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CONTAINING A correct account of his Extraordinai y conduct dut'ing tke Thirte&n Months of his Confinement Jnthe Jail of Kings County y Province of New JJrunswick, where he was convicted of Horse- Stealing, and under sentence of deathy and finally pardoned and set at liberty. * ALSO ^ M^UcUU 0f Ms %iU mxA G^UixxncUx. From his first appearance at Windsor, in Nova Scotia, in the year 1812, \ • ■1 ■ 1 , 1 f I ! ■. .1' ) ■ : ' • K t '•' ' ■ . ' 1 • ♦ * . ' • \ :!* ■ . J ! ~ • 1 } J f ._•<(' f ^ ; : * t ' h' : • ' ) , ; 1 •, 1 - ' t ■ ■ i . i < '^ * . ^ ; • • t ■ ' . . J' » ( ^•1 ■>*•■« THE ■«.:.'/ril I • MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. OR, HENRY MORE SMITH. CONTAINING A Correct acronnt of his Extraordinary conduct during thr Thirteen Montlts of tils Confinement in the Jail of Kini^s County, Province of New Brunswick, where he was con- victed of Horse stealing, and under sentence of death. ALSO !^ Slictclx jof Mb %iU nn& .mxiivncUx. Wrom talA lirmt u]»i»earnn«e at '%Vin«lNor, lulVova Scotia, ln< tbe y«»r AHl'i^ U»tH» tiiue of Ul» uppr«Ii«^n«iuu aiMl confln«n:ient. TO WHICH IS ADDED A HISTORY OF HIS CAREER Up to 1§41, embraciug an acconnt of Iii» laiprisonmeiits aod Escapes, Sclecicil From the most Aullientic sources, kl'a Public snil prirak. f'^rrrrtrr^Jiyr'r ■ir.inmiw UPY 'WAJLTVin BATES, ESC^UIKE. SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick. Orioinam^y Prlnted by G^)kge W. Day, 4, MARiiEX Siiijii.i. i s I W' . 1 /l .'v '!!! V ■ ( .- — -. — — ..1 ■... .*.{ THE MYSTEKIOUS DOIIfOS OF UEl^RY MORE SDllTil. w'-. ' • • H I:N11Y more smith, the noted individual Who formiiithe subject of this Narrative, made his first appearance amongst us in the year 1812. Previous to this, wo have no inibnnation oonccrning him. : Some tiine in the month of July, in this year, ho ajj- poared at Windsor, ia Nova-Scotia, looking for em- ])loynicnt, and pretended to have emigrated lately from Enj^Iand. On being asked what his ocruipation was, he stated that ho was a Tailor; but could turn his hand to any kind of mochani(;al business or cotintry enipoyment lie was decently clothed, gen- teel in his appearance, and prepossessing in hi» manner, and seemed to understand himself very well. Althongh an entire stranoer, he seemed to be vtr" qnainted with every part of the Province, but studi- ously avoided to enter into close intimacy with any person; associated with few, and carefully concealed all knowledge of the means by which ho came to the "ountry, and also of his origin and connections, keep- ing his previous life and history in entire obscurity. Pindinor no better employment, he engaged tn tho service of Mr. Bond, a respectable farmer in the vil- lage of Rawden, who agreed with him for a month- on trial, during which time ho conducted himself with much propriety and honesty; was industrious, careful. ai?d useful, to the entire satisfaction of Mi\ 4 TlIK MtSTIiUIOliS DoiMI OP Viji^d, iuripin])loyor, and oven I'oyonO his i^xpoctation. 1! wnyi porltictly inonbnsivc, jiciitic, ond obIi^inf»tron and «l! inipropor Iany:uap:e, and waw ap- pircuri) iivo iroin every ovil habit. Jjeinle, however, that in all liis ;ri|)s to Halifax, he uniformly set out in the afternoon Knd returned the next morning. A certain gentlenmn, speaking of him as a tailor, remarked that ho cOuld ut very Vvell and make up any article of clothing in a mj>erior manner. In fact, hir> genius was extraordi" fiary, and execute any thing well that he turned his at- tention to. A young man having apj)Iied to him for new coat; he accordingly took his me/isnre, and pro- mised to bnng the cloth with him the first time he went to Halifax. Very soon after, hemade his jour- [iiey to Halifax, and on his return, happening to meet with the younirman. 1)6 showed him, from his port- nianteani, the cloth, which was of a superior quality, 0^1 f ruwiJ^Jid to have it made up on a certain day^ e Aftu'iiinond Doi.NiiSoy 11^ I, which ho punctually porformctl to the ontrre fiatisfao- tioiiofhiH employer, who paid him his price and car- iicd ofr tlie coat. About tliiri tine a number of unaccountable aud mvsteiious thol't8 were conunitted in Halifax Arli- clesof plate were inis«iiig from gcntlenien'sj houses; silver watches and manv other va.uable articles were tak(^n from silversinitirH shops, and all done in so mysterious a nuinner, that no nuirks of the robber's Jiands were to be seen. Three volumes of the late acts of Parliauunit, relating to the Court ot* Ad'iilralty, Tvere missinf^ from the ollice of Chief Justice fc^trange about the frame ttme : ho olTercd a reward of three guineas to any person who would restore them, with an assuiance that no cpiestions should le asked, lu a few d«ys after, Mr. More produced the volumes, which ho said he had purchased from :i stranger, and received the three guineas reward without having to answer any enquiries. This atl'air laid the foundation for strong suspicions that Mr More nujst have been the individual who conunitted th'>se secret and myslc- rious thefts which produced so nnjch astonishment in various quarters; and just at this crisis, these suspi- cions received not on Iv stronjj corroboration, but were decidedly conlinned by the following remarkable fact. AVhile the. youno- man whom he had furnished with the new coat, as was previously noticed, was j)assing through the streets of Halifax with the coat on his back, he wus arrested by a gentleman w^ho claimed the coat as his own, aibrmingthat it had been stoleni from him some time since. This singular aflair, which to the young man was extremely n ortifyiug and afliictivey t;hrew imniediato light upon all thoiie secret and an- llENRt More S>aTrt, ) b-atisfao- antl cur- able aud X. Arli- i houses; L-Ies were ne in so ' robber's ? late acts d'liiralty, ? K^traiigo "ked. Id volumes, nger, and laving: to jundation lavo been id niystc- iniient in pse su«|ii« ])ut were able i'aet. ihed with s j)aiisin£j his back, the coat from him ch to the afiiictivOy t and uiL- accountable robberies. A special warrant was imire- diately issued for the apprehension of More : however, before the warrant reached Kawdcn, he had made his escape, and was next heard of as travelling; on horse- lK)ck, with a portmanteau well filled with articles which he offered for sale, ais he proceeded on his way by tJie river Philip; and early in the month of July, 1814, he made his appearance in St. John, New Brun- swick, by the name of Hkvry More Smith. He did not. however, enter the city with his horse, bui put up, and took lodging>i at the house ot one Mr. Stackhouse, who resided in a bye-place within a mile of the City, and came into the town upon foot. He found means to become acquainted with the olllcers of the OUth llogimeiit, who, finding him something' of a military character, and well acquainted with horsemanship, showed him the stud of l)e longing U) the regiment. Smith, perceiving that the pair ef horses which the Colonel in his carriage did not match, they being of drlferent colors, and one of them black, observed to the Colonel, that he knew of an excellent black horse in Cumberland, that would match his black one perfect- Iv. The Colonel replied, that if he were as good as his own, ho would give him fifty pounds for him. Smith then proposed, that if he, the Colonel, would af^vance him fifteen, pounds^ he would leave his owij\ horse in pledge, and take his [wissage in a sloop bouud for Ciunberland, and l)rinjr him the black horse. To> this the Colonel readily consented, and paid him down the fifteen pounds. This opened the way to Smith for a most flattering speculation; he had ol)- served a valuable mnre feedintj: on the marsh coti^u- ouft to the ])lace whore he had taken his lodgings, and Cjist hi* eve uj[)Qn f^ Hue saddle and bridle t)elonging r i 1 I ■ ''' I I M Mystkiuous Doings ov to Major King, which ho coulilptit hin Jiand on in iho ni'^ht. With these facililies in view. Sr.iith entered on liis 8ccine;he himself in j)osset?sion of the sjuh.Ue and* bridle, (letenniud to rfteal the muie he saw feed- ing on the marsh, ride Iier to Nova Scotia, and there sell her, then steal the black horse ironi OaMd)eriand, bring him to the Colonel, receive his $2^)0 00, and without loss of time transport himself within the boundaries of the United States. . , , This scheme, so deeply l.iid. and so well concerted, failed, however, of execution, and proved the jneans of his future apprehension. Already in possession of sddle and bridle, he spent most of the night in fruit- less efforts to take the mare, which was running at large irt the pasture. A))andoning this part of his plan as hopeless, and turning his borse-stcaling geni- us in a different direction, he recollected to have seen a fine horse feedinir in a fiehl near the hiohwav as he passed through the Parish ofTvorton, about 30 miles on, on his journey. Upon this fresh scheme, he set off on foot, with the bridle and saddle in the form of a pack on his back, passing along all the succeeding dav in the charactt-r of a ]iedlar. Night came on, and put Iiim in possession of a fine black horse, whicli ho mounted and rode on in prosecution of Ids design,^ which he looked upon now as already accomplished. J]ut with all the certainty of success, his object prov- ed a failure, and that through means which all his vi- gilance could neither foresee nor prevent. From the WMUt of sleep the preceding night, and the fatigue of travelling in tlie day, he became drowsy nnd exhaust- ed, and stopped in a ])arn belonging tc William Faypr- «\'eatber, at the bridcre that crosses the Mill-stream, to all. ]!i;\!iY MoiiR S.Miin. t) take 1 short sloop, and start aaain h\ the uiLlit, so as to pass the viilafio before dav light. I'ut, as f";itc would have il. he overslept: and his horso uas dicjoovered on tiie ])arn liooi" in the mofiiinci-, aiul he was seen cross- ing the ])ridti-e hy daylifrfit. J lad he siieeeeded in erossinu' in the nifdit. lie would in all ]»i<'ba))}litv liave carried his design ; ibr it >\as not till the afte-uioeji of the same daA% t!»at Mr. Knox, the (,\\i;er()f the horse, missed hiin from the pasture. Pursuit was innnedi- ately made in quest of the hors?, aad theeircunistance of the iH)>tber's ]iavinuiece of India cotton were found with him and re- turned to the owners; that on tlie way to Kinfjston rij*)ner liad rude a!I day in the rain, and hav- ing had no opportunity of ehangina: his ciothoH, which by this time had become very wet, it wa-* thought ne- cessary, least he shoukl nustain injury, to put him into the debtor's room, hand cufled, where lie could have an opportunity of warming and drying him&eif at tho lire; the stuve having been out of repair in the cri ii- iiiaFs i*oom. The day following he was removed into tho crimhiaTs room, where irons were considered un- necessary"; and as he appeared to be quite peaceable, his hand-cud's were taken oU", and being furnished with a comfortable berth, he seemed iticoncilcd to his situalion. On tho I3th of August, T received the following Letter from the Clerk of the €ircuit Court : — Dkau Sir : — Mr. KnovhaH k>fl with ni«^ the evamiiiatioM, &c. rolniiiig lo More Smidu (he liorsc-stealor, now in yonr K'lol; thrive sti'c all taken in the Pioeinre o^Nov:i-Sl^)tla, Uiforu Mngis- irates tla're, and i Mould rci'oiiiiuriKi that liw be-hrought up Uk foi* thu .Vkii»istrtos in your Coi'nty, and examined, aad the exaiu- inati. Ml ("OMiniilh'd to writing. I tio not know under what war- rant he i«! in your euxto ly, hut I think it wouM be us W'-ll f()l' tho same Mai/isirate.s to make out o niitiuiu»< alter the exainiiiatioii^ n.*i it Would he niwe arciidinjr to form. 1 reuiaiu, dear sir, vours, * WARD CIHPMAN. Aflor pro ' iiotic»o, Judges Pickett, Mr. Jusiico TItNui MoBB Smith. 11 Kclchum, and Mr. Kiiox, all attonclod hi»? examina- tion; h\ the course ut" wliioli, ho said his name wua Jlonry More t^mith, twenty soars of age, caiuo from JOnixiarid on account ol* the war, had been in America a out a year and a half, that he was born in Jhigh- ton, that his father and mother wore iiving there now, and that he expected them unt to Halifax the ensu- in<^ Spring ; that he pnreehased a farm for them on the Hivcr Philip, and had written for them to come. He also stati^d that he crlaud, where the horse was. To this proposal hp said the Colonel aijreed, and havinj? received the liio- ney and left the mare, went to his lodgings ; but be- fore he could return, tlio vessel left him; and havinir 110 other conveyance by water, he was obliged to set out on loot ; and having a long journey tu travel, and but short time to perform it in ; he travelled all ni<4ht, and at davliiiht was overtnken bv a stranijer with a large horse and a small mare, which he oifered for Kale, and that he being weary with walking all night, oifered him ten pounds for tlie mrire, which he accept- ed. Tliat they continued their journey some time, xiw\ began to find that the mare would not answer his purpose; the horse being a good looking one, vriiicb be miijjit tioU n^ain for the nionej;, hftbaotered the t^trang- 12 Tub My f.Rious Doixiis of or Tor a swip, wliicli wan ellected hy jiiving the mare mid lifteon poiiiul-i in oxcjliaiige for the horse, saddle and bridhv lie thou- prod u/U'd a receipt whioh he said tlie str.'inLjer uave iiiin, to the followiiiii' ellect ;— . Ueeciviu], July 2')ai, IRU, of Henry More Siiitli. fifloon poiuids, ill !?\v;!p ol'n liisrso, hotwtena siiinti iiiiire and a larj^e horse I let him havi', witli a pLES CHUllMAN., Jle then stated tliMt ho pi-oceodcd on to Cuinl»er- land, and bargained for the black horse which was the object of Iiis pursuit; and not having money cnoiigh to pay for him, without sellinp; the one ho rode, and lioaring that Ca]>tain Dixon, of Truro, wanted to pur- chase such a horse, and iinding that Mr. Dixon had gone o^ to Pictou, forty miles fhrther, to att^^nd ^ Court, ho was obiifred to follow him with all sj)eed. That the next d ly being Sunday, he was ^obliged to wait till Monday to sell his horse, and was there ap- ])rehended by Mr. Knox, and chai^ged with stealiiitr his horse; that he was taken before the Court, and had all his mono ^% his watch, and his horse, taken from him, and was sent back to King's Cciunty gaol to take his trial ; and complained that as ho was an entire stranger, and had no one to speak for hhn, un- less the man were taken who sold him the horse, his case might be desperate, for he had neither friends nor monov, nor anyone who knew him to take his part. He complained also of having been badly used by Mr. Knox on the way, : . • : w. Having been asked by Mr. Knox, in the course of his examination, ^Miat occuj)ation he followed in this " d, '' IS^o one i '0]) 1' Kuox then hastily %sked him how he got his living liKNHY MoHK Smith. M Ho replied, with great firiimes'; nnd self- possession .