;th and invention^ that I feared he would finally baffle all my ingenuity to prevent his escape. The twisting of 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 flat bar of iron, an linch and a half wide, with the edges rounded. This he twist- led 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 3nd of the bar fastened in a smith's vice. The broken collar ms kept a long time and shown to many a wonderer. As might )e expected, his wrists were frequently much swelled and very sore from his exertion to break and get loose from his irons ; ^et he appeared as insensible and as regardless of his situation IS if he had in reality been a furious maniac. Notwithstanding the seeming insanity which characterized [hese works of his in the prison, yet other parts of his perfor- lauco there indicated the most astonishing genius and inveu- |ion ; perhaps in a manner and degree unequalled in the mem-^ Vy ot man. On the 1st of March, on entering his prison in fn m\ \ i- j : I ! !' i 42 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF the evening, we foand him walking in front of an effigy or Uken^^a of his to'/Cf which he had made and placed before him against the wall as larse as life. When the light was thrown upon this scene, which he had prepared and got tip in the dark, it not only filled us with amas^ement, but drew out all the sen- sibilities of the heart with the magic pf a tragedy, not so much imaginary as real. This effigy he intended to represent his wife, visiting his wretched abode, and manifesting^ signs of disconso- lation, anguish and despfiir, on beholding her wretched hus- band moving before her in .chains and iietters, with dejected mien, and misery and despair depicted 2n his countenance. The effigy was formed out of his bedding and the clothes and shirt he tore oflf his body, together with a trough three or four feet m length, which was used in the jail to contain water for his drink. Rough as the materials were, yet he desplayed such ingenuity in its formation, and conducted the scene in a man- ner 30 affecting, that the effect it produced when viewed with the light of the candles, was really astonishing, and had a kind of masrical power in drawins: out the sympathies of every one « f .^ power who witnessed it. He continued noisy and troublesome till the 5th of March, when we took His irons off; and caused him to wash himself and comb his hair, which had not been cut since he was put in jail ; neither had his beard been shaved. On receiving a piece of soap for washing, he ate a part, and used th« rest. We then gave him a clean shirt, which he put on himself with the rest of his clothing, after which we replaced his irons, which he received in the same manner as an ox would his yoke, or a horse his harness. The term of the Court of Common Pleas was now coming on, which required much of my attention for the necessary pre- parations ; and Mr. Dibble, the jailer, being about to remove to Sussex Vale, to take charge of the Academy there, my situa- tion began to look rathor awkward and unpleasant. Accord- ingly the jailer moved away on the 11th of March, after the sitting of the Court, and from the extraordinary- trouble which the prisoner was known to have given, I had little hope of find- ing any one who would be willing to take the charge. How- ever, 1 prevailed with Mr. James Reid (a man in whom I could confide) to undertake the charge of him ; who, with his family, moved into the house the day following. . After this, Smith appeared more cheerful, and became rather ' 3' HENRY MORE SMITH. 43 more quiet, until the 24 th of March, when I was called on by the jailer, and informed that Smith was attempting to break through the partition where the stove-pipe passed through into the debtorsV room. On entering the jail we found him loose from all his irons, — his neck-chain was broken into throe pieces ; the clain from his neck to his feet into three piece? ; his screw handcuffs. into four pieces, and all hanging on nails in. the par- tition. His great coat was torn into two parts, through the back, and then rent into small strips, one of which he used as a belt, and supported with it a wooden sword which he had formed out of a lath, and with which he amused himself by going through the " sword exercise," which he appeared to understand very well. The chains from his legs were disin- gaged from the staples, and tied together with a strip of the torii" coat. His hands, his feet, and his clothes, were all bloody ; and his whole appearance presented that of an infuriated mad- man. There were present on this occasion Messrs. Daniel Mic! eau, Moses Foster, George Raymond, Walker Tisdale, the Jailer, and some others. I then raised the staple, secured him by the leg chain, put on a pair of stiff handcuffs, and 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 jailer, who said he believed he wa^ loose again, and about some mis- chief. On entering the jail, I accordingly found 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 fetters to his neck, and stapled him to the floor with a chain about four feet long ; v;e secured his handcuffs to the chain between his neck and feet, so that [when standing, he could not reach in any direction. In this situation he remained until the 31st, spending the time in sing- I iug and hallooing occasionally. I was then a^ain called by the jailer, who, on opening the wicket-door, found a piece of chain hanging on the inside. I went immediately to the jail and found that he had separated alibis chains, had tied his feet chain to the staple a^ain, and was lying in his bed as uncon- cerned as if nothing had happened, having a piece of chain ftbouthis neck. We then took his bunk bedstead from him, and removed everything out of his reach, but could not dis- cover by what means he could separate his chains; no link m his chains appeared to be twisted, nor were there any brokeri !r I; -•' 4 %\ II !:] I;'. 44 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF links to be seen ; from this we inferred that he still must have some means of cutting his chains. At this moment, however, it occurred to us that he might have the broken links concealed in the privy. We 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 meaps of cutting them, but by the application of 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 a mill at once. The chains we had previously ased were of a 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. 1 then replaced it with a strong ox- chain about seven feet long, ftrmly stapled to th& timber. The next morning the jailer informed me that from the uncommon noise he made in the night, he was convinced he must be loose from some of his irons or chains. I then con- cluded that he must have broken his steel fetters, as I judged it impossible for human strength or invention, in his situation, ta break either of the ox-chains ; but to my utter astonish metft, I found the ox-chain parted and tied with a string to the staple, his handcuffs, fettei^, and log chain having remamed uninjured* We fastened the ox-chain to his neck again, by driving the staple into another link. After this, he remained more quiet, his wrists having been much galled and swelled by his irons, and bruised and rendered sore by his exertions to free himself from them. At this time I received a letter from the Clerk of the Circuit, of which the following is a copy : — St. John, March 15.— Dear Sir,— At length I enclose yoa the precept for sam- uoning a Court of Oyer and Terminer and Jail Delivery in your County, on Thursday, the 30th of April, for the trial of the horse-atealer— 1 also enclose a letter from Major King, for his saddle stolen Irom him at the same time. Yours, Ac, WARD CHIPMAN. To Waltkr Bates, &q , High Sheriff. After this our prisoner remained for some time rather more peaceable, and amused himself with braiding straw, which ht> HENBY MORE SMITH, 45 did in a curious manner, and made a kind of straw basket wliicU he hung on the partition to contain his bread. Sometimes he ^Yould make the likeness of a man, and sometimes that of a woman, and place them in postures singularly striking; dis- covering much curious ingenuity. At this he would amuse himself in the day ; but spent the night in shouting and halloo- ing, and beating the Hoor with his chains. On entering the jail, we discovered the image or likeness of a woman, intended to represent his wife. He had it placed in a sitting posture, at the head of his bed, with the New Testa- ment open before her, as though reading to him, while he sat in the attitude of hearing with serious attention. I was induc- ed to look into the New Testament, and found it open at the 12th chapter of St. Luke, and the leaf turned down on the 58th verse, which read as follows: "When thou goest with thine adversary to the Magistrate, as thou art in the way^ give dili- gence that thou mayest be delivered from him ; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the oflScer cast thee into prison." It would seem as though he had intended to represent her as reproaching him for his escape from the constables on his way to Kingston, while he would de- fend his conduct by referring to the above portion of the Scrip- ture. He produced many other likenesses, which he would place in different significant postures, manifesting the 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 4th of May, on account of the ice having remained unusually late in the river, as will appear by the following letter : — Saint John, 5th April, 1815.-rDear Sir, — I have received your letter derailing; the very eztraordinary conduct of the culprit 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, 1 despatch- ed your letter, without delay, to the Attorney General, that they might adopt, at Head Quarters, any such measures as they might think expedient for the further safeguard and security of the prisoner. Very respectfully yours, W. CHlPxMAN. To W. Bates, Esq. Sunday, 16th April. 1815.— Dear Sir.— I have just received, by express from Fredericton, a letter from the Attorney General, stating, that from the state of the river, it will be impracticable for him to be at Kingston by the 20th, and as he haft hitherto taken the whole barthen of the trial upon himself, it cannot g'> on without him. From the circumstances, therefo^re, and as the present state of ^ 1 (, ri \ I .\ • i 4G THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OB the truTellins would probably render it dangerous to my fnthcr'H hetiltti (who ig nnc now very well) to held the Court tbia week, he has deteriDined to put it off till Thursday, the 4th of May« fur which day he wishes you to summon your Jury, and to proclaim the holding of the Court, lie regrets much giving you this ad- ditional trouble: but it must be attributed to the extraordinary backwardness of the season, which wss not, probably, foreseen when it was recommended to hold the Court on the SOth of April. 