The Case of Summerfield, Page 3

  It is entirely unnecessary to relate in detail the subsequent eventsconnected with this transaction. I will only add a general statement,showing the results of my negotiations. Having fully satisfied myselfthat Summerfield actually held in his hands the fate of the whole world,with its millions of human beings, and by experiment having tested thecombustion of sea-water, with equal facility as fresh, I next deemedit my duty to call the attention of a few of the principal men in SanFrancisco to the extreme importance of Summerfield's discovery.

  A leading banker, a bishop, a chemist, two State university professors,a physician, a judge, and two Protestant divines, were selected by meto witness the experiment on a large scale. This was done at a smallsand-hill lake, near the seashore, but separated from it by a ridge oflofty mountains, distant not more than ten miles from San Francisco.Every single drop of water in the pool was burnt up in less than fifteenminutes. We next did all that we could to pacify Summerfield, andendeavored to induce him to lower his price and bring it within thebounds of a reasonable possibility. But without avail. He began to growurgent in his demands, and his brow would cloud like a tempest-riddensky whenever we approached him on the subject. Finally, ascertainingthat no persuasion could soften his heart or touch his feelings, asub-committee was appointed, to endeavor, if possible, to raise themoney by subscription. Before taking that step, however, we ascertainedbeyond all question that Summerfield was the sole custodian of hisdread secret, and that he kept no written memorial of the formula of hisprescription. He even went so far as to offer us a penal bond that hissecret should perish with him in case we complied with his demands.

  The sub-committee soon commenced work amongst the wealthiest citizensof San Francisco, and by appealing to the terrors of a few, and thesympathies of all, succeeded in raising one-half the amount withinthe prescribed period. I shall never forget the woe-begone faces ofCalifornia Street during the month of October. The outside world andthe newspapers spoke most learnedly of a money panic--a pressure inbusiness, and the disturbances in the New York gold-room. But to theinitiated, there was an easier solution of the enigma. The pale spectreof Death looked down upon them all, and pointed with its bony fingerto the fiery tomb of the whole race, already looming up in the distancebefore them. Day after day, I could see the dreadful ravages of thissecret horror; doubly terrible, since they dared not divulge it. Still,do all that we could, the money could not be obtained. The day precedingthe last one given, Summerfield was summoned before the committee, andfull information given him of the state of affairs. Obdurate, hard andcruel, he still continued. Finally, a proposition was started, that anattempt should be made to raise the other half of the money in the cityof New York. To this proposal Summerfield ultimately yielded, but withextreme reluctance. It was agreed in committee that I should accompanyhim thither, and take with me, in my own possession, evidences of thesums subscribed here; that a proper appeal should be made to the leadingcapitalists, scholars and clergymen of that metropolis, and that, whenthe whole amount was raised, it should be paid over to Summerfield, anda bond taken from him never to divulge his awful secret to any humanbeing.

  With this, he seemed to be satisfied, and left us to prepare for hisgoing the next morning.

  As soon as he left the apartment, the bishop rose, and deprecated theaction that had been taken, and characterized it as childish and absurd.He declared that no man was safe one moment whilst "that diabolicalwretch" still lived; that the only security for us all was in hisimmediate extirpation from the face of the earth, and that no amount ofmoney could seal his lips, or close his hands. It would be no crime,he said, to deprive him of the means of assassinating the whole humanfamily, and that as for himself he was for dooming him to immediatedeath.

  With a unanimity that was extraordinary, the entire committee coincided.

  A great many plans were proposed, discussed and rejected, having in viewthe extermination of Summerfield. In them all there was the want ofthat proper caution which would lull the apprehensions of an enemy;for should he for an instant suspect treachery, we knew his nature wellenough to be satisfied, that he would waive all ceremonies and carry histhreats into immediate execution.

  It was finally resolved that the trip to New York should not beabandoned, apparently. But that we were to start out in accordance withthe original program; that during the journey, some proper means shouldbe resorted to by me to carry out the final intentions of the committee,and that whatever I did would be sanctioned by them all, and fullprotection, both in law and conscience, afforded me in any stage of theproceeding.

  Nothing was wanting but my own consent; but this was difficult tosecure.

  At the first view, it seemed to be a most horrible and unwarrantablecrime to deprive a fellow-being of life, under any circumstances; butespecially so where, in meeting his fate, no opportunity was to beafforded him for preparation or repentance. It was a long time beforeI could disassociate, in my mind, the two ideas of act and intent. Mystudies had long ago made me perfectly familiar with the doctrine of thecivil law, that in order to constitute guilt, there must be a unionof action and intention. Taking the property of another is not theft,unless, as the lawyers term it, there is the animus furandi. So, inhomicide, life may be lawfully taken in some instances, whilst the deedmay be excused in others. The sheriff hangs the felon and deprives himof existence; yet nobody thinks of accusing the officer of murder. Thesoldier slays his enemy, still the act is considered heroical. It doesnot therefore follow that human life is too sacred to be taken awayunder all circumstances. The point to be considered was thus narroweddown into one grand inquiry, whether Summerfield was properly to beregarded as hostis humani generis, the enemy of the human race, or not.If he should justly be so considered, then it would not only be not acrime to kill him, but an act worthy of the highest commendation. Whoblamed McKenzie for hanging Spencer to the yard-arm? Yet in his case,the lives of only a small ship's crew were in jeopardy. Who condemnedPompey for exterminating the pirates from the Adriatic? Yet, inhis case, only a small portion of the Roman Republic was liable todevastation. Who accuses Charlotte Corday of assassination for stabbingMarat in his bath? Still, her arm only saved the lives of a fewthousands of revolutionary Frenchmen. And to come down to our own times,who heaps accusation upon the heads of Lincoln, Thomas or Sheridan, oreven Grant, though in marching to victory over a crushed rebellion, theydeemed it necessary to wade through seas of human gore? If society hasthe right to defend itself from the assaults of criminals, who, at best,can only destroy a few of its members, why should I hesitate when it wasapparent that the destiny of the globe itself hung in the balance? IfSummerfield should live and carry out his threats, the whole world wouldfeel the shock; his death was the only path to perfect safety.

  I asked the privilege of meditation for one hour, at the hands of thecommittee, before I would render a decision either way. During thatrecess the above argumentation occupied my thoughts. The time expired,and I again presented myself before them. I did not deem it requisiteto state the grounds of my decision; I briefly signified my assent, andmade instant preparation to carry the plan into execution.

  Having passed on the line of the Pacific Railway more than once, I wasperfectly familiar with all of its windings, gorges and precipices.

  I selected Cape Horn as the best adapted to the purpose, and... thepublic knows the rest.

  Having been fully acquitted by two tribunals of the law, I makethis final appeal to my fellowmen throughout the State, and ask themconfidently not to reverse the judgments already pronounced.

  I am conscious of no guilt; I feel no remorse; I need no repentance.For me justice has no terrors, and conscience no sting. Let me be judgedsolely by the motives which actuated me, and the importance of the endaccomplished, and I shall pass, unscathed, both temporal and eternaltribunals.

  Leonidas Parker.

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