-''.Hymy Iion^esty, feir." Alter t'lis culmination, a roLjular co'miiitmont was made out, and he wturued to prison, lie submitted to his confinement without a murmer, and with much seeming rv signation ;bnt com- ])lained of a severe pain in, his side occasioned by cold he had roeeived He seeniod anxious for an opi)ortii- nity to send tor Iiis portmanteau, which h^said Jie had left witli some other articles in the care of Mr. Stack- honse near St. John. The portmanteau, ho said, con- tained his clothes, vhicli he would I'C oljliged to sell to raise money for the purpose of procuring necessaries and engriging a lawyer, repeatino- ai;aiii, that as he was a stranger and had no friends to helj) him, there would be but little chance for hiin, though innocont, exce]»t tliii thi^f who gtole the horse wore taken and brouj^ht to justice. ■'■'■'' It so happeried, an the day following, that I had oc- casion to go to the City of Saint John hi company with Ih". Adino Paddock, senr. when, on onr Avay, he had occasion to etll at Mr. T\athaniel (jolding's tavern, in Hampton; and while placing our horses under hi« shed, we perceived a man mountinf]^ a horse in great haste, tiifit WIS standing at the steps" of the door, who immediately rode off with all ])ossibre speed, as tJibugh he were in fear of boing overtaken. On inquiring who he was, w^e w'ei^o informed by Mrs. Goldnig that Jie was a i^h-anorer who had c.dled tlleVe once or twice be- fore, and that she believed his nanie was Chuinan or Cliurmnn. I observed tO the Doctor, that that was the name of the man from whom the ]>risonnr, Siniih, s^id he purohaaed the Jiorse ; upon which Mrs. Golding said .that she could ascertain that by inquiring iu tlio 14 Tint MvsriiRiOLS IJOINUO OP w otiior room, w.'iich siv) was rcqucfctotl to do an wny, as wo pio- <*,OfHli^tl towinis St. John, hut rouJfl ;iscertaiii notliin^ fiirt!i(M* of the striii'jicr Ikv t!)it iKniio. After mv rc^- turn from Ir^t. John f inforinod tho prisoner iSniith of wiijit h.id iiaj)|K?m(l Ijy the way; ho fn>poared excoed- in*;jly olatod \vit!i t!io idea of hisbein;^: Ifjo man that had sold him the horse, and said if he had money or friends ho <;oiHd have him taken and brought to jus- tice, and wouhl koou be restored to liberty a rr.i in him- self; but that if ho were suflfered to make his CBca])o out of tho country, his own case \\ou!d bo deplorabJo indeed, though he was innocent. Ho again roitt+rat( d his complaint, that he was dortitute of money and friends, in a strange country, altliough anxious to em- ploy a lawyer, he did not know of any to whom ho could ipply for advice. Ho was recomnundod to Charles J. Peters, Esq , /\ttorney in St. John, with tho assurance, tliat if there were any ])08^ibility in tlio case, of getting him clear, ]Mr. Peters would exert himself ni his behalf most faithfully. Tho first op- portunity that offered, he sent an order to Mr. Stack- iiouso for his portmanteau, with instriicions to apply the proceeds of certain articles, which ho had loft with him for sale, if disposed of, in retaining Mr. Pet- ers as his Attorney. Tho return brouglit ahandsomo portmanteau and a pair of boots, lea\ing a small sum in tho hands of ^h\ Peters^ as part of his retairtery which was to bo inereas'd to five guinv»as before tho sitting of tlio Court. This arrangement soomod lo be prodctivo of much satisfaction to tho prisoner, and for tbo purpos> oT fuliiling the. engigenoMit witJi ^r. Hknky Moek Smitu. it- PoUts, lio cxproKBOfl a (IfHiro to ilispofto of t'lo con- ' tents of his portnianfonu, as far as w.is n?c'^ssarv for makinfj np t'lo Huni. H*^ give nir fiis key, \u\h w'nc'i I opcntfl his portinnnteaii, and foiiud it well fill d with various articles of valuaWt^ clothinjr; *2 or throe, trentoel mats, with vests and pantnloons. of the first quality nnd cut : a superior top cont, of the latest fashion, faced with black silk; with silk stockings and C^loves, and a variety of books, consi.^tinir of a neat pocket-lJiblo and Prayer-book, a London Gazetteer, a Ready-Reckoner, and several other useful books. Ho had also a day and night spy-^la^is of the best kind, and a small magnifying glares in a tortoise-sliell cabo. with many other useful ^'articles. Siisjncions of bin not having come honeijtly by t jo contents of his port- manteau was not the impression that was made; but rather that ho had been handsomely anci res])ectably fitt»^d out by careful affectionate parents, anxious for bis comfort and happiness, and that he was, in all probability, innocent of the charge allodged against him. Ho soon commencetl selling off his little stock, and for the purpose of affording him a faciiitv, per- sons, wishing to purchase from liim, were permitted to come to the wicket door, through which he could make his bargain, and dispose of his things. He nf'- ver failed to endeavor to exite ii^ ]niy of those who came to visit him by representing his deplorable sit/- uation, ill being reduced to the necessity of selling his clothing to raise the means of defending his inno- cence in a strange country from the unfortunate charge preferred against him Nor did he fail of his purpose, for many, from pure sympathy for ilia un- fortunate situation, purchased from him, and paid4ib* wallyv Amojig those who c«'ime to seohiinf tli^^e wi« •nrf^ T 19 «iv TiiK Mv.srMiiiOoS DoiMis of Is ' a yoiiii*r iii'iii, who K'i'u] lio IkuI Lnowii the j)risonor in St; Joliii, iind |>rofi*H8o«! to visit liinitVoin motivcH of IVir'Uflsliip ; Jit' lind {rccks to him through the giatrs ol' of tho window, .ind koiiic of the [>lnK« being broken, ho conhl hoJd fro" conVLTHMtion thrc»u he had often declared with much apparent simplicity,) tlie prisoner knew too much of it to resign himself with conlidence to the is- sue of a cause which coukl promise hhn nothing but conviction and conhini his guilt. He therefore, upon his profefcsed dissatisfaction with his Attorney, ap- 1 1 18 Mystkriois l)oiN(;s op ! I 1 1 1 1 4;H ]K'aiv(l to think no more about iiiiii, nor to renew his enquiries conccrninfj Iiim, hut set about a more sum- mary method ofextricatiufT himself from the [lower of the law. He turned his attention to the Hible, and perused it with an aii* of mu(!i seriousness, as thoujrh the concerns of the unseen worhl engrossed all his thouL^its : iio bi'haved himself, in every respect, with becoming propriety, .'uid his whob^ demeanor wns sucli as to i^maoe niucli inti'rcst in his behalf. About this time he discovered syptoms of a severe cold, being troubled with a hollow sounding cough, and complained of a pain in the side, l)ut still submit- ed to his confmement without a murmur or com- plaint. He would frequently .adv(^rt to the ill usitjo which he said he had received by the way from Pic- tou, after he was made prisoner, particularly of a blow in the side with a pistol, given by Mr. Knox, which felled him to the ground, as he expresswl it, like a dead man ; that when he hd recovered his respira- tion which had for some time been suspended, ho rais- ed blood, and continued to raise blood occasionally by the way for two or tliree days ; that the pain never left him since, and was now greatly increased in con- sequence of the cold he had received, and that the wound was, as he believed, approaching a gathering in the inside, which he feared would finnlly prove fat- al to him. He showed a bruised spot on his side which was swelled and much discolored, and appar- ently very painful. All t!iis was accompanied with loss of a|)petite and increased feebleness of body ; but he still discovered a remarkable resignation to his fate. Hij^ situation was suc'i as to excite sympathy and feeling, so that an endeavor was made to render him ftp comfortnble as possible, by keeping his apirt- I 1. llbNBY Mo\{ii, SmJIU. u u\ nioiit properly tempered wilh heat, aiitl proviiliiif^ liiiii with such food as was adapted to tlio delicacy of his eoMstitutloii. « it t j'm " ... « • •.; » • w.» His diseases, Iiowevor, continued to increase, and Iiis sjtrenjiitli to di'cline, with all the syniptoins of ap- proachini* diissolution ; |)ain in the head and eyes, diz- ziness with sickness at the stoniacli, fieqnent raisinf;^ of hlood, and of increased jiainfidneHs of the eontn- sioJi on his side. It was now considered liioh time to apply to a |»hysician, and on the 1 1th of Septend)er sent for a doctor, who examined his side, and the gen- eral stJite of his diseases, and g'lve him some medi- cine. On t!io 12th, appeared a little better, KJth at eveninus <»rew worse. Fourteenth, unable to walk, — V(M'y hi<^h fever, witli frequent ehills of aouc. Fif-. ; teenth, vomitin*; and rai.sined IVeely (n tlie sul ject. .'nid ex- pressed his eonvic'tion that thoie was little or nolioj e of his reeoverv. lie stated to Mr. Yeovil thnt he wan lorn in Knghind tlint his parents uere formerly at^ taehed to tlie Chnrdi of Kn*»land. ])nt had lately join- ed the Metiiodlsts; that lie '^janie from England on acronnt of the war, and that he expeetrd his ])a rents to come to this ronntiy next hj>ring, which last cir- cun stance seemed to exite in him strong en otions. Twenty-first, the Rev. Mr bcovil witii < thers of tho neighborhood visited him in the morning; no favor- able syn ptoms. Twenty- second, the prisoner very low : violent fever, accompanied with chills and ajiue. Inllantmation of the bowels, with evacuations of blood for the last two days; [extremities cold, and strength jrreatly reduced, insomuch that he could only just articulate above his breath. Was understood to say, that he should die for wint of medical assistance, as the Doctor had refused to attend him any n ore iu that ])Iace, and the ^'herifl' rcfused^to remove him. His situation had by this time excited general s\m- pathy and ])ity; his seeming simplicity, passiveness, and resignation, greatly contributed to produce the ellect. At fi o'clock, the Rev. Mr. Scovil and a great number of the neighbors came and sat with him till 10 o'clock, and then left him with the impression that he would not live till morning. Friday 23d, went to the gaol early in the morning, and found the pri- soner lying on the floor, naked, and seemingly in great distress : said he had fallen, through pain and weakness, and could not get up again. He was taken \jp and carried to his bed; ap[»eared as though ho IIkmu Mouk S.mjtu. n would instantly exjjiio; cor.tinncd in alow nud ainioift lilolcsH stat;Mill 5 o'r'lot'k in llio nftc riicoii, win-n he npjK'nrcd to all proscMit to bo really dyinji;. lUv Mr Scovil ^Ir. IVrkiiiH, ^I. (i. KaMiiond, all near noily, come njion him about the same tinjo the next day; that he was sensibh^ he should not re- cover; but that (jod would have him. Ho then asked Mr. Scovil to pray with Jiim; his desire was com- plied with, and prayer was offered np in tlu? most so- lenm and devout manner : the occasion was deeply ntTectinLT, and all sician should attend him, Jet him be particular in takinj^ down in writin«f what the man savs in his last moments, as to the circumstance ; and if a Justict! should bo then present, it would not be amiss. In haste, yours, sincerelv. C. J. PETERS. Saturday, 24th. — The watchers reported that ho had passed a very restless night, and but just surviv- ed the morning; that he complained of want of medi- cal assistance The following note v>as tlien sent to the Doctor wlio had attended him : — Kingston, Sept. 24th 1814. — Dear Doctor :— Smith, the pri- soner, sa>s that he is suffering fnr wan' of medical assistance, and that you will not attend him unless he is reuioved into anot- her room, which cannot be jiermitted : he must take his fut<^ where he uoav is, and if he dies in jail, ati enquiry will take place which may prove to your disadvantage. 1 must therefore re- quest your attendance, I am trtily yours. Sec. jjVDR.'A. Paddock, Jr. ' WALTER RATI-.S. Henry More Smith. 23 lie Jipj)i-oach- hv Jenio\ etl nee of ji blrnv [>is\ol, wliicli yjio], ;iiid is V ol" c'iiqnirv, JJ tlie Ijearti' aii(J not luii, irii». fjestcnl.iyl 3S|)o/i on his way to Mr. Scrlbnci-'rt. (it h.jvinji- h(^on in tliu dusk of tho evening), ho had scon Smith's Ghost pass by him at a short distance off, without touchino the ground. This singular report, as it came from a quar- ter that couhl not be well disputed, very nuich alarm- ed the whole company, and formed the subject of their conversation for the evening. But to return to our narrative. After the prisoner had made his Will, he was, for a short time, left alone, with the probability that he would shortly be seized by another lit, which he was not ex}>ectod to survive. About G o'clock in the evening, the llev. iNlr. Scovil oljserved to his family, that it was then about the same hour of the dav at whi(di Smith had had his fit on tho preceding day ; that he thought he would die suddenly; he would therefore walk over to the Court House, and he ready there at the time, as it must be unpleasant for Mr. Dibblee to be alone. This so much awakened tlie sensibilities of Mrs, Scovil, that she could not bear the reflection, that a child of pa- rents that were perhaps respectable, should lie so near her, in a strange country, sick and dying, on a bed of straw. She therefore called Amy, her wench, ''here," said she, '' take this feather bed, and carry it to the gaol, and tell Mr. Dibblee that! have sent it for Smith to die on." Mr. Scovil had been in tho house, and seated with Mr. Dibblee, but a very short time, when anise was heard from Smith in the jail. John Dib- blee, who constantly attended on him, ran in haste, unlocked the prison door, and found him in the ac^o- jioicsof a fit, and almost expiring. He made an cff-rt JFtNRY Moke S>iitii. 25 to f?|)eak, and boiuoil oT John to run and hoat a l)iick that was uoar, and apply it to his foot, to givo him one moment's rolioi* whilo iio ^v.'