1 have not time to forward a new precept by this oonvevanoe ; but 1 will forward one in time, or the one you have maybe altered. This can be easily arranged when we go up to the Court. Yours truly, W. CIIIPMAN. W Bates, Esquire. The Court was accordingly proclaimed, and at the same time I wrote a letter, inclosing the proclamation to Mr. Dibble, the former jailer, to which I leceived the following answer : — *' Dear Sir,— I yesterday received your letter, inclosing your proclamation of the Circuit Coutt, for the trial of Smith, the horse-stealer. 1 shall be very sorry if Judge Chipman's health should be such as to prevent bis attending the trial. Should the Attorney General attempt to prosecute on recognizance for the escape^ 1 think his (the Judge's) influence at Court would prevent it. 1 am quite of your opinion, that it will be the most difficult case that has yet been before any Court for trial in this county. As for his behaving much better after I left the jail, it was what 1 expected be would do, to put Reid off his guard. Those parts of his chains that were hanging in convenient situations, were powerful weapons; and had Reid come into the jail alone, or weok handed, he would have felt the weight of them. It is remarkable that the villain with all his art and cunnings should manage it so ill ; and it seemb altosetber providental that from the begin- ning (except his sickness) be has either delayed too long or has been too hasty, which has prevented hisescape before, and I hope and trust will be the same with you. I am sorry fax the trouble you have with him, and cooGdently hope and trust he will not evade your vigilance. You are too well acquainted with his conduct to need my advice. I roust ciaim from you the particulars of his con- duct at the trial. 1 remain yours truly, W. DIBBLE." W. Bates, Esquire. On the SOth of April, I went to the jail 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 his trial before the Court for his life or death; and that Mr. Pearson, the Deputy Sheriff who apprehended him at Pictou, had come to witness against him ; but he paid no attention to what I said. The second day Mr. Pearaon came to see him, and told him that his (Smith's) wife was coming to see him; but he took no •notice ot him, no more than if he could neither see 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, his face bruised and bloody. I renewed my attempts to elicit something from him, by telling hina that the next day he would HENRY MOER SMITH, clamatioD of be brought before the Court for his trial ; but all was in vain. He gave me the most decided indications of confirmed insanity ;: parted his hands, hallooed, sang without articulating, and con- tinued to sing and beat the floor with his chains the mostot the night. The 4th of May, the day appointed for his trial, being now come, the Coui-t began to Hssemble early in the morning, and Court moved in procession to the Court House, which was un- usually crowded with spectators. After the opening of the- Court in the usual form, the prisoner was called to the bar. The jailer and four constables brought him and placed him in- the criminal's box. He made no resistance, nor took any notice- of the Court, and, as usual, acted the fool or the madman, snap- ping his fingers and patting his hands ; hehem^d and ha'd, took off his shoes and socks, tore his shirt. Every eye was fixed on him with wonder and astonishment. After the Attorney Gene- ral had read his Indictment, the Judge asked him how he plead- ed to that Indictment, guilty or not guilty. He stood heedless and silent, without regarding what was said to him. The Judge then remonstrated with him, and warned him that if he stood mute out of obstinacy, his trial would go on, and he would be deprived of the opportunity of putting himself on his country for defence ; and that sentence would be given against him ; he therefore advised him to plead not guilty. He still con- tinued mute, and acting the fool without betraying the slight- est emotion. The Judge then directed the Sheriff to empannel a Jury of twelve men, to enquire whether the prisoner at the bar stood mute wilfully and obstinately, or by the visitation of God. From the evidence brought before the Jury on this en- quiry, it appeared that he had been in the same state tor th© three months preceding, during which time he could not be surprised into the utterance of one word. The Jury conse- quently returned their verdict that the prisoner stood mute by the visitation of God. The Judge then directed theAttorney 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 waa again brought to the bar, and placed in fl I ) ■ ' 1 !-. I i-; 48 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF the criminars box as before. Ue sat down quietly, and maiii- tainod his usual silence and inattontioa. The most profound silence reigned in the Court, which was still crowded witli spectators, and every eye was fixed on the prisoner with the most eager attention The Judge then arose, and observed that the prisoner appeared more calm, this morning, and direct- ed the Attorney General to proceed with the trial. After the Jury had been empannelled and had taken their seats, and the witnesses brought before the Court, the prisoner was ordered to stand up for his defence ; hold up his hand, and hear the evidence; but he still maintained the same disregard and indiflerence, giving no attention to anything 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 them 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 though 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 Tike a pipe- stem. They then procured another rope and bound his hands together, and secured them to the railing in opposite directions. Finding himself overpowered in his hands, he immediately availed himself of his feet, with which he kicked most lustily, and soon demolished all the railing in h'ont of the box; notwith- standing all the eflforts of the constables to prevent him. An- other rope was then procured, and his feet bound each way from the posts of the box, so that he was rendered incapable of further mischief. After securing him in this manner, all the constables being in readiness for his movements, while he him- self sat as unconcerned afi though nothing had happened, the Attorney General r joceeded to read his Indictment, in which the prisoner st>.v;.f charged with having feloniously stolen a certain bay horse, the property of Frederick Willis Knox, Esq., of the value of thirty-five pounds. Mr. Knox having been fiworn, stated the manner of his pursuit after the prisoaer, with all the circumstances, until he came to Truro, as has already been detailed. At Truro he engaged Mr. Pearson, Deputy Sheriftj to pursue on to Pictou, whither he was informed the prisoner had gone to sell the horse. HENR Y MOltE SMITH, 4D Mr. PotcMs, counsel for the prisoner, on the cross-examination of Mr. Knox, askul liim how lie wrote his christian name — "Willis" nr " Willd." lie answered, "I am christened and named after my t^od-father, Lord North, the Earl of Wills- borough, and I never write my name Willis. Mr. Peters then produced authorities to show where one letter omitted or in- serted in a nun's name harse, which he was able to do by a receipt be produced for ti • aoney paid in exchange, the best general evidence that can be given, as such is the common way in dealing in horses. lie acknowledged that if the prisoner had been taken on the back of tlie horse he would then have been taken in the man- ner as stated by the Attorney General, and consequently bound to prove how he came in possession ; but in the present case, he himself, or any one present, might have been in this unfor- tunate prisoner's situation ; dragged to the prison, to Court, and to the gallows, because he could not produce the persor. who actually sold him the horse. The prosecutor had not pro- duced any evidence of the horse ever having been in the posses- sion of the prisoner, any other way than by his own confession ; and he trusted that the Jury would not hesitate to find that the prisoner was not taken in the manner as stated in the decla- ration, 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 that his having been taken in the manner, was proved by the various accounts he gave of his getting pos- session of the horse, thus rendering himself liable to prove how he came by him, or to stand guilty of having feloniously taken him, as stated in the Indictment. That they had heard the wit- nesses, and if, from the evidence and circumstances before them, they were fully satisfied that the prisoner, at the bar had taken the horse feloniously, as stated in the Indictment, they would 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 Sheriff invited the Court and HENRY MORE 83117 IL 51 paid in ked Mr. 3 horse ? him ac- nv other 3.'' iMr. ,ii3were<.l thorities en in the snfficieut ossessioii produced 31106 that n horses. 311 on the the man- :ly bound iQut case, lis unfor- ;o Court, le person not pro- 10 posses- nfession ; 1 that the ,he decla- t, " Not ! plea, by 3 manner, ting pos- rove how sly taken d the wit- bre them, lad taken ey would eaniug to yourt and other Gentlemen to visit the jail, where they were shown tho irons and chains, and the situation in which the prisoner had been placed. Tlio 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.'' Tho Judge then proceeded to pass upon him the awful sentence of the Liw, " Death, without the benefit of Clergy ;'' but tlie criminal remained unmoved and unaftected, and continued shouting and hallooing. The Court asked the Counsel for the prisoner whether he had anything to oiferin arrest of judgment, or why the sentence of Deatli should not be executed upon him. Mr. Peters then rose and produced authorities to show that the present law that took away " the b3nelife of Clergy" for horsc-skaUng, 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 ad- mitted the plea ; but gave liis opinion against him. The business being ended, the prisoner was returned to his cell, where he received his chains with willingness and appar- ent satisfaction ; and the Court adjourned without delay. The Attorney General, however, gave me to understand that the prisoner would not be executed immediately; and requested that I would observe his behaviour, and inform him by letter I the particulars of his conduct. The next morning I visited him, and observed to him that he was now under sentence of death, and he would be allowed only one pound of bread every day, with water, during the short time he had to live. That as soon as the death warrant was signed by the President, he would be executed, and that a short time only w^as left him to prepare for the dreadful event. But he paid no attention : patted his hands, sang and acted the fool as usual. One of Iiis visitors being much surprised at his insensibility, observed to him, "Smith, it is too late for you to deceive any more ; j^our fate is fixed now, and you bad better employ your little time in mak- ling your peace with God, than to act the fool any longer.'' On lour next visit to the jail, which was soon after, we found his [Testament open, and a leaf turned down on the following pas- sage — " If any man among you seemeth to be wise, let him [become a fool, that he may be wise.'' From this it would ap- pear, that he either founded his pretended insanity on Scrip- . ,■■■* i I-! >•; i 62 Tiffi MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF ture precept, or affected to do so ; yet it cannot be supposecl that he intended us to know what 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 he manifested no sign of hunger, more than when fed with four times his allowance, and tore off every particle of his clothini^, leaving himself entirely naked. After this time, I allowed him other provisions, and his subsequent behaviour was briefly stated in a letter to the Attorney General, and afterwards pub- lished in the "Royal Gazette." The following is a true copy of the letter, as it appeared in this paper, July 11th, 1815 : " Copy of a letter from the High Sheriff of King's County :— *• Kingston, June S56th, 1815 —My dear Sir,— Having heard nothing from you since the late Jail Delivery at King's County, I beg leave to state to you some circumstances of the criminal llenry More Smith, since his trial and sen- tence After securing him ^ith strong chains to his neck and legs, and with handcuffs, he continued beating the floor, hallooing day and night with littie in- termission, making different sounds; sometimes with jinking his chains, and sometimes without, apparently in different parts ot the jail, insomuch that the i'ailer frequently pent for me, supposing he must bo loose from his c^iins, which . conceived and frequently observed was impossible, being far beyca/f •»? power of human strength or invention, in his situation ; but on the 24th o j going into the jail early in the morning, (after examining his chains at it. > ^ ok the day before,) I found three links of his heaviest chains separated, and lying on the floor, being part of the chain without the staple. He continued in the same Kay until the 2nd of June, when we found the largest chain parted 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, but he frequently produced effigies or likenesses, very striking, representing his wife. He now produced an eflSgy ot a man in perfect shape, with his features painted, and joints to all his limbs, and dressed him in clothes that be had made in good shape and fashfon out of clothes he had torn ofi himself, (being now naked,) which was admired for ita ingenuity. This he would put sometimes in one position and sometimes in another, and seemed to amuse himself with it, without taking the least notice of anything else ; continuing in his old way hallooing, without any alteration, until the 13th, Vfhen the jailer informed me that he refused to eat, and no doubt was sick. I went to see him every day — found he did not eat- ail the bread and other pro- visions conveyed to uim he gave to his effiary, strung on a string, and put in his hands. He lay perfectly still day and night, and took no notice of anything— would drink tea or milk, which t gave him twice a day for five days, he then refused to drink anything for two days, which made seven days that he eat noth iog. In that time he began to speak — would ask questions, but would hold no conversation. Bit the most extraordinary, the most wonderful and mysterious of alljis, 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 1 presume ever will be prtrduced by any human being placed in his situation, in a dark room, chained acd handcuffed, under sentence of death, without somnch lis a nalj of any kind to woi'.k with but his hands, and naked. The exhibition HENR Y MORE SMITH. 53 supposed scripture, e that he lich time with four clothing, ►wed him 8 briefly \rds pub- ;rue copy 815: ounty :— ng from you ate to you ial and sen- s, and with ith littie in- chains, and ch that the iins, which 't J'e powei j going '. » "■ ijk the nd lying on in the same ;d about the hains are no (1 ever since, uced effigies i an effigy of s limb?, and ut of clothes ;3 ingenuity, mother, and of anything til the 13th, ras sick. I d other pro- d put in his anything— lys, he then he eat noth 3uld hold no lysterious of xhibited the r was, and 1 tuation, in a out so mnch 3 exhibition is far beyond my power to describe. To give you some faint idea, permit me to say, that it consists of ten characters — men, women and children— all made and painted in the most expiessive manner, with all the limbs and joints of thCL human frame— each performing different parts; their features, shape and form, all express their different ofQces and characters; their dress is of different fashions, and suitable to the stations in which they are. To view them in their stations, 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 jail, his exhibition begins about a foot from the floor, and compasses the whole space to the cealing. The uppermost is a man whom he calls his tarn- borioe player, or sometimes Dr. Blunt, standing with all the pride and ap pearance of a master musician ; his left hand akimbo, his right hand on his tamborine, dressed in suitable uniform. Next him, below, is a lady genteely dressed, gracefully sitting in a handsome swing; at her left stands a man, neatly dressed, in the character of a servant, holding the side of the swing with his right, his left hand on his hip, in an easy posture, waiting the lady's motion. On her right hand stands a man genteely dressed, in the character of a gallant, in a graceful posture for dancing. Beneath these three flgures, sit a young man and a young girl (apparently a^out 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 of the harlequin. In one hand he holds an infant, with the other he plays or beats music; before him stand two children, ap- parently 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, malies up the show, all of which you have iti one view. Then commences the performance. The first operation is from the tamborine player, or master, who gives two or three single strokes on hi& tamborine, that may be heard in any partuf the house, without moving his body, lie then dances gracefully a few steps, without; touching his tamborine ; the lady is then swung two or three times by the stew- ard ; then the gallant takes a few steps; then the two below tilt a few times in the most easy, pleasant manner; tlien the two children dance a little, holding each other by the hand ; after this, Smith begins to sing or whistle a tune, to wliioh 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. Mnny have been the observations of spectators; 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.'* AW 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 knowledge of his trial or present situation ; he peems happy ; his irons and chains are no ap- parent inconvenience ; contented like a dog or a monkey broke to his chain ; shows no more idea of anything past, than if he had no recollection. He, in in short, is a mysterious character, possessing the art of invention beyond com- mon capacity. 1 am almost ashamed to forward you fo long a letter on the sub- ject, and 80 unintelligible; I think, if I could have done justice in describing the exhibition, it would have been worthy a place in the " Royal Gazette,'' anrt bet- ter worth the attention of the public than all the wax-W( the drum with either hand, or both occasionally, in conceri with the tamborine. keeping time with perfect exactness : sometimes sitting, at others standing or dancing. He had also, in a most striking manner, changed the position of his scene. The Lidy above described to bo sitting so gracefully in her swing, with so many attendants and admirers, is now repre- sented sitting in a dejected posture, with a young infant in her arms; her gal- lant has left her, and is taking the j'oung girl before described, about fourteen, by the hand, with an air of great gallantry, leading her, and dancin<{ to the tune with perfect exactness, representing more than can be described. On view- ing 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 «ce the performance, and declared he coulcf say, as the Queen of Sbeba did, that * tho hall had not been told.' " To this the Editor of the " Gazette '' adds the following remarks ; — " 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 seen the exhibition and performance described in it. Those who are acquainted with the Sheriff, know him to be incapable of stating falsehoods, or attempt- ing in any way to practice a deception, and will, of course, give credit to the fitatcment of facts, wonderful as they may appear to be, which he has made." The Sapreme Court, in July, heing about to be held in Fre- dericton, and feeling anxious to know the fate of the prisoner, I attended for this purpose ; and having ascertained from the Attorney 13 eneral that his destiny would not be fatal, I returned again to Kingston, when the jailer 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 ihem 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 tho jail had been thorouglily searched ; but neither the chain nor staple could bo 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 drummer, if I did not put that chain out of the way, you would certainly put it about my neck again ;'' that he hated it, and had murdered it, and- put it under the dirt; but he feared he should hav3 no peace till he raised it again. I then told him he must raise it again, and if he behaved himself well I would not put it about his neck again. The next morning the chain was seen lying on the jail could n gave hi and jac handke pleased music, of bag}: gave hi ottered he belie it, and or left would r would t observe would i some m 17th of his farai ink, anc Allh ously ei before of burn from hi herentl' "My d thick a air and whisp which my bee ingan( He sai to attei the m( known calico stood a until h and ab HENRY MOIIL S 31 17 IT. the jail floor; but wliero or by what incana he concealed \U could never be found out. I then took off his bandcufis, and gave him water to wasb himself. I ako gave him a clean shirt and jacket, and a young man who AVits present gave him a black handkerchief, which he put about his neck, and seemed much pleased ; and said if he had a liddlo, or any instrument of music, he coald play for his family to dance ; if ho had a set of bagpipes, he could play on them very well, and that, if we gave him wood and leather, he would make a set". He was ottered a fife, which ho handled in a clumsv wav ; but he said he believed he could learn to play on it. He paid the