American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-18
THE PEDLER'S WIZ.
a THRILLING sKETCE.

One of the most striking cases of presence OF
mind and self-possession of which have any
recollection, came to light in a trial which took
place some years since in Ireland. The story
looks like fiction; but have reason to believe
it quite true. A woman travelling along road
to Join her husband, who was a soldier, and
quartered at Athlone, was joiaed by pedler
who was going the same way. They entered
into conversation during walk ofsome hours;
but as the day began to wane, they agreed that
they should stop for the night ct house of en-
tertainment, and pursue their pedestrian jour
ney the next day. They reached an humble
inn, situated in lonely spot by the roadside;
and, fatigued after long day walk, they were
glad to find themselves under the shelter Of a
roof Having refreshed themselves with the
substantial supper set before them, they ex-
pressed wish to retire, They were shown in
10 the travellers room, and went to rest in their
respective beds. The pedlar, before retiring,
had called the landlord aside, and given into
his keeping the pack, which he had unstrapped
from his back, till the morning, telling him that
it contained considerable sum of money and
much valuable property They were not long
in bed before the peder fell into sound sleep;
but the poor woman, perhaps from over fatigue,
ror from thoughts of meeting her husband next
day, lay awake. A couple ofhcurs nigh. have
passed, when she saw the door slowly opened,
and person enter holding light, which he
screened with his hand. She instantly recog-
nised in him one of the young men she had
seen below-gon to the landlord lie adyan-
ced with stealthy step to the bedside Of the ped
ler and watched him for few seconds. He
then went out, and entered again with his bro
the. and his father, who held in his hand a
large pewter basin. They went on tiptoe to
the bedside, where the pedler lay in deep
sleep. One of the young men drew out knife,
and while the father held the basin so as to re-
ceive the blood, lie cut the poor victims threat
from ear to ear. A slight hal:audible grosn,
and Eli was still, save the cautious movements
of the party engaged in the fatal deed. They
had brought in with them large sack, into
which they quickly thrust the unresistng body.
The poor woman lay silently in her bed,
fearing that her turn would come next. She
heard low mutterings among the men, from
which she soon gathered that they were debat-
ing whether they should murder her too, as
they feared she might have it in her power to
betray them. One Of them SAID he was sure
that She was fast asleep, and that there was no
occasion to trouble themselves more; but to
make sure Of this being the case, one came to
her bedside with the candle in his hand, and
the other with the knife. She kept her eyes
closed as if in sleep, and had such complete
command over herself, as not TO betray in her
countenance any sign that she was conscious
of what was going on. The candle waf passed
close to her eyes; the knife was drawn across
close to her throat she never WINGED, or show
ed by any movement Of feature or OF limb that
she apprehended danger. So the men whis-
pered that she was SO soundly asleep that moth
ing was to be feared from her; and they went
out Of the room, removing the sack which con-
tanned the body Of the murdered man. How
long must that night of horror have seemed to
the poor lone Woman-how frightful was its
Stiffness and its darkness! The presence of
mind which had so astonishingly enabled her
10 act a part to which she owed her life, sus-
tanned her all through the trying scenes which
she had yet to pass. She did not hurry from
her room at an unseasonably early hour, but
waited till she had heard all the family astir for
some time; she then went down, and said she
believed she had oversight herself, IN conse-
quence of being greatly tired. She asked where
the pedler was, and was told that he was in too
great hurry to wait for her, but that nc had
left sixpence 10 pay for her breakfast, She sat
down composedly TO that meal and forced her
self to partake with apparent appetite OF the
food set before her. She appeared unconscious
1.-THE eyes which, with deep scrutiny were fix
ed upon her, When the meal was over, she
took leave of the family and went on her way
without the least appearance of discomposuTe
or mistrust She had proceeded but short
way, when she was joined by two styappng-
looking women: one look was sufficient to con-
vince her that they were the two young men,
and one thought TO assure her that she was yet
in their power, ana on the very verge Of de-
strction. They walked by her side, entered in
,cyo1 how ,b..r sbo
ing, told her that their road lay the same way: