The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-18

hole.
The magistrate was at home, and great indeed
was his amaZement when he heard the minister's
story; but 10! when Mr. COmyn, reverently ta-
KING Tie Bible from his pocket, opened it to show
Mr.. CTalgls the note, written as he declared in
the peculiar hand writing of his friend, he found
nothing where lie had deposited il, but piece of
blank paper, folded up in the same form, but utter
ly void. And then in tEuh the worthy magistrate
Waxed somewhat wrOih at first accusing Mr.. Co.
myn Of being credulousIy dupsd by some pawkie
servant who owed him grudge and ended by set
ting him down as " clean daft-duiled, and dazed
by too miCkle study, land in his ire he had very
nearly added, too much tOddy.'') But as in no
amabie frame of temper the gentlemen were about
10 quarrel downright, the magistrate asking the
minister what proof he could adduce of Mr.. Bruces
not being alive and merry a seas0nabe and loud
knocking at the sreet-dOOr interrupted them; and
presently servant entered to announce that a
drowned man had been found in the Dee, and that
his body had been brought 10 the door.
With shaking limbs The minister followed Mr.
Crage down stairs to the lobby, now fail Of peo-
pie. 1t appeared that some men employed in the
salmon fisheries had, within the last hour, dragged
their nets, in which they had discovered the corpse
Of a man whose skull had been literally smashed in
twain by q violent blow.
IT was, in fact, the body of Mr.. Bruce
Here, indeed, was confirmation strong Of The
statement which the myst. riOus and missing docu-
ment had contained, and both Mr.. Cragie and the
minister exchanging looks that express ed their mu-
tuaI dismay, were sorely perpleyed in their own
minds how to account for these singular events
The body was reverently laid out in the hall,
whilst the magistrate, summOning some of his off.
ciaIs, and accompanied by the clergyman and one
or two 0tthe fishermen, proceeded to the cottage of
David Balm.
The beman not at home, having gone thev
sad, to Mr.. Comyn, to inquire about his odger
Mr.. Bruce, who had not come home to his bed the
night before, as customary.
Strange gances passed between the auditors
but sign from the magistrate imposed silence and
they departed determining to survey the Nut hole
which in the river, the body had been found
in the nets, after which they had no doubt thew
would find the sexton of the manse As thew
threaded the thicke OF hazel at some distance from
the pool, Of the salmon-ishers declared. that
from a plot of white-thorn ard brarnble bushes he
had seen the eyes OF tounart poIecat glare out
upon him. and in low voice directing the atteu-
ton OF comrade to the spot they both imagined
they could detect the figure of a man crouching
among the trailing bushes. Whispering their sus-
Plclon to Mr.. Cralgle, he ordered the whole party
to JON quietly IN search, and follow him and the
minister to the Nut-hoe. Thither, then the magis-
trate, attended only by Mr.. Comyn, proceeded
and who, think ye, found they there
a young man. handsome and well dressed in
the undlSgused apparel of gentleman, stood there
evidently unconscious OF the advancing twain. He
held stout, club like stick in his hand which he
was examining Intently-for it was covered with
blood, now dried, and amidst which stuck clots of
halr As the gentleman came suddenly upon him
he started, and dropped the stick whilst Mr..
Comyn, staring at him in wonder-for, as we have
said, all disguise had been discarded-exclaimed
" John Percival is this you "
question which the young man could have
answered IN the affirmative with strict veracty but
tor the assertion from the magistrate which fol-
lowed it up.
" And you, sir, are the murderer of Mr. Bruce"
Mortified youth.
That stick, which you have just dropped, is
covered with blood" said Mr.. Cragie " foul
murder has been committed, and we find you with
the supposed instrument of murder, near the very
spot where there is ground to believe the act was
| perpetratsd."
| A fearful pang shot through Percival's frame.
! hut conscious innocence made it brief, and with
| camne's OF demeanor which guilt never could
| have assumed, and graVely smiling he turned to
! his uncle, saying:
/ "Yru cannot believe that am guiIty?'
| No, no, John - answered the individual ap.
! peaIed 10 " God forbid that should judge you
| But" interrupted the magistrate, &C not only
does II appear tuaJ you have slain man, but that
desrous O.. fixing your gull upon another you have
written a letter. falsely accusing an innocent per-
son OF that crime"
Letter :" repeated PerciyaI, "Sir, do not
even know what you man.
Mr.. Comyn," asked the magistrate, this Young
! man-the nephew Of my Iamented friend, your late
wIte-paii court, as understand, to your dsugh.
Ter, and was by her rejected"
q" By me, sir-by me, Mr.. Cragie," answered
the clergyman; the lasse never rejected him,
| but did"
And the murdered man." slowly pronounced
the magistrate, twas the betrothed husband of
| Miss COmyn."
! Percival started violently, utterng an eiacula.
ton of horror and WONDER for AT least he saw the
! lnteTences which Mr., Craigie seemed willing to
draw from circumstances that certainly looked
suspicious.
"As God is my Judge, that is the truth" replied
the minister, and had forgotten all about it, Oh
John PerclvaI, as you are the nephew of my be-
loved Mary, answer me with truth, and say that
| you are innocent ufthis henGus deed "
" am indeed innocent my dear uncle" said the
young man; nor did | know until this moment
| who the unfortunate man was, of whose untnely
! death | am accused
| Here he is gentlemen we've got him safe and
sound - cried several voices and dragging wild
and haggardtaced man, the fishers and officials of
justice approached the trio who stood by the Nut
| tree-hOle.
"The Lord be our guide :" exclaimed Mr.. Co.
myn, " it is really David Balm :" and as the
wreched sexton struggled to free himself from the
J arms that pImoned him, the minister prompted
| by a sudden impulse, advancing toward him, and
I looking steadily in his face, said
David BAN, look not to deny your crime, but
confess it, and implore your Maker pardon, even
at this the eleventh hour. In my Bible, this morn
| ing, found paper written by the spirit of him
you murdered here last night, and charging YOU
with the commission of the deed"
| IL hese strange words, which in our modern
! times might have produced mirth the guilty crea-
tufe, losing all seltPossessjon, uttered loud cry
ana pointing to the bloody cudgeI which still
| lay at the magistrates feet, exclaimed
did 1t with that | did it with that :" and fell
/ back in fit.
1t would be easy to lengthen out our historiette
INTO one OF clrcumsantlal evidence, trial, condem-
nation, and ultimate discovery but we have pre-
| tpTrpd tpllnU IL : all