bov for it, and then took the fifo, and would play any tune either riffht or left handed. I then told him if he would behave well I would not put his handcuffs on that day. He replied that he would then have his family in good order for my ball; but he observed that when he put one hand to anything, the o!her would follow as though the handcuffs wore on. We gave him some materials that he wanted, and then left him ; this was the 17th of July. On the 18th we found him busilj' employed with his family^ making improvements for the ball. I gave him pen, ink, and paint, and many articles for clothing, &c. All his figures were formed of straw from his bedding, curi- ously entwined and interwoven. The colouring he had used before was his own blood, and coal which he got from a piece of burnt timber in the jail; and their first clothing was made from his own torn clothes, lie now began to talk more co- herently and accounted for the broken glass. He said to me, — "Mv drummer cried out for more air;'' his familv stood so thick about him. '' Well," said I, " tell me how to get more ah" and 1 will go to work at it.'' '' He told me to make a strong whisp of stn.w, long enough to reach the glass and break it, which I did, and then after undoing the whisp put the straw in my bed again.'' He continued improving his family, by dress- ing and painting them all anew, and by adding to their number. He said there was a gentleman anvl lady coming from France to attend his ball, and all of them must porlorm weU. With the money he received from visitois. many of whom I have known to give him a dollar for one exhibition, he purchased calico enough for a curtain or screen. In front of the partition stood all his family, which he continued to improve and increase, until he gaid they were all present and were coming to the ball; and about the lOtli August completed his show for exhibition* t ■k : K i .'•V ii II 56 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF The whole consisted of twenty-four characters, male and female, six of which beat music in concert witli the fiddle, while six- teen danced to the tune ; the other two were pugilists ; Bona- parte with his sword, fighting an Irishman with liis shillelah. His musicians were dressed in their proper uniform ; some were drummers, ?ome were tamborine players, and some were bell-ringers. In the centre stood his dancing master, with hat, boots and gloves on. In an advanced station 6tt»od an old sol- dier in Scotch uniform, acting as sentinel, while JSmith himself stood before them, his feet under the curtain, playing a tune on the fiddle, to which they would all dance or beat in perfect har- mony with the music — the one half on the right to one part of the tune, and the other half on the left to the otlier part, and then all together as regular and as natural as life. Tlie dancing master with his right hand and foot with one part, and his left hand and foot with the other, and then with the wliole together, with the most perfect ease, t > any tnno that was played. So ingenious, and I may say, s(» wonderful, was the exhibition, that it is impossible to do justice to its description ; and num- bers of persons from different parts came to indulge their curiosity by witnessing the performance, and all expressed their astonishment in terms the most unqualified Doctor Prior, a gentleman from Pennsylvania, wa-? among the number of visi- tors. He told me that he had spent most of his time in foreign parts, travelling for general and literi'ry information, and had made it a point to exaniine all curiosities, both natural and arti- ficial, and that having heard much of an extraoidinary person I had in jirison, he came for the express purpo.se of seeing him and his exhibition. Having viewed his person and every part of his performance, ho was pleased to say ; that he had travelled through all the continent of America, and a great part ot Europe, but had never met anything the equal of what he there saw performed, and that he certainly should not fail to insei't a no- tice of it in the journal of his travels and observations. Another gentleman. Dr. Couglen, from Ireland, who had been Surgeon in His Majesty's service, both by land and sea, came also to visit our prisoner, and see his extraordinary exhibition, and after having viewed it occasionally for several days, while he remained at Kingston, declared that he bad lived in Eng- land, Ireland and Scotland ; had been in Prance and Holland, and through a great part of Europe ; had been at Hamburg and other plac?os famous for numerous exhibitions of various II I HENRY MORE SMITH. 67 m : some kinds, but had never met with any that in all respects equalled what he there saw exhibited. The Doctor then belonging to the Garrison at St. Andrews, having heard, while at Head Quarters, from the Attorney General, an account of this ex- traordinary character, took his tour from Fredericton by way of Kingston, for the express purpose of satisfying his curiosity, and seeing for himself. When on entering the prison, Smith, seeing the Doctor in regimentals, said to him with much good humor, '* I suppose you are come hero looking for deserters ; there is my old drummer, I don't know but he deserted from some regiment— the rest arc all my family.'' He seemed very inuch pleased with his new visitor, and readily exhibited every part of ^'vs performance, to the lull satisfaction of the Doctor, who expressed liis astonishment in the most unqualified terms, and acknowledged that it far exceeded his anticipations. August 13th. — At evening we found that he bad improved his Scotch sentinel by giving him a carved wooden head, finish- ed with the natural features of a bold Highlander. This was the first of his carved work. He had also much improved his pugilists. Bonaparte, by some unlucky stroke, had killed the Irishman, and had taken off his head and hung it up at his right hand. A brawny old Scotchman had taken tlie Irish, man'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 remarkably well, and singing very merrily ; but on my enter- ing I found him busily employed at carving a head which was to take Bonaparte's place, for that bold Scotchman would over- power him soon. He observed that carving was a trade in Eng- laud, 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 he could do until he set about it ; and that he had never failed in anything he undertook. Ho 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 impres- sion that he must " go to work" and make them all ; that if ho [did, it would be better with him, and if he did not, it would be bad with him. That he had worked ever since, by night and pj ^^Yi and had not quite completed them yet; that there were a 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 liiiii . I I ■%■. u , •< ■f ,. -I ; ■ i i I'' 11 58 TEE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF " contentment/' he said " was the brightest jowol in his life ;'* and that he never enjoyed himself better than ho did at present with his f'amilr. In the evening I went in to sec him again ; and as my curio, sit}' to know the origin of so singular a ch^iractor was greatly excited, 1 hoped that the present would have proved a favorable opportunity to draw some information from him; but he cauti- ouirly and studiously avoided answering any questions Volative to his previous life, and affected not to understand what I said to him. Sometimes he would talk very freely, and in a prophetic strain, of his future destiny. He said he knew he was going away from home, and that he should find enemies ; every oue who knew him Would be afraid of him, and look upon him with distrust and horror. That occasionally he was distressed in his sleep with all kinds of creatures coming about him. Great hogs and all kinds of cattle and creeping thing.^, snakes and adders, frogs and toads, and every hateful tiling. That ho would start up from sleep and walk about the prison ; then lie down and get asleep, and be annoyed with them again. That he would sit up and talk to his family, and sometimes 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 w^hat they all meant, and could under- stand something concerning the others; but that these frogs and toads coming together he cculd 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 off again. That the crickets came and would get upon his children and Avould sing among them ; that he 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 his enemies. The Lord says, if you would ask forgiveness of him, forgive thy brother also. We cannot expect forgiveness except we repent I and forgive our enemies. Tlit ^rord o; God is plain: except HENRY MORE SMITH. 59 you forgive yonr brother liis trespasses, neither will your Ilcaventy Father forgive yon when yon ask of him. All men are sinners before God ; — watch, therefore, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. I watch hero and pray with my family night and day ; they cannot pray for themselves. But I .shall nolt stay long ; he could go to sea as supercargo of some vessel, or he could get his living with his family as a show in any country but England, and he had never seen such a shovv in England ; that he had never enjoyed himself better than with his family at present, lie did not care for himself so his fi\mily looked w^ell ; he would be willing to die, and he should like to die here, rather than go among his enemies ; but he believed he had one friend in England, old Willie, if he is yet alive ; he was always his friend, and he should like to go and see him. And he had one sister, he said, in England, that he wanted to see; she played well on the pianoforte, and he himself could 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 that he had an uncle in Liverpool, a merchant. Then looking earnestly upon me, he said, " My name is not Smith — my name is Henry J. Moon. I was educated in Cam- bridge College, in England. I understand English, French and Latin well, and can speak and write five diflerent languages." He also said he could write any hand as handsome or as bad as I ever saw. He said he had live hundred pounds in the Bank of England, which was in the care of Mr. Turner, and that he wished to have his wife get it, as he did not know where ho should go; but he knew he s^hould meet with trouble; yet he did not fear whftt man could do to him, for he could but kill him, and he should like to die here. After hearkening 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 morning, when the jailer went in to see him. Smith said he had been fishing, and had caught a large fish. The jailer, on looking, perceived the chain which Smith had for- merly worn about his neck, and had been missing a long time, but never could find out where or by what means he concealed it. After this, he commenced a new scene of mysterj^, that of fortune-telling; in which, if ho did not possess the power of divination, he was wonderfully successful. The jailer carried 11 ij ii I-/. i'.' 