^s dyini, for that hi.s leot and Iv^h wonvilroady cold and dead to hijs kneos. John, willlng^to alibrd what volief he (ould to the dy- ings man, ran in orcat fiaste frojn tlio jail through tho passage round the stairway that led to the kitchen, wiiere was a large fire of coals ir»to which he east tlie bri(;k, waited Imt a few wiinutes, and returned with t!ie heated brick to the prison; ])Ut to his indesciih- able astonishment, and almost unwiilinjx to believe the evidenct? of his senses, the dyinii man had disap- })eared, and could not i)e found !! ,lolm ran with the tidiuf/s to his father and the Ttev. Mr. Scovil, who were sitting in a room whicJi the prison(?r must have j)assed in makiiif]^ his escape, i'hey weie entirely incredulous to the report of an affair so unparalleled, and would not vield their belief until they searched every corner of the apartment themselves, and found that Smith had not only effected his escape, but had also carried his money, his boots, and every article; of his clothing away with !! Tt is impojssible to conceive or describe the fcolincrs of astonishment with which everyone about the house was filled, when thev found that the man, who liad ft' been frroaninio: and agonizino: under the pain of an ac- cumulation of diseases, which, night after night, seem- ed to have been wast-ng his strength, and bringing him nearer to the close of his unhappy life — had» in a moment, and at the very moment which was thought to be his last, seized the opportunity of his prison door ])eing open, and rushed from his confinen^ent, leaving; not a vestige of his movables behind him. As 2G m Tnv, MYsriiiiioLs i)oiN( s of f^oon as a SGi'irch through the prison confirmorl the fact of his olo[K'inoiit, the inmates hastened outside, and continued Iheir search around the premises At this moment, Amy, the wench, made her appearance, (arryin*!: the leather bed : and seeing the people a- round the house, she said to thorn, " blisses send this bed for Smit to die on" Her master told her to take it home, and tell her mistress that Smith was jxone. Amy ran home and told her mistress that massa say Smit dead and gone — he no Avant im ))ed ! '* Ah I" exclaimed her mistress, '• poor man, is he dead ? Then, Amv, vou mav run and carry this shirt and ft'' ^ •> ft- «/ Avindinir-sheet to lay Smith out in." Amy instantly ft ft' ft' obeyed, and told iiei* master accordingly. " You may take them baok," said he, •' Smith is gone " '' where he gone, massa.?" '' I don't know," said he. " except the devil has taken liim oH." Amy hastened back to her mistress, and told her that '' massa say Smit Ijo dead and orone, and the devil has taken him away !" O ■ , -ft' So much was tlie mind of every one prepared to hear of his death, that the expression, '' Smith is gone!" served to convey no other idea. The Sheriff himself, who had not ])een f)resent, and did not hear of tlio affair immediatelv, gave the sentence tlie same in- terpretation. A messenger having ])een dispatciied to him with the tidings, met him on his way to the jail, expecting to witness the last nmments of the patient - On being informed by the messenger that '- Smith Avas gone," " Ah ! poor fellow, ' he exclaimed, '^ 1 ex- pected it. What time did ho die '/" '' Ihit he is gone o{f clear. " It is inijiossible." rejoined the Sheril*, '• that he can he far from his sick bed." ''Why." replied the messenger, '"they were all about the jail looking for him, and no one couhl tell which way ho Hi;\RY MuuE S.MiTrr. :■■ V- had gone." '' Uiiparalloled and aboniinable* decep- tion !" replied the Sherill', *• how did ho y:et out of jail'/" He believed John Dibblee left the door opt>n while he ran to heat a brick, and then Smith made ' I i > n i liis escape. This was to us tlic first dovolopnient of the true char- acter of Henry 3Iore Smith, and thus, by means of a counterfeit illness, vvhicJi melted the feelings and drew the sympathies of the whole neighborhood; wliich ba/lled every power of detection, and imposed even lipon'the j)hysician himself, did tliisaocomplislied villain etfect his release, and was now again running at large, glorying in the issue of his scheme. But before we pursue his history in his succeeding adven- tures, it, may be necessary, i'or those who are unac- quainted with the local situation of the gaol, from which he escaped, to give a short description of it. Kingston is situated on a neck or tongue of land* formed by the Kiver Saint John and llellisle Uay, running north-east and south-west on the western side of the neck, and by the river Kennebeckacis running the same course on the eastern side, leaving a tract of land between the two rivers about five miles in breadth and tliirty miles in length 'rhc winter road from Fredericton, the seat of Gov- ernment, to the City of St John, crosses the land at Kingston to the Kenncbeckasis, and this road is inha- bited on both sides The road is intersected in the centre of KinjTston bv another road runnin": north'* easterly to the head of Jk'llisle Bay, and is also inha- bited on both sides. At the intersection of tJiese roads, on an eminence, stands the Court house, (uu- der which is the prison,) and Church, facing each f^ \ •28 ThK 3.'vST, RIOLS lyOlNtiS «JF 1 oIIhu', cast and wost, at the, (.liftmen of about eljiht rodrt. At a distiui'/o oriihcut toil rods froiw tlio jail Htand."* the liouso of Mr. 1'. N. l*or!iiii?», to tlio north, and ail equal distaiKM' to the soistji tlu^ hoiiso of tho Kov E. Scovil is situated, with various oth^'r houses iiidifFeroiit diro lions; the laud clear all around to a coiiHidernl)lo distance, afiordiivj no hiding placo. From a prison thus situated, and surnsunded ^vith dwollin>s, while I myself, with Mr. Moses Foster, the l)e]>nty ShorKf, took the road to Nova Scotia, with all speed, in the nijxht, and rode on until we benan to think that we must have surely passed him. Havinqr arrived at a house which he could not well pass without ])eiui!; seen, wo stationed watchers there : and also set watch- ers in other stations, and Uiaintaiiied a close look-out the whole night, but to no purpose. At daylight I furnished Mr. Foster with money, and sent him on, uf)on the same road, with directions to proeeed as far as Mr. McLeod's tavern — distant 40 miles, and in ease of hearing nothing of him, to discontinue the ])ursait and return. At the same time I returned to King.^on myself, wliere I was informr'd, towards ev- ening, that a man, who answered his description, Jjiad crossed t'lc ferry over the Bcllislc Bay the cv Urnuy Mo«k S.Mrrn. 20 far in Jtho tl to ov- fion, cv cnln^ before in groat Iiasto, i-tatino; that ho was go- incf on an oxpross to Frcdeiicton, and inust i^e there h\ ten o'clock the next niorniny;. This account com- pared with Mr. Lyon's story, which the re?iucr wiil recollect, of having- seen ^miih'n f/hoct or apparition the same evening in the twiligiit, contirnied the opin- ion that we had now got upon the direction of our run-away. And when we renieinljer further, that the apparUion was pastsinc without touchirKj the fjround, we will have some idea of the rapidity with wliich our self-re]ea!!ied hero was scudding along as he carried his neck from the halter. It was now h^unday even- ing, and he had twenty-four hours of a start, leaving . little hopes of his l>eing overtaken by me. As my only alternative, T forwarded advertisements, and popos- ed a reward of $20 for his apprehension and re-com- mitment to custody; but with very little prospect of success, knowing that ho was escaping for his life, and would succeed in getting out of the country bo- fore he could be overtaken. Monday morning the 26th, Moses Foster returned from his route, and by this time many unfavourable reports concerning the prisoner's escape had begun to bo circulated. The Court at which he was to re- ceive his trial was now to meet on the Tuesday fol- lowing, and a jury summoned from different parts of the county for the express purpose of tr}ing the horse stealer. . . My whole time and attention were now required to make the necessary preparations for the Court, and T felt myself not a little chagrined on rejecting on the circumstancrs in which T was placed. This ie^aX^ 1; 30 TliK ]\IvSTi:i{IOLS DulMaj OF iiiii' ]j('C:imc Iu'ii»liteiK'ninrul (1( jiTre when I cjiiiic to uiuliMsta'.Kl, 1)^- K. .loin's, that t!io villain, inf^loaii ol'L'sca[>i(iL» I'or liis liCi-, and gottiiio- out ol' ni) rcacli with all possible haste, jiad only travollod about ten niilos the Jirst niLiht, and was soon l)in^oii sonic straw boloro llio harn of Air. Kohort iiaiios, tho no\t niorniiHi, on the road towards (iai'ctown, havinn- lain tlioro till twolvo o'cl oek in tho (lav. Hnt Sniitli did not lio on his hod of straw i'or rost nioroiv; v\c\\ tiioro ho was projoclinu Irosh seho- nios ot" villany, wuitinL: lor an opportunity to carry away soino l;()oty Ironi tho. honsoid A r. JJailos; and it so h.ap- ])onod tliat ho did not miss his aim, for Air. and Mrs. IJailos had occasion to loav(,' tho houso to ao to S(>nio dis- tanco. leaving- tiio door nnlockod, v\lion the rohljor enlor- od, |}r(dv0 opon a trunk, and carried otla silver watch, ^"8 in money, a ])air of ni^w velvet ])antaloons, and a pocket hook, with soveial other articles, lie then m alkod lei- i^uroly on his wa}, stoppinjj; at tho next house, and to all tho houses tinit wore contiunons to tho road, so that he ent search, without beiniitii. n .^■^. at- Imdemoflc LuIvp. lie kumJ lie was a J'^niicliniaii, on liii^ way to Frodcrii'lon about land, and calli'd for tho purpose oCciujuirino- tl»e way. Mr. (jicrii InfornR'd him that ho uas on an ishind, and that l;o had hotter stay until i\nt niorninu, and tliat lie uoidd then direct him on ids jour- ney. He made on u Iuri»e fire, hv \>hicli lie exanuued his pocket hook, and was observe. I to east several piipers into the fire, and llnully he threw in the poekct book also. Mr. (Jreen on seeini;' this, had an immediate' impression that the man must be somi? impro]»ei' cliaracter, which idea Mas streniithenM by the circumstance of its bein^- a time < f war, III the morning- therefore he took him in his ca- noe, and carried him directly to Justice Colwell, a neii>h- borinii" jMaulstrate, that he inijiht aive an account of him- self. (Jn liis oxaniiiiation, he answered with so much ap- parant simplicity, that the .Jnstic<> could find nojnst ground for detainino- him, and con^e(|nently disndssed him. llo then made his way to un Indian camp, and lured an In- dian, as he said, to yjilot him to J'^redericton ; and crossing the river, he wont to Vail's tavern, oji Orimrosw neck, where he ordered breakfast for himself and his Indian, and had his boots cleanc d. At this moment, Mr. Bailes, whom lie had ro])be I the day precedino", was jjettinof breakfjist at Mr. Vail's, and writin«v advertisnients in quest of the roliber. About II o'clock, he, Mith Ins Indi- an, started aj^ain, leavin',*" Mr. Vail's unknown and unde- tected; but not without takino' Avith him a set of silver tca'^poons from a side closet in the parlor. . ■■ .. , ., .,'.". Tlie time was now come for the sittino- of the Court, and about II o'lock on Tuesday mornino, the Attorney General arrived from Fredericton, Avith very uufayoral»Ie impressions on his mind, hrinoini*- informati(m that the rol)ber Avas still traversing the country, stealinijj and rol> binfr wlierever he came, Avithont sufficient eflort being inadc for his apprehension. The Jury a'so Avere collecting from the different Parishes of the County, bringing a\ ith rje^i.'.!^-^-''. 'Yup. >tv.ir::nio!:s l)oiN(is or thoni iinravor.iblo ulcus. Proni the iO{;()rts iii ciri'i.la^IoH ('oiicriniuLi Iii^ i'S('U[)o, Ainoiijir t!io maiiy (jpinioiiis tliut wen' loriMf*jo/t, oti(^ p.irliciilarly, uns vory iu:l;istrio:isiv circulat'Ml. r!i(» |»r.M)inr mhsu I'lCiMJia- Hou, hikI it \^iil 1)1' r'i'()il<*cl«nl ihil .Mr. l)il)!)ic(', the jailer, was stated in « forniei- jiart oft he iiarrah\(' to l)0 a Kn*t> mason also, ami tliat iUvAc \uis a Frceujason Lodj^o held at Kiivjston. 'J lie pul lie mind was shoii^ly i>i'«*jiuliced aoaijist us, iijiwilliiig- to Relieve the real eiieuinstanco of liis e'oneineiit : ami lliev assembled under the slrosiiiesl iinj)re>si(His that his eseu|K' \»asconivut no p^i^OIlo^ : vet hiiih exiKM'tations were cherished that every hour would briiiL> tidiuiis oi' his appreheiisiou, as he was pur- sued in evi rv direction. Tiie (irand Jurv was euipanuell- cd. and the ('(lurt adjourned till next day at H o'eloek, waitino* anxiously Jor the j)roceeds ot" tl»o internjediate time, And to render the means for his apprehension as en'ectual as possible, .Mr. Henjandn jMirnald, >\ ith a l:oat well manned, was des|)atched in the pursuit with direc- tions to I'ollow on as lar as ho could «ret any account of Jiim. Wednesday, the Court ajrain met and commenced oth. er business: but nothin": of tSmitli ^vJ. In the i fernoon, .Mr. John Pearson, witness au'ainst him, arrived from Novu-k*'cotin, a distance of 280 miles. Toward eveiiiejjf conclusions were bec»innini>- to be drawn that he had rind- ed all his pnrsners, and was maling his wack back to ^o va Scotia, and the conjecture ahuost ann unted to a cer- tainty by the circumstance that of a man bein'.r seen cross- inu: the NVashademoac and makiuL'' towards Iiellisle Bay. Nothing more was heard till Thursday mornino early- when Mv. 15. Fnrnald n^turned, and reported tluit he had fh A'auuei- ville : that the »i^:h* before bo (.Mr. l\) leacl.ed Manjjcr*' ir T^ TtTi^j^n JDiN&f iMuRE Smixu. 38S yillo, the robber liud lodocd at Afr Solomon Pcrle^'s, and stole a pair of ii«w boot>», uud bud oflcrcd the silver (eu- 8|)()ons lor Hidt^ tbat he had Htoleii ut Mr. YujI'h. That he then walked up hh far as Mr. ]5ttilcy'b tavern, whore lie Htopped K)iiie tinje, and that lie Mas aflerwads eccn to- wards < ho eveulii;^ under a hridjre, counting- hiH money. This was the last tbat coidd be heard of him in this place; it was now believed lliat he had taken an Indian to pilot him, and had <^(>ne by way of the Washademoae and head of J3elllele, for Nova Scotia. This was in aec((rdance with the idea enlertaiued at Kingston before Mr. Furnald's return. ' At 10 o'Cit ck Thursday morninjr, the Court met accord- iiifr to adjournment, to brinj^ the business then before them to a close, wilhoul mueh hope of hearing^ anything farther of the horse stealer at this time; when about three in the afternoon, a servant of Mr. Knox's, (who it will be remend)ered \ias the Plaintiff in the cjiuse.) came direct to the Court with information to his master, that his oth- er hoiTSe was missing out of tjic pasture; that ho had been known to be in the pasture at one o'clock at night, and was g-ono in the moming; and tliat a strange Jndian had been seen about the place. This extraordinary news pro- duced much exitement in the Court; and the coincidence of the Indian crossing the country with tlic robber, with the Indian seen at Mr. Knox's confirmed the opinion that Smith had made himself owner of Mr. Knox's other horse also !!! Mr. Knox, on hearing tliis news, became exceed-" ingly Hgitated, and had no doubt that Smith was the thief again — wonldn't listen to the Slicrilf, who was not just willing to credit the report of the horse being stolen, and aflirmcd that his life was in danger if Smith was suffered to run at large. His Honor the Judge expressed his opi- nion thatJgTeat remissness of duty appeared. A general Warrant was issued by the Court, directed to all the Sheriffs aud ministers of Justice throughont tlve Province, commanding tl.em to apprehend the said More "wr wm 34 Mysti rious Doings op V ■ I Smith and bring him to justice. In the mean time, men were appointed to commence a fresh search in tpicst of him, to go in diiferent direction!?. JWr. Knox', witii Henry Lyon and Isaiah Smith, took the road to ISoyn Srotia; , and Moses Foster and Nathan Deforest, directed their course towards Fredericton,' by tlie head < f Bellisle Bay, with orders to continue their search as far as they conld get information ol him, or the Amtrican settlement. The Sheriff then wrote advertisements i'or the public papers, offering a reward of $40 for his apprehension ; and the Attorney General iucreased the sum to $80. Indictments were prepared, and the Grand Jury found a Bill against the Sheriff and Jailer, for negligence in suffering the pri- soner to escupe. 