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Chapter XVIII
Crimes and Punishments.
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quested her to walk some distance aside, where they would be removed from the observation of persons who might be passing along the highway. The weary woman seated herself on the trunk of a felled tree, having both the children in her arms. After some conversation the man asked Elizabeth to permit him to take one of the children, that he might see whether it resembled him. He held the baby in his arms for a moment; then, after a pause, he laid it on the ground, and, snatching the other from its mother's embrace, deposited it alongside of its brother. The inhuman father thereupon demanded that Elizabeth should destroy her infants. She unhesitatingly refused to injure them, but in turn besought him to spare their lives, promising that if he did she would never more trouble him, but would work willingly, or even beg her and their daily bread, for the children were dearer to her than her life. He, however, brutally replied that he could have no mercy for a fallen woman or her sinful offspring; and thereupon drawing a pistol, he pointed it at her, while at the same time he placed his feet on the infants' breasts, and, before she could prevent him, he crushed them to death. The murderer then compelled the unhappy woman, on peril of her life, to swear by her soul's everlasting welfare that she would never reveal the dreadful deed nor the name of the chief actor in the crime, but that she would tell all persons who might inquire for the children that they had been taken to New Jersey to nurse and be reared. In conclusion, Elizabeth Wilson declared, "To the truth of this statement I appeal to the Searcher of all hearts, before whose dread tribunal I am to appear next day after to-morrow."
The declaration of the prisoner was reduced to writing, and she swore to its truth, while the signatures of all present were attached to the document, attesting that the confession had been made in their hearing. Armed with this paper, William Wilson, night as it was, with all speed hastened to Philadelphia to obtain a respite from the Executive Council, with what success the following extract from the Pennsylvania Colonial Record (vol. xiv. p. 591) exhibits: "The petition of William Wilson, brother to Elizabeth Wilson, now confined in jail of Chester under sentence of death, accompanied by a confession of the said Elizabeth, was read, and, in consideration of the circumstances stated therein, it was Ordered, - That the warrant issued by the Board for the Execution of Elizabeth Wilson on Wednesday, the Seventh instant, be revoked, and that another issue, directory of her execution on the third day of January, 1788." William Wilson, immediately after he had given proper notice to the authorities of Chester County of the action of the Supreme Executive Council, set off for West Jersey, where his sister's betrayer was said then to be living. He found him, and when confronted by Wilson, he declared that he did not know his sister, and had not been in Philadelphia for two years. Wilson thereupon returned to Chester, had an interview with Elizabeth, and succeeded in finding a witness who would testify that the man whom she accused had not only been in Philadelphia and lodged at the same house with her, but he had procured other important testimony to substantiate her charge, when he was taken severely ill. The time granted by Council had nearly expired, and sick as he was, William Wilson made his way to Chester, intending to go thence to Philadelphia for a further respite. When he reached this place in the afternoon he was astonished to learn that the stay of execution would expire the next day, whereas he had thought it was not out until the day following. Immediately on learning of this error he hastened to Philadelphia through a heavy rainfall, and, according to a statement of one of the members of Council,1 "unfortunately he went to the President's (Dr. Franklin), where, notwithstanding all his entreaties, it was some time before he could get to see him, and when he did he stayed, endeavoring to persuade the doctor to give him a line to the sheriff, which the former, thinking it improper, refused, and directed him to me. I was just leaving the Council-chamber when he came, all the other members but one having gone. I immediately wrote, 'Do not execute Wilson till you hear further from the Council,' and directed it to the sheriff. I well knew the board intended to grant a further respite." | 1 Martin's "History of Chester," p. 185. | ||
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Wilson started immediately on his return, the rain in the mean while having increased until it now descended in heavy torrents, and the road in places was submerged in the water which the wayside ditches could not carry away as fast as it fell. On reaching the Middle Ferry over the Schuylkill - there was no bridge at that time - he found it was impossible to get conveyance over the river on such a night as it was and in the pelting storm. At daylight the next morning William was at the ferry, but the river, swollen by the preceding day's rain, was so threatening that the ferryman refused to attempt the passage of the stream, and, although Wilson told him that a human life hung on his movement, it was all in vain, he declined to endanger his own existence on any consideration. The hours were passing, and at last, fully assured that nothing would induce the ferryman to cross the river with the boat, William Wilson fastened the respite in the lining of his cap, which he placed on his head; then spreading a handkerchief over all, he tied the ends securely under his chin, and with great difficulty forced the horse he rode into the water. Right nobly did the animal breast the swiftly-flowing current which washed down the wide channel with terrific force, and in all probabilities it might have made the way safely to the other side had his course not been frequently impeded by drift-ice, and even heavy pieces of timber came driven onward by the flood, which, striking the beast, turned him repeatedly aside. At length, just when the edge of the current | |||