I stepped aside and was shown my work, which was hard, even harder than anything I had ever done. I was told to pick up the sledge and was shown in what shape to hammer the iron.
I hesitated, and finally said: “My God! man, I never did such hard work, and I don’t think I can do this.”
All the sympathy I received was: “You do the work or you will be thrown into a dark dungeon to decide if you can, and you will get bread and water until you do decide.”
I thought that I would as soon go into a dungeon as to work myself to death. However, I changed my mind and picked up the sledge, but I had not strength to wield it.
I fell upon my knees and prayed that God would give me help. While I was praying the guard came up and with his monstrous club gave me one blow, knocking me senseless.
I cried out as I came to my senses: “Man alive, do not strike me again! Can you not see I am not strong enough to do that work?”
“Oh! you fellows all have the same old gag to tell. Not strong enough! Ha, ha! But you are strong enough to strangle a poor woman to death.”
I rose to my feet, and shouted: “I am an innocent man! I will be proven so before I leave this prison.”
“All who are sent here are innocent. Some of you surely get justice in trials.”
“I did not, for I was sentenced on circumstantial evidence, and I know and my God knows that I am innocent! The dear woman who was murdered knows who killed her.”