'i'hey were then he'd to Bail to appear at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer to traverse the indictments. The bushicss of the Court being at the close, the Sheriff paid the witness, Mr. Pearson, from Nova- Scotia, for his travel and attendance, amounting to $100, after which the Court finally adjourned. ,. ,;,., Ncthino* was heard of our adventurer till after the re- turn of Mr. Knox with his party from a fruitless seai'ch of ten days in Nova Scotia, and as far as Richibucto. The day following, Mr. Foster and Deforest returned from their chase, and reported that after they had proceeded to within three miles of Fredericton they heard of a stranger, answering to his description, having lodged all night at a private house; but had gone on the road toward Woodstock. They continued their pursuit, and found that he had stopped at Mr. Ingraham's tavern the night following, — slept late in the morning - being fatigued, paid his bill and went off; but not without giving another serious proof of his characteristic villany. He broke open a trunk, which was in the room adjoining the one he slept in, and carried off a full suit of clothes belonging to Mr. Itigraham, valued at $40, and a silk cloak,fwith other nrtl- ' f ies, which ho Qohccaled so as not to b<^ discovered. Thig .'. ,i'v '^;t' , ":..''^:' •hi& Henry Mohu Smith. 30^ niforinotion gave his pursuers sufficient proof that he was indeed the noted horse-steulor. Jiut Mr Inirraham iiot having niissinji- his clothes iminediutely, the robber truT- cUeJ on uninole^ted, and the next day went only as far as Mrs. Kobertson's, where he found a collection of young people and played the fiddle for them, and reinnincd the next day and night. lie then proceeded towards Wood-* stoclv, leaving the spoons with Mrs. Robertson in exchange for a shirt, and taking passage in a canoe, happened to fall in company with another canoe that had been at Freder-* icton, in which the Rev. Mr. Dibblee, Missionary at Wood- stock, was passenger, Avitli a young man poling the canoe. The young man had seen Mr. Bailees advertisement at Fredcricton, describing the man and watch, which had a singular steel chain ; and observed to Mr- Dibblee, that they both answered to the appearance of the stranger^ Mr. Dib])lee remarked to the young man that he might be mistaken, and asked t!. stranger to let him sec tho watch. The stranger handed him the watch with all willingness, and it was found so exactly to answer to the murks of Mr. Baile's watch that Mr. Dibblee challenged it as the property of Mr. J3ailes, Smith very gravely re* plied, that it was a favorite watch that he had owned for a long time; but that he had hoard of one like it having been stolen, he had no objection to leave it with him till he returned, which would be in about two weeks. Mr. D, repliol that tlie suspicion was so stronif, that lie thought he would detain him also, until he ccndd hear from Fre- derlcton. Smith rejoned that lie was on important busi-« nessaud could not be detained : but if he would pay his expenses and nuike himself rcsponsilde for the damage incurred by his detention, he would have no objection to stop till ho could send to Frcdericton. Otherwise, he would leave the watch, as he proposed before, and would return in tc:i or twelve days, during which time Mr. D, might satisfy himself as to the watch. lie appeared sq w 36 The MrsiEBious Toinq 6f lit! perfectly at case, without discovering the slightest indications of guilt, that on these conditions they suf- icred him to pat^s on. He continued his march thro- ugh Woodstock until he came to the road that load- to the American setth»mcnt, and as it drew towards evening he enquired of a resident by the way concersn ing the road to the American side ; but wes asked by the man to tarry till morning, as it was then near night and the settlement twelve miles distant. Ho did not choose to comply with the invitation, and ad- vanced, as an apology, that two men had gone on be- fore him, and he feared they would leave him in the morning if ho did not proceed. It happened in a very short time after, that two young men arrived there from the settlement, and being asked whither they had met two men on the road, they answered in the negative. It was then concluded that ^mith was a deserter, and they turned about and followed him to the American settlement, but found nothing of him. The day following, Foster and DcForicst arrived at Woodstock, and linding themselves still on the track of him, they pursued on to the American lines, but could hear nothing concerning him. They then in- formed the inhabitants of Smith's character, and pro- posed a reward of $80 for his apprehension. Tho people seemed well disposed and promised to do their utmost. , Messrs. F. & D. then made their way lack to the river St. John, and there, most unexpectedly, came across the path of our adventurer again. They found that he had crossed tho river, stopped at several hou- ses for refreshment, and called himself Bond. That h c had assumed the character of a pursuant in quest ^ ■::.iy U 11 '■■' •<

wmw«Vu,<|iiinp'nh,i UisNRr MoKB, Smith. 37 ^ I ■ t^' V^" ol'tho thief who had broken out of Kingston jail; and Haid that he was a notorious villain, and would cer- tainly bo hung if takon, and appeared to be extreme- ly anxious that he should bo ajjpreh ended. Tiiey tra- ced him down to tho river where the Indians wero encamped, and foimd that he had agieed witli an In- dian to conduct him through tho woods to the United States, by tlio way of Eel River, a route not unfre- quently travelled; and hence had baffled all the eff- orts of his pmsnertj, and finally esca[>ed Messrs. P. al char- acter in the place, effected his approlmsion, and had him secm'cd. Tho clothes he had stolen from Mr. In cd W'.itgon, who got up to attend him to the door. Smith said to him that if he had any apprehensions, he had bettor tie a rope to his arm, which he accord- in^rlv did, fastening it above the handcuffs, with the other end wound round his own hand. In this situ- ation they went out of doors; but in an unguarded moment, Smith watching his opportunity, knocked him down with his handcuffs, leaving the rope in the hands of his keeper, having slipped the other end over his hand without untieing the knot. Thus, handcuffed and pinioned, and bound with a rope, the ingenious horse stealer, by anotlier effort of unfailing ingenuity, akin to his mock sickness in the jail, had effected a second escape from his keepers, leaving it a matter of choice, whither to institue a hopeless search for him in the darkness of night, or sit down in snllen consultation on what plan they had best pursue in the morning. Nothing could exceed the chagrin of Putnam and Watson on finding them- selves robbed of their prisoner, except the confusion which filled myself and the Jailor on the knowledge ofhi"^ unexampled noted eseape from the jail. To pursue him in the night, which was unusually dark, and rainy besides, was ])ot]i hopeless and vain; it was therefore thought best to inform the Slieriff in the morning of what had taken place, and receive his ad- vice as to future proceedings. In the morning accord- ingly, Mr. Putnam proceeded to Kingston, and on Communicating the news to the Sheriff, received a sujjply of money, with orders to pursue the road to St John, while the Sheriff, with two men, proceeded to Mr. Bailes There they received information that Smith had chincred his course, and crossing the Oak- nabockL^ko in the night, was directhig his course to- r 40 MrSTBRIOLS DOISOSOF wards Frcderckon again ! It will bo remembored that previous to his escape, while a prisoner at Mr. Bailes, he made particular enquiries whither there were any ferries i]i the w.'iy to St. John, on this skle tho river. At this time it would seem that he had looked upon his pK-hcmo as succt'ssful, and evidently irectv^d those enquiries concerning tho road with a view to mislead, while it was his policy to return u- pon the courso which would bo judged the most un^ likely of all he should take. But to return toourstory. He came to the lake tho same eveninjj ho had j^ot clear of Watson and the rope, and there urged as a reason of his haste in crossing the lake in the night, that he was on his way to Eredericton to purchase land, and that he 'had arranged with Putnam and Watson, who had gone to Kingston with the thief, to take him up in their canoe on their return, and was to meet tliem at tho intervale above, earlv the next morning. This well rarnisliv^d and characteristic story procured for him a speedy passage for him over the lake ; and now our adventurer is'ln undisput- ed possession of the country, at liberty to cbooso which way he should turn his face. On being put in possession of these particulars, wo immediately and naturally supposed that ho was wisely and prudently directing his course to the Un ited States, by the way of the Oromocto ; and so we followed up his retreat accordingly; but in thatdireo tion no intelligence could be obtained, and we remain- ed in total ignorance of his proceedings and- history up to the 2Gth of October. At this date, when it was supposed that he had trausported himself to tho Unit- ed States, to our utter astonishment and surprise we ■MM mmim IhsHf xMouK Smith. 41 find him af^ain in tho prosecution of usual business in the immediate vicinity of Fredcricton. His first ap- pearance there again, was in a bye place, at a small houso not then occupied as a dwelling. It was draw- ing towards night, and the day being rainy, ho came to ths house wet and cold. An old man by the name of Wicks, with liis eon, was engaged in repairing the house, in which they hid some potatoes. There was also a quantity of dry wood in the house, but as the old man was about quiting work for the day, ho had allowed the fire to bum down. The stranger was anxious to lodge in their him.»blc habitation for the night, but the man said that they did not lodge there of night, and gave him an invitation to the next house, where they could accommodate him better. He did not accept the invitation, but said that ho must go ou eight or ten mil'3s that night, and so ho departed. The old man and his son. secured the door and re- tired to their lotlgings; but when the mornin|roamo it was found that Smith had returned to the old hoase, spent the night, burned up all the wood, regaled him- self on roasted potatoes, and again took his depart- ure. The following night he paid a sweeping visit at the house of Mr. Wilniot, seven miles from Fred- ericton. Finding a large quantity of linens, sprinkled and ready for ironing, ho made a full seizure of the whole, together with a newcont belonging to a young man of the house. The plunderer finding his booty rather burdensome- 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 Fredoricton. There he found a hovel, or barrack fi^kd 43 Tub MysTEKiouiS l)oi.\(;s of with hay belonfring (o Jack Patterson, a mulatto^ which presented a convenient retreat where he could feed his horse and conceal his plunder. Here ho re- mained some days undisturbed ; wouid turn his horso out to feed on tiie common in the day, concealing himself in the hay, and would catch him again in the nisi^ht, ride into town, make what plunder ho could, return to his retreat, and conceal it m the hay. Our adventurer thought it was now hiyh time to pay liis respects to the Attorney General himself, who lived about three miles distant. Here he was not al- together unacquainted, having ii^ade a previous call on his passage as a prisoner from Woodstock to Fre- dericton. He arrived on the spot about nine o'clock in the evening, retaining, no doubt, an accurate re- membrance of the entrance to tlie 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 ou the same evening, who's over- coats, cloaks, tippets, comforters, etc. etc., were all sus- pended in the hall. He did not obtrude himself upon the notice of the company; but he paid his respects to their loose garments, making one sweep of the whole, consisting of 5 topcoats, 3 plaid cloaks, a numher of tippets, comforters, and other wearing articles ! Hav- ing been more successful than perhaps he expected, he rode back through the town to the place of con- cealment, deposited his booty, and gave his hoise a generous allowance of ha v. This generosity to his horso led to his delection, for Patterson happening to see that his hay was lying in an unusual manner out of tb© window of his barrack, imnicdiately formed an upittion, that some per^;on had taken up his iodgingg mm IlENnr MoHK Smith. 82 h the Iiay, and in this ho was not mistakon; for on coining to Ihe «pot, he found Smith lying in the hay, with a white comforter ahout his nock. On perceiv- ing him to be a stranger, he asked him where ho had come from, and was answered that he came from the Kcnnebeckacis, was after land, and gottin:^- belat- ed had taken up his lodgings in the hay, and hoped it was no harm. After Patterson had gone into his house be per- ceived that the traveller had retired from the barrack by the window and was making towards the woods. Upon seeing this, the idea of he being a deserter in- stantly presented itself to his mind, and calling for assistance, he soon made the stranger a prisoner, which was easily effected, as he did nut make much effort to escape. It was soon discovered that their pri- soner was no less a person than the Air famed, and notorious horse-stealer, Henry More Smith, and no time was lost in cominitting him to Fredericton jail. Patterson, not seeing tlie comforter with him which he wore round his neck in the hay, was induced to ex- amine the hay if perhaps he might iind it. Tiiis led to the discovery of his entire^ deposit : for he not only found the com brter, but alsd all the articles previ- ously mentioned, with many more, which were all restored to the owners respectively. > Upon the examination of the prisouer, ho gave no proper satisfaction concerning the articles found in the hay ; he said they were brought there by a soldier, who rode a little poney, and went off, leaving the sad- dle and bridle He was then ordered to be taken by the Sheriff of York County and safely delivered iQ u Tub MYST;.HI0Ui5 DolMJS OP tho Shciift* of KingV County in his prison Acronl- ingly, the SherilF prepared for his Haib conveyance an inm collar, made of a Hat bar of iron, an inch and a half wide, with a hinfro and clapip, fastened ^vith a padlock. To the collar, whicli was round his neck, was fastened an iron ehain, ton feet long; thus pre- pared, and his hands bound toorother with a pair of strong handcuffs, aftor examining: his j>erson least ho should have saws or otlic^r instrnnteuls concealed about him, ho was put on board a sloop for his old ro- sidenoo in Kingston. They started with a fair wind, and with Patterson holdin;^ the chain, they arrived witli their prisoner at Kingston, a distance of sixty miles, about 12 oVlock in the night of the 30th of Oc- tober, which was a little over one month from the timo of his triumphant escape through means of his pre- tended indisposition. On his reapperance in the old spot and among those who had ministered so feeling- ly to his comfort during the whole period of his af- fected illness, and whom he had so ettcctually hoaxed, it might have been expected that he would have be- trayed some feeling or emotion ; or that a transient blush of shame, at least, would have pissed over his no; but that ho had cut the chain ; and then shois*- Kkkuy More Smith. 