'The King and
Government can't know it's me; I'm sure they can't know it's me; or they
never would bring me to this dreadful slaughterhouse. They know my name,
but they don't know it's the same man. Stop my execution--for charity's
sake stop my execution, gentlemen--till they can be told that I've
been hangman here, nigh thirty year. Will no one go and tell them?' he
implored, clenching his hands and glaring round, and round, and round
again--'will no charitable person go and tell them!'
'Mr Akerman,' said a gentleman who stood by, after a moment's pause,
'since it may possibly produce in this unhappy man a better frame of
mind, even at this last minute, let me assure him that he was well known
to have been the hangman, when his sentence was considered.'
'--But perhaps they think on that account that the punishment's not so
great,' cried the criminal, shuffling towards this speaker on his knees,
and holding up his folded hands; 'whereas it's worse, it's worse a
hundred times, to me than any man. Let them know that, sir. Let them
know that. They've made it worse to me by giving me so much to do. Stop
my execution till they know that!'
The governor beckoned with his hand, and the two men, who had supported
him before, approached.
Pages:
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032