A Narrow Escape

A well known citizen by the name of William Mercer lives in the Township of Troy. He is a poor man and has a wife and a number of children to look after. He left home on the 9th, for the purpose of visiting his friends in the Township of Washington, Macomb County. On his return as he stated to me the next morning, he stopped at Rochester, as he had a few axe helves to sell. Edwin cook said he would take one if he could wait on him until he came to town the next time, but Mercer said he was short of money, but if you would treat he would let him have it. Cook told him that he would go down to the pavilion and he would treat, to this Mercer consented, and they both went down together. Cook treated Mercer, said he drank two or three times then headed for home. He remembered going through the toll gate alright and that was the last that he could remember. My folks, who happen to be out and our neighbors on a visit returned home about 12:00 at night during a snowstorm and found the above named person in front of my house in a very critical situation. The horse was standing in the center of the road hitched to a one horse wagon, while Mercer with his feet fastened under the seat, his head out to one side of the wagon down on the ground, laid perfectly insensible. We got him into the house where he raved at intervals throughout the night. When he first came to he was bewildered, but being acquainted with me he was alright. My wife made him a cup of strong tea in the morning and after a few hours he left for home feeling ashamed and wanted nothing said about it. How do you think his wife and children would have felt to know the situation? It seems to me that a man or woman who, would sell such men liquor should be punished and we should have probationary laws, it should be put into force. I will pledge myself that if another case of this kind would come before me, I will try and see what virtue there is in the law if it takes the last bottom dollar, friend or no friend.