Margaret McIver
In the summer of 1900, she was arrested and imprisoned in Blackwater Town for harboring a fugitive and assisting his escape. According to Chief Dunbar of the Blackwater Town Police, Margaret had developed anti-social ideas because her husband was shot dead while working with the Skinners Gang. So he helped the most wanted criminal John Coster when he escaped to Blackwater and committed a serious crime.
Margaret McIver was convicted of conspiracy and harboring in a federal court and sentenced to death by hanging in Blackwater two days later.
The newspaper was published on March 2, which means that tomorrow is the date of Mrs. McIver's execution. John remembered Sheriff Dunbar's promise to clear Mr. McIver's name, yet reports continued to describe him as an associate of the Skinned Brothers, and the truth was buried deep inside.
Regarding the verdict of the crime, it is true that John Coster is a fugitive, and it is true that Mrs. McIver assisted him, but this is not the way of life they chose. If the so-called Western civilization accuses good people with false accusations, then John will never turn a blind eye. Watch them hang another kind woman.
"I have to add one more item to my schedule."
John said silently in his mind.
In an instant, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and John realized that it was time to return. It started to rain lightly on the way back, and the horses' hooves hit the sleepers of the railway track, making a passionate beat, as if playing a symphony of revenge, telling the unwillingness of the people in the wilderness. sad.
Because of the rain, people in the camp hid in tents one after another. Miller also sat under a camphor tree, picking up the book "American Purgatory" next to him and flipping through a few pages.
Suddenly he heard someone calling his name from behind. It was John's voice. Miller wondered why this kid came back in such a rainy day and was still so sneaky.
"Miller, I need your help with something." John appeared next to the camphor tree.
"We are brothers, let's talk straight away."
After getting Miller's approval, John told him how he met Mrs. McIver and the process of getting Mrs. McIver's help. Finally, he talked about Mrs. McIver's imminent hanging.
"So you're going to save him." Miller stared into John's eyes, which seemed to burst with anger.
John nodded and shook his head: "But I can't complete this thing alone. I considered telling the gang, but this would only increase their anxiety, so I came to you." John patted Miller's hand. His shoulders tried to encourage him, as if he was also cheering himself up, "Just like when you found me in Reagan County."
Miller held his chin and thought for a while, then returned to the tent, picked up his gun, and walked over with Hayate in hand. John saw this and felt indescribable joy in his heart. His brother was really capable.
"I'll join." At this time, a shadow walked out from behind the tree. It was Mr. Fowler's lean figure. He seemed to have been standing here for a long time. "It's not a problem to deal with those few policemen who are used to being lax. It's causing trouble in Blackwater Town. Detective Pinkerton will probably come to investigate this muddy water, and we would have escaped long ago, and at the same time, we would have lured Detective Pinkerton away."
John and Miller looked at each other in surprise: "Did you hear everything?"
"You two young people don't let me participate in your plan. Do you think you can't trust me?"
"No, no, I just don't want you to worry about it. I think you should take a break after the Strawberry Town breakout." John hurriedly explained that he did not mean to alienate Mr. Fowler, but he just thought it was best for Mr. Fowler to avoid the gunfight. and firefight, after all Mr. Fowler was getting older.
Mr. Fowler stopped talking, but came to a horse not far away, mounted the stirrups, and sat firmly on the leather saddle. "I am still a tough guy, let's go! Go rescue your horse." Gretel.”
The three people polished their weapons and set off. The distance from the large valley area north of Strawberry Town to Blackwater Town was not too far, but it would take a lot of time to climb over the steep Devil's Ridge and cross the Montana River. Fortunately, John and others took the lead. Have enough food to avoid getting hungry when passing through that wasteland.
There was still light rain falling in the sky, and John and his team were still moving at full speed through puddles and mud. The stars rose and set in their eyes. The night passed quietly. When the white fish belly first appeared in the east, John finally saw the appearance of the plains. There are rows of houses.
"We have arrived in Blackwater Town. We must proceed with caution." John pulled up the mask at his collar.
The three people rode into the city, looking for their target amidst the sounds of the streets of Blackwater Town. Logically speaking, a large town should have its own laws to execute those who violate the laws. What can really kill a prisoner is often not a bullet sliding through the rifling but a bundle of ropes, because this can Let him die in public to serve as a warning to the monkeys.