49^ II- le ed me very calmly wliere he had cut the clmin m the joint ct' t!i )liiiks, a part where the cut could not be seeu very readily On beino asked where ho got his tools, he answered that he left them in the jail when he went away, and that those he had crive?i me was all the tools he had left. But perceiving- from the shape oftheknile, (it being much thicker on the back tlian the edge,) that the bars could never have been cut eo neatly throught with that instru- ment, we were induced to make stricter search, and we found in a broken part of lime wall, near the grates, a very neat watch spring saw, having a cord tied at one end. I then asked him who gave hira these tools; to which he replied with great lirmness: — '* Von need not ask me again, for I will never tell you." After I had fin- ished these enquiries, I searched his bed and his clothes, and rencAved the chain again to his leg, fastening it firmly to the floor with a staple; and putting on a pair of strong handcuirs of J bolt. We then left him, it being about 11 o'clock on Saturday night. On the next Snnday at 4 p m. I visited the jail, when the jailor informed me that the prisoner was lying in his berth with «11 his irons on, and had been inquiring of him if the Sheriff was not coming to examine his chains About 12 o'clock the same night I was alarmed by a man sent by the jailor, that Smith had oot loose from all his irons, and havino; worked his wuv through the inner- lorate, Avas cutting the outer grate, and. had nearly escaped ! lierei at the dead hour of midnight, when it might be expected that every eye would be sunk in the stillness of sleep, through the vigilence of tlie jailor, this astonishing beino-, who set handcuffs, shackles, and chains at defiance, had nearly efiected another escape. Mr. Dibblee, on finding him to be at work at the grates, was determined, if possible, to take him in the act; and by fastening a candle to the end of a stick tliree feet in length, ana shoving tlio light through the wicket gate, he itoF enabled to discoyer bun at work before he could haver m : ' , m Mtstfbiocs Domes 0¥ time to refroat to his berth. Mr. Dibblec, on pcrcoiTing liow ho was employed, ordered him to leave everything he hud, and take to his berth; he iiKStantly obeyed, but as suddenly returned to the grates again, placing himself in a position in which he could not bes^en by the jailor. Re- maining here but a moment, he went quickly to the ne- cessary, and threw something down which was distinctly heard, and linally retired to his berth. Mr. Dibbleo main- tained a close watch until 1 arrived at the jail, which we immediately entered, and to onr amazement found him extricated from all his irons. He had cut his wav througfh the inner grate, and liad all his clothes collected, and with him ready to elope, and had cut the bar of the outer grate S off, which,' no doubt, he would have completed long before morning, and made his escape, I said to him, ** Smith, you keep at work yet;" he answered that he had done work now, that all his tools were dowu the necess- ary. The truth of this, however, we proved by letting down a candle by which we could clearly see the bottom; but no tools were to be seen there. His return to the necessary and dropping, or pretending to drop something down, was, no doubt, an artifice, by which he attempted to divert our attention from the real spot wliere his tools were concealed. But in this also, with all his cunning, he overshot the mark, by his over egerness to tell us where he had cast his tools, instead of allowinsr us rather to draw the conclusion ourselves, from his return to the place, and dropping something down. We next proceed- ed to strip off and examine his clothing; carefully search- ing every hem and seam. His berth was knocked all to pieces, examining every joint and split ; we swept out and searched every part of the prison, knoAving (hat he must have his instruments in some pai't of it; but all to no pur- pose — nothing could we discover. Wo next replaced all his chains with padlocks ; put on him a pair of screw handcuffs, which confined his hands close tofljether, and t)xns left him about 4 o'clock on Monday morninc^. On. njiUKifitWii'iTi llKNttT MORK SaIITH. ^1 he \\\' to 1(1 LBt tho d/iy followmg-, Mr. JaiTiP, the blackbinitH, haring ro, paired the grutc)?. came to put them hi, when we found Smith lying on the floor appareutlj as we left him; but, on cxuuiiiiiug the now handcufrs v/e found them separated iu such a inamicr that he coukl put them off and on when he pleased. On being asked why he destroyed those Tul* uable handcuffs, lie replied, " because they are so stiff that nobody can wear them.-' No doubt then remnined that he must hare his fiaws concealed about his body, and having been ordered to talvc off his clothes, ne cou)[)lied with iiis ir^ual readiness. On taking off his fairt, which had not been done at unv time previous in r ir searches about his body, Ur.A. Pad- dock discovered a small muslin cord about the thigh, cluso to his body, and drawn so close that it could not be felt by the hand passing over it, ^Aitbthe shirt between. Thisi small cord was found to conceal on the inside of his left, thigh, a fine steel saw plate, 2 inches broad and 10 inches^ long, th? teeth neatly cut on b( th edoey, no donbt of his own work. After this discovery we piit on him light himdcuffs, secured his chains with padlocks again, and set four men to watch him the whole niglit. The next day we secured the inner gi'ate, filling the squares with hard brick?, lime Mud sand, leaving a spnce at the upper corner of only four by five inches, in Avhieh was inserted a pane of glass i?i the centre of tlif wall. This small opening in a wall three feet thick, a:lmitted litfle or no light, so that the room was rendered almost a dungeon, which prevent- ed the prisoner Irom being seen at any time from the door without tlie ligl't of a candle. J.^Vom this time we never entered the priiaon Mithout candles and two or three men. On the 13th of November, T addressed a h;ttcr to Jud<»e Chipman, to which I received the following answer : — •' JilAlNT JoHX, November 14, 1814.— Dear Sh-,— I received yow lottcr of yesterday relathig to the new attetiipts of Siuilb I, .,^-„;'_i^M...p,,y. 52 Tns Mtsteriocs Doinq ov to csrnpe. I Inive furwrn ded the Game to Fredcrictoii, nnd prc- piinie that a Court will Le ordered for liis trial ns booh iis may be wnvoliciiule lor the slfite oltiio travelling, j.'fid tlie necessity of proouriiit; tiie witness from Nova Srotia; Uioiij^li 1 should KUpi>LSe liOt [)rol>iibly before the ice iiiukes. In llio lueau time tl.e utiiiosl vigilance and }ireci»utioM ninst be made use of to aecuve itirn ; und}ou will be justified in Jiny measures of severity that you may huu it necessary to adopt lor this purpose. I nm, Dear Sir, taithfully yours, W. CHII^MAX." W. Bates, Esquire. Wednesday the ICth, wc entered his prison nnd found that he had been ein|>luyed in brenking the pla^^ter off' tlie partition wall with his chains, and Ijroken one of the pad- locks, and appeared to have been loose; and seemed very ▼icious, and saidJi^ would burn and destroy the building — would make it smoke before he left it ; and that we "would see it smoke. I then prepared a pair of steel fef- ters, case hardened, about 10 inches long, w liich we ))ut on his legs, w itli a chain from the middle, seven feet long, wrhich we stapled to the floor; we also put an iron collar about Ills neck, with a cliain about 8 feeth)ng, stapled also to the floor in a direction opposite to the other, and also a chain from his fetters to his neck collar, with handcuffs bolted to the middle of his chain in such a manner as to prevent his hands from reachiug his head and feet when standing, leaving it just possible for him to feed himself when sitting. All these irons and chaius he received without discovering the leastconcern or regard. When the blacksmith had finished riveting the whole. I said to him, " Now Smith, I would advise you to be quiet after this, for if you are not you w ill next have an iron land put round your body and stapled fast dow n to the floor." lie very calmly replied, " Old man, if you are not satisfled, you may put it on now. I do not regard it, if yon will let me have my hands loose you may put on as iiiuch iron as you please. I c^ire not for all your irons." In this situa- tion wo left him, loaded with irons, the enrire weight w an 1 1 Mm Hkniii Mouk Smith. 53 le IB 4GIbs, and without aintliing to sit or lie upon but the na- ked floor. Althoufili he was thus situated and in an en- tire dungeon, he appeared not in the least humbled ; but became more troubleyoino and noisy, and exceedinly vici- ous ajyainst the jniior. JJcspair und madne?^s seemed now to seize him, and raving- and roaring would unite with the uttci'ance ofpra3e:s and portions of the Scriptures. W ith a tremenduous voice he would cry out, *< O you cruel de- vils — you murderers — you manslayers — you tormentors of man I How 1 burn to be revenged; help, help, help me; Lord help m« to be revenged of these devils; help me thnt 1 moy tear up this place, th«t I may turn it up- side 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 Samson, then will I be revenged of all my enemies. Help, help, O Lord help mc to destroy these tormentors, murderei"s of mon, tormenting me in chains and darkness; darkness, darkness, O darkness, — no light to read the AVord of God, not one word of comfort from any. All h — you rogue, you fhief, you villain — you de- serve to be hanged. No pity, not one word of consolation — all darkness, all trouble;" singing, *' trouble,!trouble, trouble; i) God help mc, and have mercy upon mc — I fear there is no mercy for me; yes, there is mercy, it is in Jesus, whose arms stands open to receive : but how shall \ dare to look at him whom 1 have offended !" Then he 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 M ell OS T, a poor prisoner; consider you have children that may be brought to trouble as well as I ; conaider T have paren ts as well a'^ they. O ! if my parents knew my situ- ation, it would kill them. My wife, be gone|from my sight; why will you torment me ! It is for you that I nuffer all my sorrow^ — it is for you my heurt bleeds. Noi a friend comes to sec me — nothing before mc but pain ami sorrow, <5hninfi and darkness, misery and death. O ! wretched me. 54 3fT87>.ftIOU8 DoiNn^ 01* how long ^m I to suffer in this place of torincht t Am 1 to linger a life of ])aiii and sorrow in chains and nubory F No, 1 will cut the thread of life and be relieved fi*oin tliis place of darkness and trouble;" singing, trouble, trouble, trouble, " a thousand times repeated. In this manner he continued raving till he bacame very hoarse and exhaust- ed, — would take no notice of anything that was said to him, and finally left off speaking entir^y. The weather having become very cold, he was allowed his berth again, with a comfortable bed of straw and blan- kets; but the blankets had to taken away from him again, on account of hip having attempted to hung himself with one of them made into a rope. He next tried to starve himself, but this he gave over, after having fasted three or four days Up now dropped into a state of tpiietness, and lay in his bed the most of the time, day as well as night; but on the 16th of December wc found, on exam- inmg his prison, that he had broken tl»e iron collar from his neck, and drawn ihe staple from the timber; but re- placed it again so as to prevent detection. On the 17tb, we put a chain about his neck, and stapl- ed it to the floor in such a manner that he could not reach cither of the staples. In this situation he remained se- cure and rather more quiet, yet with occasional shouting and screaming until the 15th of January. The weather having become very cold, and no fire allowed him, fears were entertained that he might freeze : to prevent which it became necessary to remove his irons, which, with the exception of his fetters and his handcuffs, w ere according- ly taken off.. For this relief he showed no signs of thank- fulness, but became more noisy and troublesome, especi. ally in the night, disturbing all within reach of his voice, with screeching and howling, and all manner of hideous noises, entirely unlike the human voice, and tremendous- ly loud, even beyond conception. In this manner he oon- liriued for five n^ouths, occasionally committing violence ..^si'^^iSESS^jtsarjssggafiirs:.^^^^ i,A:.mi"h9-:3f^,* Hbnbt Morv S^ith. 55 ii]K)n himself and brealiing IiIb chains, during "which peri- od he could nerer be surprised into the utterance of one single word or articulate sound, and took no notice of any person or thing, or of what was said to him, no more than if he had been a dumb, senseless auimal; yet per- forming many curious and astonishing actions, as will bo related hereafter. ^ ^ In the New Testament, whirh he always kept by him, a leaf was found to bo turned down, under whicli was found the following : "And T, brcthcrn, could not speak unta you, &c."— 1 Corinth. IIL The weather now being intensely cold, and all through- out January, and he liaving had no fire, great fears were entertained that he jniglit perish; but astonishing to re- late, hfe hands and feet were always found to be warm, and oven his chains ! In February, when the weather began to moderate a little, he becajue more troublesome^- beoan to tear off the plaster and lathing from the partiti- on, 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 three inches, fono-, and would throw tlie pieces with sueli dexterity, although handcuffed, 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 I re- ceived from the jailor on the 10th February : — ** Dear Sir, — There must be something done with Smith — he is determined ts let n»e know what he is if no one else does, — he sleeps in the clay time, and when I go to tell him to keep still at night, he yells so as not to hear what I sJiy to him. Instead oi thanks for taking off his irons, lie nuikes all the noise he can by yelling and screaming all night, smd knockin[>- very loud all night with some part of his irons. I wish you would come up early iMid advise what is best to be cbuo. W^ DIBBLKE." 