60 TIIR MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF him his breakfast, with tea ; Smith observed to him that ho could tell him anything, past or to come. The jailer then ask- ed 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 you 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 after him you saw a man at work in the mud on the liighway, and you enquired of him for the man you wanted. He told you what 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 jailer was greatly astonished at this, knowing the whole affair 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 be 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 expect- ed, and very unlikely to happen. Besides, he often hit upon a development of facts, which could not be accounted for but upon the supposition of some mysterious knowledge of things beyond the reach of common conception, as the following par- ticulars will fully testify ; The next morning, Aug. 13, he told bis own fortune out of his teacup. After looking into the cup for some time, he kissed it, and told the jailer he was going away from this place, that he was going over the water, and must have a box to put his family in ; that he saw three papers that wore written and sent about him, and that one of them was larger than the other two, and contained something for him that he did not under- stand, but he would soon know. The next morning, Aug. 14th, he looked in his cup again, and told the jailer that these three papers were on their way com- ing, and would be here this day at 4 o'clock,.and he would soon know what the}^ contained about him. Accordingly I received papers from Fredericton, containing his Pardon, and two letters just as he had predicted ! ! In addition to this, the following must be regarded as a very singular and remarkable prediction, which, independently of some unknown mysterious means, cannot be accounted for. Early ; niaune: " Th is at sc tliat I \ ed that strong was alo two o'c sisters '. just goi in comj time tl called i Perkins heard n jectiou, had he Perkins went w but wit] Perkins pear an c a great dollar b make hi of him, t'ormanc and fin 8 for the ( Perkins see my took up entire Sf Xow and its f arrival ( Kingstoi which c incur th relative in a big] til! HENR Y MORE SMITH. 61 Early in the morning he remarked to the jailer 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 happen- ed 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 dock in St. John; on the same day about two o'clock. Ho 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 hived 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 jusi arrived. The doctor said to me that he had heard much of my extraordinary prisoner, and if I had no ob- jection, he should be much pleased to see him and his show, 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 his 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 he would make his puppets dance ; but Smith would not take any notice i»f him, and young Perkins continued to urge him to the per- formance, but without effect, until he was quite out of patience, and finally took up his money, which he had proposed giving tor the exhibition, aild left the jail in quite an ill humor. After Perkins left the jail Smilh said, " now, if an}' of you want to see my family dance, you may see ihem in welcome ;'' — and took up his fiddle and went through the performance to the entire satisfaction of all present. Now the reader may account for this mysterious prediction and its fulfilment upon whatever grounds he pleases ; but the arrival of the young man from sea that day, his coming ta Kingston, and his being affronted by Smith in the jail, are tacts 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 are all characteristic of him in a high degree, and when all united, set him forth before the r I '■! I ,11' k • 1 • C2 THE MYS'IKRIOUS DOINGS OF world as a cluiractcp, sifiirnlaraiid unproccdonted, he coiisidorod that ev(;iy part of his sayiiigfl and doings had their interest, and were necorfsary to he narrated. After clortineared to nth'fl pro- on from but he emarked did not )0th talk ed from my cus- , to the to make to some sense of his situation, by compassionately proposing my a^HJst- iinue to get him out ot the Province. 1 then proceeded to in- form him that 1 had received his pardon, that his attorney had proved hid friend, and bad petitioned the President and Court, stating that he was a young man, and this having been the first instance of a case for horse-stealing before tiie Court in i\\\A Province, prayed that inurcy might be extended and his iifo spared : and that President and Council had been graciously pleased to withdraw the sentence and gnvnt Ids pardon : and that I was now fiuthorized to release him on his entering into recognizance to appear in the Supreme Court and plead his pardon when culled upon. The only reply he made was, '* I wish you would bring me sorae new potatoes when you como again." I proceeded to sa;' th'At 9-f bOO!; iis he was ready, and would let me know wliercj iio ^vitihod lo go, I would give him clothing, and would give him tio^e to put his hrwWy in order, and a box to put them up in : ob.-;.Lrvin;.! that t(>cy might h^ a means of getting him a living nntil he could iind bettor employment, without being driven to U>e Ticce-isuy of eiooJiiig. lie replied, "Have you not got boys and gicJs that \\-\i to see my family dance? Bring ulj yuur f;>;iiify to d:o IhcA'). ; 1 will shew them as much as you please, but othsi^ mnst '|ja' ' I remained Iwith him nearly an hour atli^.rvvai'ds witbout «^aying any more on the subject of his pvudo.n ; during whic/i time he continued to talk incoherently as lie had done tiie evGauig before. That we must watch and pray lost v;e enter intoton\ptation : that he prayed with his family ; they r.onld not pray for themselves. That we must be spiritually miadc^d, for lo be spiritually minded was life ; but to be carnally mindod was death ; and much more of this kind, repeating 'arge pok'tions from New Testa- meut, nearly whole r»haptors. Ha observed, "Now you see I lean read as well to yoi vv?Uiout the book as others can with Ithe book. I can '-cad to you almost all ot any other chapter in jthe Bible yon will name, either in the Old or New Testament, lit makes not much ditJierence ; in the dark as well as in the llii^lit My wife is a good little woman ; she would get the jBible on Sunday, and say to me, * Henry, come sit down and lear me read the Bible ;' but I would laugh and tell her I 2ould read better without the book than she could with it, and ^oald go out and look after my horse, or do any<^^h:naj on Sun- lays. I have been a bad fellow ; when I tv a^ m I^ngland I M i '1' I ;• V\ \ u i.l'i ill I ,1 64 THE 3IYSTER10US DOINGS OF ^ave all my attention to reading my Bible, and became a groat 5d.ethodist, and went to all the Slethodist meeting.^, and woiilil pray and exhort amongst them, and finally became a preacher, and preached in Brighton, Northampton, Southampton, and iu London ; and great numbers came to hear me. I was some- times astonished to see how many followed to hear me preach the Scriptures, when I knew they were deceived. But I did not follow preaching long in London.'' He went on to state liis reasons for giving up preaching, or rather the reasons that prevented his continuing to preacn. IJe had given himself up to the company of lewd women, and had contracted the disease common to such associations. A coarse like this could not remain long concef»led, and the issue was that he was prevented from preaching, and was even- tually obliged to leave England, and come to this country. He went on to say — " I have been a bad young man. I am young now, only twenty-three years of age — not twenty-four yet ; and did not know but he would preach again ; he could easily find converts ; many would like to hear him preach. When he was a preacher, he \>fas spiritually-minded, and all was peace and heaven to him ; but ever since all was trouble, trouble and misery to him. lie never intended to leave this place ; he was contented and willing to stay here until he died ; he was better ofl'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 jail again, and gave him a good dinner, and read his l.*ardon to hiio. When he saw the paper, ho said, "that looks like the pa])cr which I dreamed I saw, with two angels and a ship on it, with something that looked like snakes.'' When I read his 1/ardon, he paid not the least attention to the nature of it, but asked ques- tions as foreign to the nature of the subject as possible ; only ho said he wished I would give him 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 1 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 ribbon,'' said trie tailor, ** but a measure to measure you for a new coat ; come, stand up enough i like it ; ing then blacksm be measi wished make hi Ho sa; candle, 1 that his which h( living, up the h one hou; " every ( tained a when sh no right would c( me, and constabl whole st how his couutry boil the would als for tinned put it a\ and he < casional Augn formanc told me first he I the man made ir ^ut of tl He ha most ev( produce ! HENR Y MORE SMITH, 65 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 see- ing them, he added, *' you are no tailor, you look more like a blacksmith, you shall never make a coat for mc,'* and would not be measured, but he said he would make it better himself, and wished I would give him a candle to work by, and he would make himself a waistcoat. Ho said I need not be afraid of his doing any harm with tho caudle, he would put it in the middle of the floor, and take care that his straw and chips did not take fire and burn up his family which he could not live without, as he could not labor for hi* living. Besides, he said, if he were so disposed, he eould burn up the house without a candle ; for, said he, I can make fire in oue hour at any time. " When I was a boy,'' continued he, " every one took notice of me as a very forward boy, and I ob- tained a license for shooting when I was but fifteen. One day when shooting I killed a rabbit on a farmer's land where I had no right. Tho old farmer came after me, ar-" I told him if lie would come near mo 1 would knock him down, but he caught me, and tied me fast to a large stack of faggots, and sent for a constable. While he was gone I made fire, and burned up the whole stack, and got off clear ; but the old farmer never knew how his faggots took fire. "You do not use faggots in this country — they are little sticks tied up in 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. Accordingly I provided materi- als for his clothes, and a lighted candle to work by. He con- tinued to sew by the light of the candle but a short time, and