There is such a torture device in Blackwater Town. It is a tall gallows, which looks very much like the brackets built before building a house, except that the people standing on it are prisoners instead of workers.
The three Johns saw the gallows from a distance. It was surrounded by spectators. The people in Blackwater Town were talking about it below, and they couldn't wait to see the tragic sight of the dying people. John jumped off his horse and blended into the crowd watching the execution. Mr. Fowler and Miller followed behind, the three of them maintaining a triangular formation in the noisy crowd so as not to attract attention.
After a while, when all the passers-by were attracted by this ceremony, a small policeman stepped onto the shelf along the stairs. That was Oswald Dunbar, the Chief Consul and Sheriff of Blackwater Town. When such an important official appeared, there was fierce applause from the crowd. John knew that many of the people watching the execution came specially to see this respected police chief in person.
"The people of Blackwater Town—all American citizens who remember the law every moment, we are here to witness the majesty of the law." With a wave of a big hand wearing a white glove, the noisy people immediately fell silent, and Dunbar The sergeant looked down at his watch and nodded with satisfaction, "It's time, Swifty, bring the prisoner up."
So, under the watchful eyes of dozens of people, including John, the police officer named Swift dragged a thin woman whose hands and feet were tied tightly. John recognized her at a glance—— This was Mrs. McIver.
"The widow, Margaret McIlver, was sentenced to death for being an accomplice to a most wanted man, and because the case was the first of its kind in the state, the trial lasted a year. During the various sessions, we invited Legal experts from all over the country came to discuss the verdict of the crime, and Widow McIver appealed many times in an attempt to deceive the sympathy of outsiders, but the law cannot be violated, and she was eventually sentenced to hang."
After Sheriff Dunbar finished speaking, he glanced at Swift beside him. Seeing this, Swift put the noose around Mrs. McIver's neck. The latter was sallow and thin, and it was obvious that she had been treated unfairly in prison.
When everything was ready, Swift stood back up with his hands behind his back, and Chief Dunbar said to another policeman next to him.
"People like this don't deserve the prayers of a pastor, so please just pull the lever."
The executioner carried out the order without saying a word. He walked quickly towards the lever in front of him. Mrs. McIver watched his back calmly, tears quietly dripping from the corners of her eyes. John saw her biting her lip hard and refusing to say a word, as if she wanted to keep her grievances and last words in her heart forever. But as John, who knew all the truth, this silence was as deafening as a gunshot.
Let me speak for you, Mrs. McIver!
John recited silently in his mind, and at the same time he pulled out his pistol and entered the Death Eye state. He first aimed at the executioner's hand that was about to touch the lever and pulled the trigger. The bullet penetrated the palm of his hand and shot into his right abdomen. This shot startled people. They ran away in all directions, and Sheriff Dunbar stepped back in fear. All of this was going on slowly in John's eyes, like a slow-speed tape movie.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Fowler also started shooting. They had already kept an eye on the guards at the gallows, waiting for John to fire the first shot.
Because of the chaotic crowd, the guards could not figure out where the gunshots came from, so they could not effectively fight back. They could only stand there with their guns in hand and became a target for John and others.
Amidst the chaotic gunfire, the crowd gradually dispersed, and corpses were lying scattered around the torture instruments. On top of the corpses, Mrs. McIlver was frightened and closed her eyes tightly.
"It's all over, Mrs. McIver." John gently patted Mrs. McIver's back and cut the rope for her.
"you……"
Mrs. McIlver was so surprised that she was speechless. She had not expected that they would meet again in this way.
Police sirens sounded from a distance, police reinforcements were coming, and John and the others had to leave this place.
"Madam, you have saved me twice before. This is the first time I have saved you. Come with us to a safe place and let me return the favor the second time."
Mr. Fowler also rode over and saluted the shocked Mrs. McIver, "Please do me a favor, ma'am."
Sheriff Dunbar, who was hiding under the board, endured the blood of his companions dripping from the cracks. He only suffered a few scratches, but this was enough to frighten him. He waited until the sound of horse hooves faded away before he dared to He climbed out and looked dejectedly at the belated arrival of the deputy.