56 Mysterious Doings or h 1: I came to the jail accordingly, and found tho irons un- injured, and to prevent Iiim from usinsr his liands 8o free- ly, locked a chain from his fetters to liis hundcuffs, and left him- On Sunday, two gentlemen from Nova Scotia, at the request of Smith's wife, came to make iiKjqiry after liim. I went with thcjn to f he jail to see if lie would speak or take any notice of them, or of Avliat tJicy woukl i^ay to him from his wife. They told liim 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 $100, and have the money sent to him. ]}ut all they said to him had no more eftect than if he was a lift loss statue, • which convinced us all that he would go to the gallows without speaking a word or changing hiscountcufyice. The next week lit! became more restless and vicious, and on Sunday, on going into the jail with Mr. Kulofson, from Hampton, and Mr. Griffith, from AVoodstock, found he had broken up part of his berth, had broken his chain from his handcuffs, leaving one link to the staple, tho part- ed links concealed; tore np part of his bedding and stop- ped the funnel of the necessary. It had appeared also, that he had been at the grates; but how he got there was a mystery, for the ch;iin by Avhich his legs were bound, was unbroken, and the staple fast in the timber. We then raised the staple and again pnt on the chain to the hand- cuffs, fastening the staple to another place, more out of his reach. . The next day I found he had again broken the chain from his handcuffs and torn off a large portion of th© flastering and lath fi*om the middle wall. Finding thisr determined to confine him more closely that ever, and so ut a chain from his feet round his neck, stapled to' the ocr, securing the handcuffs to the middle of this chaiii. He had already given such mysterious and astonishing ;}proofeof his strength and inrention, that I feared ho ■iPpiP"P^"l?P!»Pf*:..!J'P!!'l'''|jil»l4''* |I"«»KJI1*'«"."' "■ :,'!P KiNiiT More Smith. i«*««ii m "Tm gtaplo iVoMi tlie timber, wus a lout thai filled every with uondcr. The collar wufl made of a Hat 1 ar ol ii vould baffle nil my uij>inuity to prevent bis escape. Tli« twiatinir of tlic iron collar from bin i^eck and drawing flie one iron, 1 J inch wide, with tbe edges rounded. 'J'bis he twisted as if it were a piece of leatbcr, and broke it into two ]uirts, which no man of common strength could hayo done with oinuo op into the New Tcstamont, and found it open at Luke XII, and the leaf lurnned down at verse 58, which roads : — " When thou (joest with thine adversary lo the Afatjistrate, as thou art in the icay^ r/ive diligence that thou 7nayest be de liver cd from him.: hast he hale thee to thi' judge and tJmfndge deliver time to the officer, and the offi* cer cast thee into prison''^ It would serni as though ho had intended to represent her as reproaching him for iiis escape Iromthe constables on his way to King- ston, while he would defend his eonduct by referring to tlie above portion of Scripture. JJe produced many other likenesses, which he would place in different postures, manifesting the most remarkable inoenui- ty and invention. I A special Court for his trial had been summoned to meet i\t Kingston on the 20th of x\pril ; but it waa })osponed until tlie 4tb of May, on account of the ice Iiaving remained unusually late in the river, as will appear by the following letters : — S.VINT John, 5tli April 181:"). — Dear Sir — T have received your loiter detailing the very extraordinary coudiiet of the culprit in your custody. There is certainly a mystery iu this m.aii's means and charjwternhich is unlathoinable, and I tear there will be <^ousideral)le dilKculty with him on the 'trial. Your vijrilaHce and exertions of cou?'sc cannot be relaxed. As the best thing to be done, I despatched yonr letter, wthoul delay, to the Attor- ney General, that they might adopt, at HokI Quarters, any such measures as they ini^ht think expedient for the further safe- jfuard and security of the prisouor. Very respectfully }ours. To Walter Batks,Esq. / ' W. CIllPMAN Sunday, 16(h April, 181,-. — Dear Sir,— I have jnsf received by express from Frodcricltm, a letter from the Attorney Geuei*- »1. stating, that from the state of the river, it will be inipraclica- t)lc frti* hull to bo at Kingston by the 20tb. and as bohashitlierto iPiw^ww" ,._--^.I IlBxut MoR« Smith. 0*? t'lken tlio -whole liurden of the trial tipoii himself, it cvuiiiot go on without him. From this circimist{m(;e. therel'urc, and fts tho present state of the travelling would j:ioluu)ly render it daiiger- 0118 to my futlier's liealth, (who is not now very well), to hold the Conrt thisweek,,he has determined to put it oH' till Tliursday iho 4th of May, for which day he wishes you to summon your jury, and to proclaim the holding ol the Couit. lie regrets much ia givingyou tJiJF additioiial trouble ; but it nujst he attributed to the extraordinary backwardnses of the season, which wa8 not fore- seen when it was recommended to hold the Court en April 20th. 1 have not time to forv/ard a new precept by Ihl? conveyance, but 1 will forward one in time, or the one you have may be then al- tered. This can be easily arranged when we go up to the Court. Yonr's truly, S:c. To Walter Bates, Ksq. \V. CHIPMAN. Tho Court was accordingly proclaimed, and at the sani' time I wrote a letter, enclosing the proclama- tion, to Mr. Dibblee, the former jailor, to which T re- caived the following answer : — Dear Sir — I yesterday received your letter, enclo!^i;lg tho proclamation of the Circuit Court, for the trial of Smith, the horse-stealer. I shall he sorry if Judge Chipman's health should be such as to prevent his attending the trial. If the Attorney General attempt to prosecute on recofpii;!ance for the escape, I think his (the Judge's) influence at Court would prevent it, I am quite of your opinion, that it will be the most difficult case that has yet come before any conrt, for trial in this country. As for liis behaving much better after 1 left the jail, it w;is vVhat T ox- I tcted he would do, to put Keid off his guard. Those parts of his chains that were hanging in cenvenient situations, were pow- erfnll weapons; and had Keid camo into the jail alone, or weak- handed, I think he would have felt the weight of them. It is re- markable that the villain, with all his art and cunning, should manage it so ill ; and it seems altogether providential, that iVoni tho beginning, (except his sickness,) he has either delayed too long, or has been too h'.sty, which lias prevented hi& escape be- fore, and 1 hope and trust will be the j-ame with you, I am very Horry for the trouble you must have with him, ai.d confident ly hopcand trust he will not evade ^-oiir ylgilaucr*.. You are too 64 TUR MykTKRIOUS DoiNWS Of 1 '!! well acquainted with liis eoutltutt to need my advice. I inu«t claim from you the pHrticiiiars of his coiiduci at the tri:il, I Reu.iiiii your's truly, W. DJBBLEE.. To Walter Bates, Esq. On tho 30th of April, I went into the joil and found Smith lying quietly with all his irons and chains un- injured J and told him tluit on Thursday next, the 4th of May, he must have his trial before tho Court for his life or death ; and that Mr. Pearson, the Deputy Sh'ijritf who np[)rchonded hii^i at Pictoii, had come to witness against him ; but he paid no attention to what I said. The second day Mr. Pearson came to see him, and told that his (Smith's) wife was coming to 800 him ; but he took no notice of him, no more than if he could neither see nor hear, and set at defiance all attemjjts to extort one single expression, as though he were destitute of every sense. i Tho third day we found that he had leen at the^ stone wall, his face bruised and bloody. I renewed mv attemps to eJicit something from him, by telling him that the next day he would be brought before the Coiirt for his trial; but all was in vain- Ho gave me tho most decided indications of conhrmed insanity ^ patted his hands, hallooed, sang without articulating, and contiimed to sing and beat the floor with liis, chains the most of the nic^ht. Tiie 4th of May, the day appointed for the trial, being now come, the Court began to assemble early in the morning, About 11 o'clock his Honour Judge Saunders, and the Attorney General arrived from Fredericton. About 1 o'clock the whole Court mbv^ ed in procession to the Court House, which was uuu- Hknuy 3foRK Smitu. as 111 eually crowded with si>cctators. After the opening of tJie Court in the usual form, the prisoner was call- ed to the bar. The jailor and four constables brought him and placed him in the criminaFs box. He made uo resistance, nor took any notice of the Court, and, as usual, acted the fool or madman, snapping his fin- gers and patting his hands : he hcm'd and ha'd, took off his slwes and socks, and tore his shirt. Every eye was fixed on him with wonder and astonishment. Af- ter the Attorney General had read his Indictment^ the Judge asked him how he pleaded to that Indict- ment, guilty, or not guilty? He stood heedless and silent, witliout regarding what was said to him. The Judge then remonstrated with him, and warned hink tJiat if he stood mute out of obstinacy, his trial would go on, and he would be deprived of the opportimity of putting himself on his country for defence; and that sentence would be given against him : he there- fore advised him to plead not guilty. He still contin- ued mute, and acting tlie fool without betraying the slightest emotion. The Judge then directed the Sher- iff to empaunel a Jury of twelve men, to inquire whi- ther the prisoner at the bar stood nuito wilfully and obstinately, or by the visitation of God. From the ev- idence brought before the Jury on this inquiry, it ap- peared tliat lie had been in the same state for three months preceding, during wliich time he could not be sur])riscd into the utterance of one word. The Jury consequently returned their verdict that the |Mi- soner tood mute by the visitation of God. The Judge then directed the Attorney General to enter the plea of not guilty, and Counsel for the pri- eoner was admitted. The Court then adjourned till 10 o^clock the next morning. The morning, Friday ^^ 66 Mystfrious Doings op I i I the Court assoinblcd accordingly, and the prisoner was again brought to the bar, nnd placed in the crim- inal's box. He sat down quietly, and maintained his usual silence and inattention. The most profound silence reigned in the Court, which was still crowded with spectators, and every eye was fixed on the pri- soner with the most caner attention. The Judore then arose and observed that the prisoner appeared more calm this morning, and directed the Attorney General to proceed with his trial. - After the Jury had been cmpannelled and had tak- en their seats, and the witnesses brouffht before the Court, the prisoner was ordered to stand uj) for his defence, iioki up his hand, and hear the evidence; but he still maintained the same disregard and indif- ference, 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 determi- ned resistence, 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 him- self from them all, as though he had the strength of some furious animal. . . s;^ .; They then procured a rope and lashed hi arms back to the railing of the box ; but he still continued his struggling, and reaching the railings before him he would break them out like pipe stems. They then procured another rope and bound his hands together, and secured them to the railing in opposite dii'ections. Finding himself overpowered in hands, he immediate- ly availed himself of his feet, with which he kicked most lustily, and soon demolished all the railing in 'rWmW mm Henry More Smith. 67 front of tlio box, notwithstanding all the efforts of the constablots to prevent him. Another rope was then- procured, and his feet bound each way from the posts of the box, so that ho was rendered incapable of fiir- ther mischief. After securinj^ him in this manner, all tlie constables boing in readiness for his movements, while he sat as unconcerned as though nothing had happened; the Attorney General proceeded to read his Indictment, in which the prisoner stood charged with having feloniously stolon a certain bay horse, the property of Frederick Willis Knox, Esq., of the value of thirty-five pounds. Mr. Knox having been swoin^ stated the manner of his pursuit after the prisoner^ with all the circumstances, until he came to Truro, as has already been detailed. At Truro he engaged Mr Penrson, Deputy Sheriff, to pursue on to Pictou, whither he was informed the prisoner had gone to sell the horse. Mr. Peters, Counsel for the pjisoner, on the cross- examination of Mr. Knox, asked him how^ he wrote his christian name, — ' Willis,' or ' Wills.' He answered, "lam christened and named after my god-father. Lord North, the Earl of Willsborough, and I never ^vrite my name Willis." Mr. Peters then produced authorities to show whore one letter omitted or in- sorted in a man's name had quashed an Indictment, M'ul moved tlitit the prisoner be discliHrgcd froin tliis in- dictiiieiit, This move was overruled by the Judge; but was reserved for u question iu ti.e Court above. The witness Pearson having been SAvorn, deposed and said, that lie pursued after the prisoner the whole night, and early the next morning was shown the prisoner, and arrested hiin on suspicion of having stolen the horse, and told him that tlie owner of the horsQ would soon be pre-. wWW^ '^iT^rsyy'- ■'^%' ¥ ■Vi^T'A^M'l'f ' 68 The MrsTERious Doing of tent. He soei'ued but little surprised, aud only replied that he came bontstly by the horse. 'J he m itnes^s further stated, that he then asked the prisoner where the horse was, >vho unhesitatingly pointed lo the house where wit- ness soon after found him. AVitness went on to state that he took the prisoner before a Justice for examination, and thenee to the caol in Pictou. That he then went to the house which the prisoner had pointed out to him, and there found the horse; that he returned homewards with the horse about ten miles, and met Mr. Knox, who imme- diately knew the horse, and called his name " lirittoin." That theyf then returned to Picton, where the prisoner remained in jail, and on examination was found to have in his possession a watch, and about fifteen guineas, with a number of watch seals and other articles, some of which it appeared he had stolen on his way as he escaped with the horse. That he was committed to the charge of u constable and Mr. Knox, to be conreyed by a warrant from NoTa Scotia to the jail at Kings County, in New Eruswick. That before he Avas tuken from the gaol at Pictou he had cut the bolt of his handcuffs nearly throngh, and had artfully concealed it, which was fortunately dis- covered, and new handcuffs provided, otherw ise he^must certainly have escaped from nis keepers before his arri- val at Kingston. The circumstances against the prisoner were, that he gave contradictory statements as to the way in Avhicli he came by the horse; at one time asserting that he bought him from a pedlar, at another, from a Frenchman; again, that he swapped for him: and at Amherst produced a re- ,■■•;/' - _, 1 ■ - .