put it away from him, and said he could see better without it ; and he completed his waistcoat in the neatest manner, and oc- casionally attended to the improvement of his family. August £9th, at evening, many persons came to see his per- formance, as was usual, and when they were all gone out, he told me that he had carved a new figure of Bonaparte ; that the first he had made after his own image and likeness, for he was the man after his own heart, but he had fallen. God, he said, made man out of the dust of the earth, but ho had made man out of the wood of the earth. He had now been in ray custody more than a year, and al- most every day developed some new feature of liis character, or produced some fresh ettbrt of his genius. [ had had much ' •:! • I CO THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF trouble with liim, and my patience often severely tried ; buti now I viewed him rather as an object of commiseration, and ll could not think of turning him out of jail naked, destitute audi friendless. In such a situation he must starve or steal, so tliatl his pardon and release must become rather a curse than a blessj ing. I represented these things as feelingly as I could to himj gave him a box to put his family in, and told him he must bel ready to leave the Province on Tuesday morning, and I would! procure him a passage either to Nova Scotia or the United Stated To all this he gave no attention, but asked some frivolous! questions about Mohawks and snakes, and acted the fool, so that I began to conclude that I would now have much more trouble to get him out of jail than I formerly had to keep hii in it. The next day Judge Pickett and Judge Micheau attended at| the Court House, to take the recognizances required of him to appear and plead his pardon when called upon to do so. Afieil divesting him of his irons, and furnishing him with deceDt| clothing, it was with much difficulty I could prevail on him to leave the jail. However, he finally took one of his family iiJ one hand, and a pair of scissors in the other, and with muclJ effort we got him up into one of the Jury Rooms, when Judgi Micheau read his pardon to him, and explained all the circumj stances which imited to p'oduce it, to which, as usual, he gav( no attention, but looked about the room and talked of somethind else. Judge Pickett required his recognizance, and informed hir that if he did not leave the Province immediately he would b^ taken and tried on two indictments pending against liim in tb^ Co. of York. He took no notice of what was said, but talked aud danced about the room, told the Judge he looked like a tailor, and asked him to give him his shoestring. His Pardon, lying ouj the table, he caught hold of, and be tore it could be recovered from him, he clipped off the seal with the scissors ; he said m wanted the ship that was on it to carry him away with his faraij \y. He tore the collar off his coat, and cut it in pieces withtbe scissors. Finding that nothing else could be done with him,' returned him again inte prison, when he said to us that for cub using him so kindly, he would, for one shilling, show us all hij performance with his family. Upon which Judge Micheau gavJ him half a dollar, and told him to return a quarter dollar change and then he would have more than a shilling. He took it, and wiid it was a nice piece of money, and, put it in his pocket, bu( HENRY MORE SMITH, 67 the o dilge could not make liim uutlerstand tlio meaning of change. lie then performed the cxhihition in fine style, but when we l^ereleiivin;:; him he seemed out of humor with Judge Pickett, irid toUl hiui that he hud thrown stones at him, that he would )um his house, and that' this place would be in ilumes before morning. He coidd makj a fin; in huU an hour, and wanted a ire, an»i wouhl have a fire, and I sliouUl see that he could make ire. Upon wlMch we K;ft him, without apprehending any thing ("roni his tlireatti »nore tliau usual. But the next day, the 29th, rhen entering the Jail tor the purpose of preparing for his re- loval, 1 perceived that there was much smoke in the hall, rhich I supposed had come from the Jailor's room, but he said khat no smoke had been caused that morning, but that it pro- ceeded fr(»m the i)rison door. I immediately opened the door, md found Smith sitting ([uite unconcerned before a fire which le had made v/ith the chi[)s of his carved work, and other ma- [eriais. Tie observed tu me that fire was very comfortable, that \e had nt>t .seen any before for a long timo, that he had made [he fire with his <»\vn hand-:, and that he could make it again in len niinutcs : that he could not do without one. I immediately pinguisiiod the fire, ant me tliat 1 d j not come to see you,— if you write back to roe 1 sV i^it>uK., come immediately My dear, as soon as you receive this letter send me nnMUnd a gre swer, that 1 may know what to do; so no more at present, bntthat 1 remaiu 3'Ath many loving and afl'ectionate wife, £lizab£TU P. M. im ql^ ^' j H.F. M. S., Kingston. Ibhetied ■, and said, The jailer, by direction of the Sheriff, cleared out a sinftine in, he room above stairs, with an iron-grated window, where we coJThere wer happening to meet with my friend, Mr. Daniel Scovil, he le young formed me that ho had a vessel then lying at the wharf, wbi nith, and would sail for Windsor, Nova Scotia, in half an hour. I ire," whic cordingly prevailed on him to take Smith on board, which m Thj,* iuf,] done without loss of time, and at high water the vessel haul )le lady fi off* from the wharf, to my great satisfaction and relief. eighborh< or HENR Y MORE SMITH. 69 While the vessel was getting under weigh, Smith was in the Lbin alone, and seeing a great number of chain traces lying on Ee cabin floor, he took them up and threw them all out of the [bin window ! ** Because/' said he, " they would get about fy neck again." During the passage he appeared very active ; V played on his fife, and was quite an agreeable passenger. [nton the vessePs arrival at Windsor, he left her Immediately lithout any ceremony ; and notwithstanding the very strong Ward which he had alwAya possessed for his family, as he llled them, he left them also, and everything else that be had pught with him. He was seen only a very short time in Windsor before he entirely disappeared, and never was known be there afterwards, but was seen at some distance from Hndsor, in several other places, and recognized by many, but [ways carefully evaded being spoken to. After having made his appearance in different parts of Nova cotia, he called at a certain house one morning, on a bye-road^ nd ordered breakfast, and asked for a towel also, and a piece ■soap, that he might wash at a small brook that was near the }ii9e. The woman of the house, and a maid, were the only SPtons in the house at the time. Smith left a large bundle, [hich he carried, on a chest which was standing in the room^ nd wont out to wash. The bundle presented rather a singular ppearance, and attracted the young woma'ns notice, so that (e said to the other: " I wonder what he has in that bundle. you will keep watch at the window while he is washing at »e brook, I will open and see what is in it." They did so, and luiid a great number of watches, oi which they counted fifteen, [ith many other valuable articles. She tied up the bundle again, and placed it where he had left „ and said, *' This man has stolen these watches." When he line in, he handed the towel to the young woman, and said. Phere were just fifteen watches, were there .'"and with such an Jpression of countenance, that she could not reirain from au- rering, " Yes " '< But," said he, " you were mistaken about |y stealing them, for 1 came honestly by them." Upon which \e young woujan instantly recognized hiro to be Henry More mith, and concluded that ha was collecting his ** hidden trea- ire," which ho hnd deposited while ho was in Hoden. This information 1 received irom Mrs. Beikwith, a respect- ')ie lady from Nova Scotia, who resided at the time in that leighborhood, who altio said it was not known that he had evcvr ' 1 \^ h 70 THE MYSTERIOUS DOINGS OF a2Gn hi8 wife at that time, from the time of liis release frorni confinement. The next account I hoani of liim Rtated that Iiel had been seen on hoard of a p'aster vessel at Eastport, but he was not known to have been on shoi'c duriiiir the time she re-l mained there. He employed himself while on bo:ird engravinn a number of small articles some of which he m:)(le presents olf to young ladies who chanced to come on board. He wjs next seen at Portland, by a gentlern'.in who had] known him at Kingston : notiiing, however, tra!is[Mred her concerning him, only that he was travelling with coiisiderablij weight of baggage througli the State of Maine, which gave risJ to the following ludicrt)us story, which I saw published atl Eastport. of a Mysterious Stranger travelling in a stage. Onel cold and stormy night, the bar room of a hotel w as tilled witlu sturdy farmers surrounding a cheerful fire, and discussing t¥ affairs of state over a mug of flip. The night having been trel mendously stormy an] wet, the wind wirntling all around thcf house, and making every door and window rattle, the landlord expressed much fear for the sifet}^ of the stage-c )ach ; but sudj denly the sound of a distant staire-horn announced the approacll of the coach and removed the landlord's anxiety. Ho replenJ ished the fire, that the approaching travellers might have aa warm a retreat as possible from the unusual inclemency of tbe night. Some time pissed, and yet the expected coach did notl come up. The landlord's fears got up anew, and with an exl pression of concarn ho put thequjstion arouud, " Did notsomj of you hear a horn?" and ad led, '' I have expected the stage i long time, and I thought th «t a few minutes ago I hoard the horn near at hand ; b".t I fea that something lus happened iij the gale that has chisel it to be thus belated.'' " I thought heard the stage-horn s )me time a^o,'' answered the arch young farmer Hopkins ; " Imt then you must know that ghosts auJ witches are very busy on such nights as this, and what kindoj pranks they may cut np we cannot tell. You know the olif adage, — "Busy as the devil in a gale <>f wind.'' No^ who knows but they may hive ' Here he was ini terrupted by the sudden opening of the door, accorapaieJ by a violent gust of wind and the dashing of rain, whei| in rushed, from the fury of the storm, drenched with wet fron head to foot, a tall stranger dressed in a fur cap and shaggj great coat. From an impulse of politeness and respect, uc mimingled with fear, all arose on his entrance, — the expressioil HENR Y MORE SMITH. 