A MAN WITH A SECRET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1861, 22 July 1887, Page 30

A MAN WITH A SECRET.

What an attraction there is about any perslSto whbse history is enveloped in mystery I The man with the * iron mask — how many have written and speculated about him ? The owner of " Grreyfriars Bob "—his true indentity has caused many a wonder. I might go on to enumerate others, but I will instead, tell you of a less well-known " rdttft with a'secret," and what that secret was. ; In the year 1882, I was curate of a, large and .populous parish in Bristol, containing about 11,000 souls, and in the course of my visitations in the lowest and most degraded jb'a^t 63E the parish, I came across an old man living in a tiny .hoiise in a court,' which was held in very bad r"eputjS; , He was evidently a man of (Serene considerable education and culture, and! when he would receive my visits, which was not until after along period, I was surprised at the intelligent manner in which he was wont to discuss the events and politics of the day.

Consequently, during a, serious illness which attacked him, I was not surprised to learn that he had formerly held the position, for many years, of governor of one of our largest gaols, and that he had been dismissed for conniving at the escape of a brother, who had incurred the extreme penalty of the law. Let me try to relate the story in his own words.

" One night," said he, " on my return from a month's leave of absence, after I had been the round of the gaol, and was just sitting down to tea, the chief warder sent in a message that a prisoner who had been convicted of a murder at the assizes whilst I had been away, wished to see me. Accordingly, I went off very shortly afterwards to the condemned cell, and there, judge of my horror when I recoenised in the convicted felon my long-lost-sight-of brother Robert, whohad gone wholesale to the dogs years before. We had always thought that he had perished in some far-off land, as we had lost sight of him, after he had drained our pockets and patience to the last degree.

" At once grasping the necessity of controlling my emotion, in as indifferent a tone and look as I could summon up, I requested the warder to leave us alone, as the prisoner might desire to give some private directions to me in my official capacity. After overcoming some of the warder's scruples at leaving me alone with such a desperate character by pointing out that I had only to touch the electric bell to summon aid, he departed, and it was not until I heard his footsteps dying away at the end of the long corridor that 1 ventured to speak to my wretched brother. I will pass over that painful interview by simply saying that the result was I was conyinced he was innocent, and that he appealed to me to save him from the execution that was to take place the following week. His real name he assured me was unknown, as he was tried and sentenced under that of Eobert Smith. "

" Half an hour afterwards I returned to my house, but oh I how different everything seemed ! Slowly the week passed on, and I had almost despaired of seeing any way of escape for my brother, when— shall I call it chance— favoured a scheme by which I saved the .criminal. ' A prisoner was brought in, not unlike my brother in build and features, who Was taken suddenly ill. Hastily sending for a local doctor who was acting for our regular surgeon, he being away from home, I was told by him that the man could not live more than a couple of days. Three days hence was the date of the execution, and I may here say this prisoner died on the previous .night.

Now a plan, was maturing itself in my jmind, and I resolved to take into my conjfidence, and to bribe, if possible, the chief :warder and executioner. At first I could •.not get the former to consent t» have anything to do with such a scheme, even after he had learnt what relation to me the guilty one was ; but at length, for a consideration !of £100, he promised to aid me if possible.

"The night before the execution the executioner, not long appointed, and his assistant arrived. Suffice it to say that after pressure and the promise of £100 to him and £50 to his assistant, he, on hearing my story, also agreed to run the risk of detection, and to ■ observe a profound secrecy. The carpenters had erected the gallows, and in the dead of night we ioxir conveyed hither the defunct George Green, and I then left the exeoutioner to arrange matters to pass muster next day, and giving him orders to keep the keys of the court for the night, I went and related to my [brother how matters had proceeded, and gave him instructions how and where to hide in the pit on the following dreadful day

"At a quarter to eight the chaplain had arrived, and the awful procession set out. No one but the chief warder, executioner, and assistant were allowed upon the gallows, around which the executioner had skilfully placed a tarpaulin screen of about a yard high. Just as the surgeon entered the court the clock struck eight, and I gave the signal to the executioner. At that critical moment I dared not look. How it all passed I have no clear recollection. The doctor went up, gave one look, and descended quickly, as I told him, in passing, someone had been to say he was wanted immediately.

" The chaplain and reporters departed, and the others were all ordered off to breakfast, leaving the four conspirators alone. In broken tones I asked the result. " All right, ■governor," said the executioner, and my miserable brother hastily but cautiously emerged from the pit. Wrapping him up in the assistant's top-coat, the chief warder and I hurried him off to George Green's cell, and instructing him how to proceed, we took back his clothes wrapped in the overcoat. All other ordeals were successfully passed, and having paid my accomplices and enjoined secrecy, I somewhat regained composure.

"In a short time the supposed George Green completed his sentence, and with £50 privately given him he sailed, unknown to all but me, for Australia, where, I believe, he still is.

" And now comes my punishment. Some years after the chief warder was detected (not by me) in a gross -offence, and having stated that he could bring to light a flagrant breach of trust on the part of a high official, he, under the promise of reinstatement to his post if his information proved correct, disclosed the plot. The Home Secretary investigated the case. The executioner was

dead, the assistant not to be found ,- but itilß upon my preserving an obstinate silence,. 1 was dismissed from sny just as I was (Qualified by length of service for a liberal retiring pension. An afi»©nymous annuity is paid quarterly to me, and! I can only conjecture that it is sent me ous ofi compassion by a former Home Secretary." 1