• ,■.;■■ ceipt for money paid in exchange. The Counsel for the prisoner, in cioss-exMniniug, asked Mr. Knox, did you ever see the prisoner in pcssef si( n of the horse F " No; but he acknowledged it.*' " Pid you ever heal' him ucLncwledpe that he w as in posgeseion of lipiii IIsNBY More Smith. 60 tlio horse ill any other way,, than by paying he caiijd hon- estly by hini P" " No." — Mr. I'eareon was cross-exam- ined ill tlie same manner, and answered lo the same ell'ect. Mr. Peterp, in defence of the prisoner, produced (lu- thoritioj* to show that by the evidence the prisoner was not taken in the manner as stated in the declaration, and that it was suificient lor liim to prove, in a f>encral way, how he came in possession of the horse, which he Was a- hie to do by a receipt he produced for the money paid in exchange, the best general evidence that can be given, as such is the rouimon way of dealing in horses. He acknow- ledged that if the prisoner had been taken on the back of the horse ho would then have been taken in the manner us stated by the Attorney General, and consequently bound to prove hou he came in possession; but in the present case, he himself, or any one present, might have been in this unlortunate prisoners situation; dragged to the prison, to Court, and to the gallows, because he could not produce the person who actnally sold him the horse^ The prosecntor had not produced any evidence ot the horse ever having been hi the possession of the prisoner, any other way tlian by his own confes^sion ; and he trusted that the Jury would not hesitate to find, that the prisoner was not taken in the manner stated in the dechiration, 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 possession of the horse, thus renderln(i( him- self liable to prove how he came by hini!, or to stand guil- ty of having feloniously taken him, as stated in the Indic- tment. That they had heard the witnesses, and if from the evidence and circumstances before tliem they were fully satisfied that the prisoner at the bar had taken the horse feloniously. Jis stated in the Indictment, tliey would find him Guilty; but if they had any doubts, that leaning to morcy, they would find him Not Guilty. T^+1«Tf ]f ^IK' 70 Mysterious Doings op While the Jury was out, the Sheriff invited the Court Hnd other gentlemou to visit the jail, where they were shown the irons and chains, and the situation in which the prisoner had been placed. The Judge observed that it was fortunate the prisoner had been sent to Kingston Jail, as no other jail in the Province would have kept him. The Jury, after an absence of about two hours, return- ed with a Verdict of Guilty. The Judge then proceed- ed to pass upon him the awful sentence of the law, — Death, without the benefit of Clergy; but the criminal re- mained unmoved and unaflected, and continued shouting and hallooing. The Couit asked the Counsel for the pri- soner whither he had anything to otter in arrest of judg- ment, or why the sentence of Death should not be execu- ted upon him. Mr. Peters then rose and produced au- thorities to show' that the present law that took away " the ]}encfit of Clergy " for horse-stealing, was not in force in this Colony, and that it could not be construed to be in force, and must be a question self with it, without taking the least notice of anything else ; con- tinuing in his old way hallooing, without any alteration, tnitil the 13th, when the jailer informed me that he refused to eat, and no doubt wais sick. 1 wont to see iiim every day — found he did not eat — all the bread and other provisions conveyed to him he gave to his eflfigy, strung on a string, ajid put in his hands. He lay perfectly still day and night, and took uo notice of anythitig — would drink tea or milk, which I gave him twice every four or five days, he then refused to drink anything for two days, which made seven days that he eat nothing. In that time he began to ppeak — would ask question, but would hold no conversation. But most extraordinary, the most wonderfnl and mysterious of all is, that in this time he prepared, undiscovered, .and at once exhibit- ».ed the most striking picture of genius, art, taste, and invcution, H that ever was, and 1 presume ever will be produced by aay hu- man being placed in his situation, in a dark room, chained and handcuffed, under senteace of death, without so much as a iiaii , or any kind of thing to work witli but his hands, and naked. Tlie exhibition is far beyond my power to describe. To give you some faint idea, permit me to ya}', that it tonsisls of ten characters — men, women, and children, —all raa'le and painted in the most . expressive manner, with all the limbs find joints of man's fi'anic — each performing different parts ; 'heir features, shape, and form, all express their different offices and characters ; their - dress is of different fashions, and suitable to the stations in.which -theyare. To view them in their stations, they appear tis per- -fect as though alive, with all the air and gaity of actors on the - Hstage* Smith sits in his bed ; tlie exhibition begins about a foot i " ^^^p" lIiiNRT More Smith. 73 from the floor, and c.onipjissies tho whole spncc to tho coiling. Tlie uppcnnovt isa man whom he calls his liiiuhunriiie phijer, or sometimes Dr. lUunt. siaiuling with nil tho pride aiul iippoar- nnce of a master musician ; his left iiand ukimbo, liiis ri^dit hand on his tambourine, dressed in Kiiiltible unif.trm. Next hini« bc> low. is a lady gentecllv divssed, {gracefully Hitting in it handsomn swing } at her left hand ^tniids a man, ucntly dressed, in the character of a servant, holding tho sido of the swing with hia Tight, his left hnnd on bis hip, in an easy posture, Maitinj^ the lady's motion. On her right hand stands a man genteelly dress- ed, in the character of a gallant, in a graceful posture for danc- ing. Beneath these three figuies, sit a yonng man and a young girl, (apparently about fourleen,^ in a posture of tilling, at each eii'u of a board, deaceully drchsed. Directly under these stands one wlioin he calls Buonaparte, or s^mietimes the father of his family ; he stauds erect, his features are prominent, his cheecks red ; his teeth white, set in order ; his gunis and lips red; his nose shaded black, representing the nostrils; his dress is that of the harlequin. In one hand he holds an iufont, with Iho other he jdays or heats music ; before him stand two cJiildren, ni)i>ar- cntly three or four years old, holding each other by tho hand, in the act of playing or dancing, which, M'ith a man dressed in fash- Jon, who appears in the character of a steward, soaietimcs in one situation, and sometimes in another, makes up tho shov\-, all of which you have at one vie w. Then commences the perform- ance. The first operation is from the tambourine player, or master, who gives two or three single strokes on his tambourine, that may be heard in any part of the house w ithont moving his body. He then dances gracefully a few steps, without touching his tam- bourine ; the lady is then swung two oj* three times by the stew- ard ; then the gallant takes a few steps ; t'len the two below tilt a few times in the most easy, pleasant ujannor ; then the two chil- dren dance a little, holdingeach other by the hand ; after this, Smith begins to sing or whistle a time, to which they are to dance. Jit which the tiimhourinc strikes, and every one dances to the tune, with motion, case, and exactness not to be described. Ma- ny have been tho observations of apectators; amoiigst them, aji. old German observed, that «* when he was starving tho seven 'days, ho was making a league with tho devils and that he helped u:„, •> ^n acknowledge with rite, that it exceeds anything they him." ever saw or imagined. His whoio conduct from the first had 71 ThR MtSTERIOVS DolN'(i8 OF b«on, and is, oaf coiiliiiucd scene of mastery. He has i;cvor elioM'it nil}' Uoa or kiiuwlod^o of liin trial or present situutiou ; lie Heeiij{»hiij>py ; his iioiiH aiid trhains ure nonppurcnt inconveni- e;ico ; couteatcd like >i do^ or ninukoy hroUc tu l:is chain ; Hho\vt> no more idoa of anytliing (inst, than if he had no recoiled ion. He, ill short, is a mysterious charatttrr, poHscsHinj^ the nrt of in- vention heyoiid c.imiuon cap.ioity. Iain alnioHt aslianicd to for- Marl yoso long a letter on the Biihiect, and ho n.dnleliigihle ; I think, if I conld have don'3 justice in doH(M'ihin:,r the cvhiirition, it wonid liavca worth}' placu in ihe Jtoyal O.v/.vMc, and lii'tter worth the attention of the pul/lie tli:ni all the wavwork of every exhibition in this Province. I am, with all dnc respeet, dear Sir, Your very hnmble servant, WALTiiH Bati:s. To Thomas Wet more, Attorney General. P, S. — Wednefeiiay, the 28th. — This moriiin;,' I ionnd ho had added to his works a drummer, placed at the Iclt of his tnmhoui- inc player, eijuai in appearance, and exceeding in iJerformanc© ; beats tUe drum with either liaiid, or holh lay on tlioiii \cr/ well, and that if wc gave liini M'ood and Ipfithor, ho would inaKo a set. lie was offt^'red a fife, •which ho handled in a chinisy way • but he said he believ- <»d he could learn to pi i/ on it. He paid the boy for it, and then took tlic fife, and w )u!ade from his own torn clothes. He ndw 1)egan to talk more coherently, and accomitcd for the bro- ken glass. Ife said to me, '' My drummer c- icd out for more air*" ids familv stood so thick about him, *^ Well," said T, '* toll me how to s[ct more air and I will fro work at it. H( told I'ue to make a sironi^- wisp of straw, long enru;oh to reaoi; the glass and break it, which I did, and thoi after undoing the y:i>\) ]n\t the straw in my ]jed a- gain." li^ continued i nproving his family, by dressing and painting- thom all anew, aid by adding to their num- b:'r. lie said there whs a irontie;nrin and lady oorainff from Franco to attend his ball, and all of them must per- foi ;U well. Witli the money he received from visitors, many of whom I lla^e known to give him ^\. for one ex- hibitio), Iw pn?*c]iased calico enough for a curtain or JIrnry M^yRB SviiTn. 77 :xy first br o- lor >» 'ell, \vor and led a- iBsin o- Iniiin- Y)er- itors, le ex- Fcrccn. In front of the ])artition stood all his family, which he continued to iniproTe and increase, until he wiid they were all present that were coming to the ball; and about the lOth of Anoui-t completed hi^ 8how for exhihl- tion. The whole consisted <»1 24 characters, nifde and fo- mnle, G of which beat music in concert Mith the fiddle, while 10 danced to tlie tune; the other 2 were pni>iiists; JJuonaparte with his sword, fighting an Irish ninu witli his shillelah. liis nnisicijMis were dressed in their proper uniform, some were drummers, some were tand)ourine players, atid some were l)ell- lingers In the centre stood bis dancing master, with hat, boots, and gloves on. lu un adTaiiced station stood an < Id soldier iii Scotch uni- form, acting as sentinel wlule Smith himself sat before them, his feet u.ider the curtain, playing a tuue (m the fiddle, to which tliey would all dance or beat in perfect harmony with the music. The one-half on the right to one part of the tune, and the other iialf on tlie left to the other part, then all together as regular and ns natural as life- The dancing master with his right hand and foot with one part, and his left hand and foot Avitli the other; and theu with the Avhole together with the most perfect ease to any tuue that was ]>layed. So ingenins, and I may say, so V* ondcrful was tliis exhibition, that it is impossible to do justice to its description; and numbers of persons from difterent parts cwme to indulge^ their curiosity by witnessing the performance, and all exjiressed their asto- nishment in terms the most unqualified. Doctor Prior, a gentleman from I^'nnsylvania, was among the number of his visitors; he told me that he had spent most of his time in Foreion parts, travelliui> for oeneral and litorwv information, and had made it a ])(;int to examine all curi- osities, botli natural an df^ artificial, find ^hat havino- heard much of an rxlraordinar} person 1 had in prison, he came for ihe express purpose of seeing his exhibition. Hav- ing viowed his pejso?i and every part of his pcafovmaneej he w OS pleased to say tliat he had travelled through 11 78 TlIK MvSTKRIOUfi; DoiNtiO OF v if th(! continent of America, and a groat part of Euro] e, Imt liud nercr met unythinir tlio equal of what he there Riw performed, and that he certainly shouki not fail to insert a notice of it in tde journal of his travels and observations. Another centleman, Doctor C'ouglyn, from Ireland, who haJ been Surge ni in His Vlajesty's service, both y)y land and sea. came also to visit our prisoner, and sec his extraordinary e\hib;ti(m, and after havin<>' viewed it occa- ssionally for several d.'iys w Idle he renniined at Kingston, declared that he had lived in I'jUgland, Irelond^ and Scot- land: had been >n France and lloll.tnd, and throuuh a great p.irt of bhirope;had been at ]Iand)urg^ and olher places famous for numerous exhibitions of various hinds; but had never met with any that in all repects equalled what he there p*aw exhibited. Tiie Doctor then belon«r- ino- to the Garrison at St Andrew*^, haviui)- heard, w bile at Head Quarters, from the Attorney General, ,iii account of this e\traordinary character, took his tour from Fred- ericton, by way of Kingst»m, for the express purpose of satisfying- his curiosity by seeing- for himself. When aocd at carvino- a head which was to take Buona]uirtc's plaee, for that bold Scot- chman Avonl'l overpower him soon, lie obser/ctl that car- vinu" was a trade in England, and that he did not expect .. to do so well at it before he made the trial; and further remarked that man did not know m hat he could do until he sot about it; and that he had neycr failed in accom- . plishinsf anvthin«' he umlertook. lie said lu; had never seen any such show in England, as that he was n(»w work- -in o- at : tliJit he had only dreamed of his family, and had - the impression that he must ' go to work," and make . them all; that if he did, it would be better Avith him, and , if he did not it would be bad with him. That he had .... ' worked ever since, by night and by day, and had not ,^^ quite completed tliem yet; that there were a shoemaker • and a tail«"r hat had not come yet for want of room ; that ' he should nmke room if he did not go away; that he had ; been here until he had become perfectly contented; and *' contentment," he said, " Avasthe brightest jewel in his life;" and that he never enjoyed himself better than he . did at present with his family. In the evenings T went to see him again ; and as my cu- riosity to know the orioin of so sinoular a cliaracter was g-reatly excited, I hoped that the present woidd have pro- ved a favourable opportunity to draw some information from him; but he cautiously and studiously avoided ans- wering aiiy questions relative to his yirevious life, and af- fected not to understand what I said to him. Sometimes he would talk yerj freely, and in a kind af prophetic strain, f hia future destinies. Ife said he knew he was going from home, and that he should find enemie«-; that every one who know him would I e afraid of him, V : ' -l,k ': , ?