71 «The devil in a gale of wind," rushing npon their minds with a signification to which a piofound silence gave expressive utterahce. The stranger noticed their reserved yet voluntary respect with a slight nod, and proceeded to disencumber him- self of his wet clothes and warm his fingers by the fire. By this time the driver entered, bearing the baggage of his pas- senger. *'The worst storm I was ever troubled with, blowing right in my teeth, and I guess the gentleman there found it tlie same.'' Here a low whisper ensued between the driver and the landlord, from which an unconnected word or phrase dropped upon the ear of the inmates. "Don't know,— came in the,-— as rich as a mine," ense. lie observed that it would be a high gratitication to him, on his return to Washington, that he would not only have one of my books with him, but would also be able to say that he had personally seen the Sheriff from New Brunswick that had written tlie book, and had seen the remarkable character in the prison of Newgate that had constituted the subject of the book, and also the prison in New Haven from which he escaped. Accordingly we set out lor New Gate, and my friend had the satistaction nf seeing the noted Henry .^^ore Smith, now William Newman. On our leaving him, I said to him, " Now, Smith, if yon have anything you wish to communicate to your wife, 1 will let her know it." He looked at me and said, '* Sir, are you going io the Jerseys *f ' '• Why do you think your wife is there ?' •• I hope so ; I left her there,'' wus his reply, and that witli as uiuoh firmness and seemiuic earnestness cas if he had never nefore seen mv face. After I had left him and returned to New Haven, and furnished the printer with this additional sketch, and had the Memoirs completed, one of the books was sliowfi to him, which he perused with much attention and replie I with seeming in- difterence that there never was such a chara.*ter in existence, but that some gentleman travelling in the United States had run short of money, and had invented that book to defray his expenses I immediately after he had read the Metnoirs of his own un- paralleled life and actions, and pronouu4:'-ed tho whole a fiction, as if to outdo anything before relateil of l/ini. or attributed t«> liim, he added the iollowiug remarkable feat to the list, already so full sen CO fire b with J hound fering of atfo came i !»o rof burnin stande in she\ the life w as pe chose, 'loscri] mnch (J suns, fi of his 1 the cas pen-kni of his e fliately on one siiie, a iStraui^c cunosit them. and I n (lomesti Unde l»t'came sire to jewel 11 ('on3e(|i After ccived ] liig'hiy f which c time ren to this i ^vas the BENE Y MOttE SMtTiL 81 ,t Kings- unswick 3eptablc, 88, when tr nature press, a 3 retuni with nio, iiU from V Bruns- i relatiiii!; X)uld not ed me to , it would dungtoii, iiim, but le Sheriff had seen that had 1 in New t tor New |he noted loavinL? [ling you it." He erseys '^" JO ; I left mess and seen my Lven, and had the Ui, which ming in- xistence, tates had efray his own un- a iiction, bated to t, ah'ea his horscsi ns his pockets had been picked of a large sum of money since he entered tiio o;"\ch ; and at the same time requested the driver would not let any of the passengers j;ct ouLOf the coach, it being dark, until hd the atorcsaid passenger, should bring a light in order to have a general search. This caused a k^neral feeling of pockets amoni? the piis- sengers, when another passenger cried out that his pocket book had also been stolen. The driver did as directed until the gentleman who first spoke should have time to have pro- cured a lamp* but whether hi' found it or not remained quite uncertain. But no doubt he found the light he intended should answer his purpose, as he did not make his appoaranrc in any other light. Uowevcr, the passenger who really lost his pocket book, which althoufih it did not contain but a small amount of money, thinks he ehall hereafter understand what is meant when a man in a stage coach calls out thief, and that he will prefer dirkness rather than light, if ever such an evil joke is offered to be played with him again." As he was continually changing his name, as well as his place, it was impossible jilways to identify his person, especi- ally as few persons in the United States were personally acquainted with him. The difficulty of recognizing him was not a little increased also by the circumstances of his continu- ally changing his external appearance ; and the iniquitous means by which he could obtain money and change of apparel, always afforded him a perfect facility of assuming a diff'erent appearance. In addition to these circumstances also, as a feature of character which no less contributed to the difficulty of identifying him, must be taken into account his une(iualled and inimitable ease in afiecting diil'erent and various characters and his perfect and unembarrassed composure in the most difli* cult and perplexing circumstances. To the identity and eccen- tricity, therefore, of his actions, rather than to our knowledge ot the identity of his person and name, we must depend, in our future attempts to trace liis footsteps and mark their character- istic points. Ou this ground, therefore, there U not the shadow ot a doubt that th origin a pointed our nar he can: course York, a beries i and aft characti a large said vvai intende pnrchas Here Postmas im\."me Bates, a and his had not urgent i for the 1 ingly di when it place CO of the h iicters of This was tention i He di( family, i but pro( town an other pe wagons, upon a r called uj tence of goods, ai their arri earnest ( U'hich he HEN It Y MOllE SMITJL 83 that the robbery committed in the stage coach, and that the originality of tlie means by which he carried off his booty, pointed with unhesi'oting certainty to the noted character of our narrative. After this depredation in the coach, with whicli he came olf snccossf'nl, it would appear that he bonded his course in disguise through the States of Connecticut and New York, assnming different characters arid committing many rob- beries undiscovered and even unsuspected for a length of time, and afterwards made his appearance in Upper Canada in the character of a gentleman merchant from New Brunswick with a large quantity of smuggled goods from New York, which he said was coming on after him in wagons. These, he said, he intended to dispose of on very moderate term?, so as to suit purchasers. Here he called upon my brother, Augustus Bates, Deputy Postmaster, at Wellington Square, head of Lake Ontario, and inu.^med the family tliat ho was well acquainted with Sheriff Bates, at Kingston, and that he called to let theni know that he and his family were well. He regretted very much that he had not found Mr, Bates at home, and stated that he was upon urgent and important business and could not tarry with them for the night, but would leave a letter for him This he accord- ingly did, properly addressed, and in good handwriting; but when it wa3 opened, and its contents examined, no one in the place could make out the name of the writer, or read any part of the letter ! It appeared to have been written in the char- iicters of some foreign language, but it could not be decyphered. This was another of his characteristic eccentricities, but his in- tention in it could not be well understood. He did not appear to make himself particularly known to the family, nor to caltivate any further ac(iuaintance with them, but proceeded thence to the principal boarding house in the town and engaged entertainments for himself and thirteen other persons, who, he said, were engaged in bringing on his wagons, loaded witJi his smuggled goods. Having thus fixed upon a residence for himself and his gang ot wagoners, he then called upon all the principal merchants in the town, on pre- tence of entering into contracts for storing large packages of goods, and promising to give great bargains to purchasers on their arrival, and in some instances actually received money as earnest on some packages of saleable goods, for the sale of )t a doubt I rs fioiii tiio Irani; ol one Kcntleuiaii. No one. howeveri iiad thouulit of suspecting; the French Kcnthinan, w <> was also a lodu'ir. until this niorninif, wiicn. unfortunately f-T hiuii his liK-e was recouni/.cd by a i^entleuDin who knew liini to have been in the St ite Prison at Ualtiinoro. Ilowevci, on ^ca chint; him, which he readily conipliid with, not one cent (d" the nn)ney could be fiumd either ipon hi:! baffRMtre or his person : l>ut in lieu thereof, thoy found him po<>csscd id' :i lartfc number of sunill keyti, Ihrouuh which, no doubti he found uican>' of divp-ciiik' of any '^nrpln-'a^'c uf eir- cuhitiuK medium, whereupoc his iiuurters were chanRcd to liridewell until the eiisuiuu term of UenentI Sc-aions," Tfere he remained in confinement until the period of his trial came round, when, for want of sufficient evidence to commit him to the State l*rison, he was thence discluiri^ed, and the next account we hear of him brings him before our view under the name of Henry Preston, arrested in the act of attempting to rob the Northern Mail Coacli, as will appear by the following article, extracted from the 7'i/??('s :— "POLICK OniOK, Mo.vnAY. Feb. 22nd.l8.r).— Ju-. deujutly drcss(Ml. cailin? himself Henry Prestnn, w-as brought up in the custody of the driver and uuard of tli • Northern Mail Statre, who charged him with an atteni|»t to rob the niail. The aeeusers tesilHiid thiit "rithin a short dis- tance of Peeki>kill they discovered the prisoner about a hundrcij yards ahead of tiie stavte, and on appro ehinp nearer they saw him jump over a fence, evidontiv to avoid notice This of course, excited their suspicion, and they kept an eye to the m lil, wliieh wis depositeil in tlie^boot. In thocourse uf a siiort time the guard discovered tlie rat nibl)linsr at the bait, and, desiring the driver not to stop the s|)eed of the horses, ho (uietly let liimseif down and found the prisoner actively employed loosuning the strap whi( li eontines the mail bag! He was instantly arrest, d, placed in the eirriago and carrietl to town free of expense. avinu nothing to olfur in extenuation (dbis oll'ence, Mr. Henry Preston was commiited to Bridewell until Monday lor further investigation. " PomckOi'mck, MoNn\y viokninij.— This inoming Henry Prea'.on, committed for at- tempting to rob the Northern M:iil, wjs brought up before the Sitting Magistr ites, when the High iSheritr of Urango County ft|)|»oared anil doinamleil the prisoner, whooo real name wiw Henry Gibney, as u fugitive from justice! He stated that the prisoner wus to have been tried for grand larceny, and was lodged in the House of Detcntioti at Newburgh, on Thiirsdu vigilenc got dowi luigh' ffi Hy 01 County ori;i!;ina iore the \m escn Of th to Cann iiicnt8, honor ti escape I nip ted, tu this ( where v For t» residing jullowin in cndei present "Dkar especial Ij a new odi until you descriptic which no for their 1 iliargo, r Micriffsir IJci'ort Sii i^licrilfto Many are isliou d tfa J:>everu of the I none of prisoner last, 183 IJya the prise uient in "IgiV( •/a nor, w fioiu him was ever jiiin. but i)u made Stranger; t'rimo was It won Joubt, nr a visit to personal samo not HENRY MORE SMITH. HI l1 con- 3 Stato VQ the I peace would iired to ^ork. il light loniont, ill the by the of the ing onr [• style : the Sout.1), enry llund thirt altoi- B trunks i>( l)i>is of tin? |ltlt>ni:ill. ^11 II loiliri-r, i;untlt!iuiin cliiiiK hill). ;r I pon hi:! nuinliur <>t' il^'^• tif cir- .