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JACOB HODGES.
9
geance of God, or the righteous demands
of human law.
It would seem that Jacob had been, for
some time, in the employment of these
men as a common labourer, and that for
more than a year they had been prepar¬
ing for the murder of Jennings. During
this whole period, they were endeavour¬
ing to secure Jacob's consent to execute
their bloody purpose. They told him di¬
rectly, that " he was the very person fit¬
ted for the old man's destruction." They
promised him, at the same time, their co¬
operation, and a large pecuniary reward.
Jacob for a long time hesitated.
Another, and a desperate effort was
made. The wife of one of the parties be¬
came an accessary. She was a woman
who, till then, sustained a respectable
character for intelligence and morality
In her opinion Jacob placed the fullest
confidence. She was now brought for¬
ward to persuade him of the justness and
necessity of the act to which he was
urged. Yet it would seem his heart