^- 1 i f 1 i h i 1 kJr 1 : 80 fi^ The My8ti<:r:ol!$ Doixus of aiid Jook upon liini*^ itli distrust and horror. That occa- ssioiially he was distrcssod in his sleep with all kinds of creatures coming about him. Great l-.ogs and all kinds of cattle and crcepinjis things : snakes and adders, iVojrs and toads, and every hateiul thing. That lie would start up iVoni sleep and walk about the prison, then lie do\\n and get asleep, and he anoyed Avitli them again. 'Iluit he would sit up and talk to his family, and sometimes- take hi:^ fiddle and play to anuise himseir, and driv(> a\^ ay these dreary hoars of night, He said those snakes and adders he could rcaljice, that he was going over the water, and must have a box to put his family in ; that he saw throe papers that were written and sent about him, and that one of them was larger than the other two, and contained something for him that ho did not imdei*stand, but he would soon know. The next morning, August 14, he looked in hig cup again, and told the jailor that these three papers were on their way coming, and would be here this day at 4 o'clock, and he would soon know what they contained al)out him. Accordingly I received papers from Fredericton, containing his Pardon, and two letters just as ho had predicted ! ! ~ Tn addition to this, the following must be regarded as a very singular and remarkable prediction, which, in depcndentiy of some unknown mysterious means, cannot bo accounted for. Early in the morning he remarked to the jailor in his usual manner — " The man over the way has a son who has gone to sea, and is at soa now ; but he will be hero this night, and you $hall see that I will affront him." Now mark the se- quel. It so happened that a frt'sh breeze springing up to the southward, with a strong Hood tide, the ves- sel which contained the young man was alongside in the dock in St. John, on the same day alwut 2 o'clock. He waa there informed that his sister lay danger- otHly ill at Kingston, and that i>r. Smith was just go- #' I ¥ ! i 1 il i ■! * H" ^Bi t'l t m\ '«> jH ■^D ! : . t » B t H '! '84 TnB MrsTBHioTj« LMiKo or ing up to visit her Tii© young man hired a horfto, and ill company with the doctor arrived at his father's about the time that wo usually visit the prisoner in the evening. I called at Mr. Porkin's, and found that the doctor and young Perkins had just arrived. Tho Doctor said to nie that he liad hoard much of mv ex- traordinary prisoner, andiflhadno objection, he certainly should be much pleased to see him and his show which he had heard so much about, and of his great performance. Young Perkins said that he also would like to see the show, and all went with him into the jail, and found Smith lying on his bed ; but with- out appearing to take notice of any one present. Mr. Perkins, like every one else, was much astonished at the appearance uf his show as it was exhibited on tho wall, and had a great desire to see the perfornmce. He put dow'U 25 cents by Smith, and said to him that he would give it to him if he would make his puppets dance; but Smith would not take any notice of him, and young Perkins continued to urge him to the por- formanoc, but without efi'ect, until be was qiiite out of patience, and finally took up his money and left the jail in quite an ill humour. After Perkins liaclleft the jail, Smith said, " now if any of you want to see my family dance, you may see them and welcome ;" and took up his fiddle and went through the perform- ance to the entire satisfaction of all present. Now the reader may account fov this mysterious prediction and its fulfilment upon whatever grounds he pleases ; but the arrival of the young man from sea that day, his coming to Kingston, and his being j^rontedtby Smith in the jail, are facts which camjiot 1)0 ditfputi&cl. The writer is aware that ho may injcui* ^^.■sfi-i llKXRt Mottu S^riTH. w^ J.. see IDiCUU the imputation of weakness for narrating some thiugn rulutive to the prisoner, which may seem unimport- ant, 8tiil thoy are all characteristic of liim in a high degree, anr^ when all luiitctl, set him forth l^efore the world as a character, euiiiiuiar and unpreccdeiited; ho considered that every jjart of his sayings and do- ings had their interest, and were necessary to be nar- rated. After closing the exhibition of his family for this time, he wont on to siy, that he had told his for- tune from his tea cup, and that it canio always alike; that he could leil a great deal by dreams. The deyil helped fortune telling, but dreams were the inspira- tion of God. Wiien the hogs came to him by nighty he could tell a great deal by them. '' Your neigh- bor," he said to me, " Jiad a black sow that had pigs, some black; and some all white, and one with red spots before and behind." By them he could tell much. T was aware that Mr. Perkins has a sow with yoimg pigs, and I had the curiosity to look at them, but they did not answer to his description, and I con- sequently allowed these ren?arks of his to pass for no- thing. However, in the evening, as I was leaving t!ie jail, Smith said to me (and without a word hav- ing been said about my looking at the pigs,) " The pigs I told you are not those you examined, they were six months old." I made the reply, knowing that Mr. Scovii had a sow with pigs, answering to his descrip- tion in every particular. .; t , . ; ' On Saturday morning. Smith said to the jailor, " Your neighbor over the way there, has a sow that has gone away into the vvgods, and she has pigs, some all black, some all white and some black and white, and she will come home before night, and when she comes, she will have but one pig, axid that will be a I i I Bd MYrticRioua IloiN<»B or plump black pig, and they will never know what \>&- camo of the others." Accordingly, the sow, about 4 o'clock, camo liomo with ono black pi<^, and was im- niediatoly drivou back into tho woods bylho way which they had supposed she had conic ; but according to tho precise terms of Sjnith's prediction, the others wore never found ! » - . .;, The next evening after I had received liis pardon from Frcdcricton, I went to see him, and found him in bod, and said he could not eat; he nsked me for now pot'itoes, and remarked that the jailor's wife Iiad now potatoes yesterdav. He did not appear in his usual good humour; although he would both talk and act, at times, rationally, yet he had never jecovercd from his pretended insanity, nor even until his re- lease from niy custody ; thus carrying out his scheme, in perfect wisdom to t!ie last. But now, with the pardon in my hand, I hoped to make some impress- ion upon him, and if possible, bring him t^ some sense of his situation, by comi»assionately proposing my assistance to get him out of the Province. I then informed him that I had received his Pardon, that his Attorney had proved his friend, and had petition- ed tho President and Court, stating that he was a young man, and this having been the first instenco of a case for horse-stealing before the Court in this Pro- vince, prayed that mercy might be extended and his life spared ; and that the President and Council had been graciously pleased to withdraw tho sentence and grant his Pardon ; and that T was now authorizc^l toi release him on his entering into rooognisance to Appear in tho Supreme Court and plead his pard( n iraon oallcd upon. The only reply ho maclo was, ''I Uenvt Morb Smitb. 87 wish you would bring nic some now potutoos when you conio again." 1 proceedotl to tiay that as soon as ho was roatly, and would lot inc know where he wished to go, I would give him clothing, and would give him time to put his tnmily in order, and a box to put them up in; observing tiiat they might bo a means of getting him a living until he could find better employment, with- out being driven to the necessity of stealing, lie re- plied, •' Have you not got boys and girls that wish to- see my family dance ? \\v\\v^ all your family to see- them; I will show tliem as much as you please, but others must pay." I remained with him nearly an hour afterwards without saying any more on the sub- joot of hispAFi DON': during which time he continued talking incoherently afl he had done the evening be- fore. That we must watch and i)ray loist we enter into tcmplMtion ; that he i)r*xyed with his family, they could not pray foi* themselves. That we must be spi- ually minded, for to be spiritually minded was life; but to bo carnally minded was death ; and much more of this kind, rcpeatinsr largo portions from the Now Testament — nc:irly whole chapters. Ho observed, ** Now you see T can road as well to you without the book as others can witli the book. I can read to you almost all of any other chapter in the Hible you will name, either in the Old or New Testament, it mikes not muchidinbrenco — in the dark as vvell as in the light. My wife is a good little woman; she would read in the }>ii)!e on Sunday and siy to mc, ' Henry, como sit down and hear me read the Bible; but T would laugh and tell her I fcould read better witnout the lK)ok tha-n she could witl^; a.ud would go out aud IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) /, O A i A C/u & ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 |50 "^ lis Ih ^ 1^ M M 1.8 U ill 1.6 6" V^ m '# ^^ -^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 i/.X SB MlM liKN&r Mq&k Shitb. Id I left hiin till the Dcxt day at noon, when I wont into the jail again, and gave him a gooddmnor, and rend bis Pardon to him. When he saw the paper, Jio said, ** that looks liko tho paper which I dreamed I Haw with two angels and a ship on it, with something tiiat looked like snakes " When I read his Pardon, he paid not the least attention to the nature of it, but asked questions as foreign to the nature of the sub- ject as possible ; only ho said, he wished I wouid give him that paper; ho dreamed it was coming. I told him tiiat as soon as I would got him some clothes made, I would give him the paper ; and that I would help him away with his Show in a box, that he might not be driven to the necessity of stealing; and in the evening I w. A with a tailor to take l^is measuro for a coat. Who.: ' su*v the tailor with-his measure, he said, " I wish you wotxld give me that ribbon in yonr hand." — " It is no ribbon," said the tailor, " but a measure to measure you for a new coat : stand up."' ♦* W^hat !" said he, " do you think you are tailor en- ough to make a coat for me ?" " Yes " " But you do not look like it ; let me look at your hands and iiQ- ors;" and upon seeing them, added, " you are no tai- lor, you look more like a blacksmith ; you shall never nmke a coat for me ;" and would not bo measured- But he said lie would make it bettor himself, and Wish- ed I would give him a caudle to work by, and he would make himself a waistcoat. He said I need not be afraid of his doing any harm with the candle; he would put it in tho middle of the floor, and take care tiiat his straw and chips did not take fire and burn up his family, which he eould not live without, as he could not labour for his living. Bo- nn ri 90 TkR MTSfKHlOUH D0INU8 6t It I h sides, ho said, if ho wcro so diHposed, he coiUd burn ^ up tho hoiwo without a candle; for, said he, I can make fire ia one hour at any time. " When I was a boy, every one took liOtice of me as a very ibrward boy, and I obtained a licence for sliooting when I was but 15. One day when shooting, I killed a rabbit on a farmer's iand where I had no riifhl;. The old farm- er came after me, and 1 told bini if ho came near me I would knock him down; bnt he caught me, and tied mo fast to a large stack of fiiggots, and went for a cor.- stable. While ho was gone, I made fire, and burned up the whole stack, and got off' clear; but the old far- mer never knew how his fajjaots took (ire. 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 caudle, he would make firo to light it." Accordingly I provided materials 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 Koe better without it; and he completed his waistcoat in thonoatent manner, and occassionally attended to the improvement of his family. August 29, at evening," many persons came to see the performanoe, as was usual, and wheu they were all gone out, he told me that he had carved a new figure of Buonaparte ; that the first he had made af- ter his own imatre and likeness, for he was the man after his own heart : but he had fallen. Uod. he said, made man out of the dust of the earth; but he had made uum ont of tho wood of the earth. He had now been in my custody more than a year, (H|d alniojit every day developed some new foaturo oi L'.'t 1 IIbnrt Mors Smitil n hifi churucter, or producod some frc^li effort of his genius 1 httd luuch trouble wiih hi)n;uucl, my patience often t my mhid that I should scud him to Nova ^colia. ^Vhen I returned to the jail I iotiud Smitli at his supper; Aviien he hud finished his tea, he looked into his cup imd remarked that lie must not di»^ .turb his family to-night; that ho saw the vessel, then ly- ing at the wharf, that Mould carry hiuj to his wife — i«id there Avould bo crying-. AViiile in confinement, the fol- lowing letter was received from his wife : — ♦• Dbau HirwRANi),— I received your letter of Uie 22nd OtUk . 1815 ; you 8j»y 3011 have scMit ycvcmi letters, if you have, 1 never received theat. You Mjsh me to oonie v.iul see vou, which I WQuld have dope, ii 1 had got the letteiB in time; but I did not know whither you were at Kmgslon oruor. My dear, do wot think hard of lae that I do not conie to see you, — if you write back to me I will come ininiediately. My dear, as soon as you receive this letter send uie an answer, thai 1 nmy ^know what la do, so no more at present, but that I reniniu y^ur loving and al- feclionate wife. ELIZABETH P. M. S. H.F. M.S., Kingston The jailor, by the direction of tho Sheriff, cleared out a small room up stairs, w ith an iron grated window, wliere we confined him, wilh his family, for the night. Ou tho next morning, the 30t]i of August, fmding that there w us no ves.^el bound for the States, 1 determined to send him to Nova Scofia. And happening to meet with my friend, Mr. Daniel Scovil, he info?niedme that he had a vessel then lying at the wharf, w hieh would sail for Wind- sor, Nova Scotia, ui half an hour I accordingly prevail- ed with him to take Smith on bonrd, which was done without loss of time, an( c