«uin« term hifl trial com nut lie next ider the to rob article, n Sat ur lay ry Preston, StuKC who a shDit (lis- the stave, otiire This positeil ill i.t the bait, Jowii aivl I but?! lie nviiiit I) Bride w<^ 11 tetl I or nt- ites, whoa real nain>' w;..-* to have kV burgh, on Thursday, under euro ut twi persuna— that In the course of the night ho tried to elude the viffileneu of" his keepers, e^capctl from contlnoinent, and crosaod the river on the ice, luid had Kot down a8 far as Poikskill. where he sa,vs ho attempted to Rot on top of the stago that ho luik'h' ffot into New York as soon as possible." Uy order ol the Jud<;eM the prisoner wa!i delivered up to the Sheriff of Orange County, to be rccoKnizod tliure for hi.-* trinl fur the ofTence with which he wus ori;L;inally chnrged, at the next General SeH.sion of the Supremo Court. But he- lore the time ciimc round ho had, ns on mo<«t former occasions, contrived to make '.lis escape, and directed his course towards Upper Canada. Of the particular manner of his escape, and his adventures on his way throus^h to Canada we can state nothing with certainty; but like all his previous move- ments, we may hazard the conjecture that they were such as would do the usual honor to his wretched profession. Yet, with all his taot, he could not always cifcupe the hands of justice; and hence his course is not unfrcquently inter- rupted, and his prosress impeded by the misfortunes of the prison. It is owing to this circumstance that we are enabled to keep pace with him in Upper Canada, where we find him confined in the jail of Toronto under the charge of burglary. For this information the writer is indebted to his brother, Mr. Auj;ustuHBate.s, residing in Upper Canada, from his letter, dated 4th August, 1835, wo make the luUowing extract, which will point out the circumstances which have guided us in endeavoring to follow up tha tiistory of the Mysterious Stkanger to the present time :— " Dkar Brotiikk,— I now sit down to acknowledge the receipt of a number of your letters cspeeially ^our In^t by Mr. .Snmuel Niehols, in wiiich you luentiimed that you were writing a new edition of * More kSinith.' I have to request that you will suspend the puldicatioii until you hoar from me again. There is a man now eoniined in Toronto Jail who bears the ilcsrription of More rSinith, and is supposed to be the same. Many things are told of him wliieh no other person could perform. 1 will not attempt to repeit them, as I cannot vouch for their truth- From current reports I was induced to write to the Shorift", who h;id him in (Inirgo. requopting him to give me !i correct account of him. I have not hoard from the >iierilf since I wrote; perhiips he is wiiiting to see in what mnnner he is to be disposed ot. Ptciiurt silys that the man is condennied to bo executed for shop-breaking -ho wishes the tShcrilf to do his duty : that he had much rather bo hanged than sent to the penitentiary. iMiiiiy are the curious stories told of him, which, as I said before, I will not vouoh for. isliou d the Sheritf write to me, his infuruaution may be relied on," >*Severul communications from Upper Canada have reached us between the date ot the letter from which the above extract is made and the present time, but none of them contained the desired information as to the particular fate of the prisoner, and the manner in which he was disposed of until the 8tb of September last, 1836. Ijy a letter from Mr. Augustus Bates, bearing this date, it would appear that the prisoner had not been executed, but had been sentenced to one year's confine- ment in the penitentiary. Wo make the following extract :— " I give you all the information I can i btain rospoctin^ the prisoner enciuircd after. Tho •fiiiler, who is also the lieputy SheriiV, that had him in carge, says tte could Ica-n nothing fniiu Uiiu ; .>tny knowledge of it, and would not give any satisfaction to the enquiries lie inado ot him. The ^)heritf says ho believes the person to be the same Mysterious Mrniiger; that he was condemned and sentenced to tho penitentiary for one year. Ilia crimo was burglary." It would have ailbrded the writer of these Memoirs great satisfaction, and, do duubt, an equal satisfaction to the reader, had it been in his power to have paid a visit to Upper Canada that be might be able to state from his own certain and personal knowledge ot the prisoner at Toronto, that he was. indot I, the self- aamo noted individual that was in hiu custody twonty-two years ago, and whom 88 HENB Y 3L0RE SMITH lie had the gratification of seeing and rcrjognizing tiuhscquently at the Siinsljiuy Mines, where hu played ufF his aU'ectcU lits with Huuh art and conscciucnt ad- vantage. But although it is not in tho writer's power to closo up his Memoir with sd important and valuahle a diseovcry-yet, keeping in view tlie charauterlstic fea- tures ot the man — his prolessed ignorance of Kingston, in New Brunswick— his denial of ever having seen the fust edition of tlie Memoirs, und tlio caro whicli lie touk to k«)cp hitiisell enveloped in mystery, hy utterly dccliring to give any Hutislactory inlorniatitm concerning hitMsulf ; all thesj circumstaDco-t united, form a conibinati(m of features so markc^ iks to carry conviction to tho mind of tho reader wiio has traced him throouh this narrative, that ho is do other than the same mysterious llcnry More Smith. Ther( is another feature in tho prisoner at Toronto that seems strangely cor- rohorati\oof what we are desirous properly to est vhlish, th«\t is his ago. IIo acknowledges to be fifty-five years of ago, and although this would make him .Mimewha*^^ older than his real age, yet it fixes this point—that the prisoner lU Toronto is well advanced in ycais, and so must the sulycct of our Memoirs bu also. From information which wo have obtained it seems that Imj has undergone lus trial, and was committed to the penitentiary lor u year's confinement . VVIiethcr ho found any means of effecting an exemption from lal)or in the penitentiary and then rcconeilir g himself to his confinement, or whether he accomplished one of his ingenious departures, we arc unable to determine. One thing, however, is highly probable — that ho is again gomg up and down in the earth in the practice of his hoary-headed villainy, except a Power from on High has directed tho arrow tf conviction to his heart; for no inferior impulso would bo capable of giving a now direction to the lile and actions of a man whose habits of iniquity have h«en lipcoed into maturity and obtained an immovable ascendancy by the practice of so many successive years. It must be acknowledged that there is an unprecoJ'^nted dcirree of cleverness in all his adventures, which costs a kind of illusive and momentary covering over the real character of liis actions, and would seem to engage an interest in his favor, (and this is an error to which the human mind seems remarkably pre-dis- posed when vice presents itself before us in all its cleverness), yet who can read his miserable career without feeling pained at the melancholy picture of depravity it presents? Who would have supposed that after his condemnation and sentence at Kingston, and his life, by an act of human mercy, given into his hands again, he would not have hastened to his wile, and with tears of eompuDction o)ingled with those of joy, cast himself upon her neck and resolved, by a course of future rectitude and hone.-ty, to make her an Jiappy as his previous disgraceful and sin- ful career had made her miserable. But ah ! no. His release was followed hy no such eflfcctg. Renderei unsuscep- tible of every natural and tender impression, and yet under tbe full dominion of the god of this world, he abandoned the inmate of his bosom', and set out single- handed in the fresh pursuit of crime. There is, however, one redeeming feature which stands out among the general deformities of his character. In all the adventures which the history of his course presents to our view, ve are not called upon to witness any acts of vio- lence and blood; und it is perhaps owing to the absence of this repulsive trait ol character that we do not behold him in a more relentless light. Simsliiny qucnt aii- ir with so ristic fciv- ivviuk— his !nro which ) give liny ited, i'orto ind of thi! r than the n;?ely oor- nj;u. Ho make him nisotier nt luiQuirs bo ;ri:one his Whether mtiary ami hcd one of owcver, is he praeticc thfj arrow r {iivini; a have been practice ot cleverness perinj; over nest in his jly prc-dis- can read i depravity nd sentence inds again, )D mingled no of future ul and sin- 3 unsuscep- toininion of 1 out single- thc general itory of his acts ot vio- sivc trait ol ee ii¥ iDdDmanKDii »» steam Job Printing Establishment, 57 CaiBLiTTI 8TBIIT, I Saint John, N. B. GEO. r. ©:?/r. ^oprielor. BUSINESS CARDS, OIROULARS, BILL HBADS, LABBLS, POSTBRS. &o. Printed at reaaonable prices, and with promptness. CUSTOM HOUSB BLANKS, SHIPPING RBOBIPTS, RAILWAY RBOBIPTS, CHARTER PARTY, &o., Always on hand. ■■ -■- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 12.8 ^ mm Wa2 £f 144 ■" 2.0 m ■it 140 u& 1 |l.25 ||,.4 ,L6 ■ . < 6" ► ^I^/ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSM (716)172-4503 Ii MAu No. 69 Charlotte St., opposite King Square, • am* Thirty years ago I commaiMjed the Drag business on my own account, in a small shanty adjoining my present place of business. Thanks to my numerous customers in the City and throughout the Provinces I have been enabled to increase my trade so. that I am prepared to supply them with PERFUMERY, SOAPS, DYE STUFFS, Druggists' Sondries, Brushes, Combs, Toilet Articles, And a thousand other articles too numerous to mention. Having given my strict attention to the manufacture of Soda and Mineral Water I hope to satisfy all with these cooling, wholesome and delicious beverages. In CIGARS I keep a good and general assortment of the very best Brands. My Dispensing Department is supplied with experienced young men. I claim to sell goods as cheap as any other establishment in the City. I keep a supply of Postage and Bill Stamps on hand for the accommodation of the public. Nothing will be spared on my part to make my establish- ment profitable to those who require any article in my line of business. , ^isafi "juare, \ 58 on my place of City and rease my ss. tion. icture of cooling, it of the arienced lishment d for the stablish- y line of m-