Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-09
STAR,
THE aUspsR IN THr rnoMI. :

The aUsDER IN THE Room: ~
From the Note Book Of an eminen, Psa.ieanhf,
Lawygr, lately deceased - Y :
The narrative which I present T give
as L find it in my note book. 1t Vas
taken in almost the very words of the
murderer, though not committed to wri.
ting until the next day, for the narrative
made very powerful impression on nv
mind. The disappearance of the mur.
dered man had excited much conjecture
as to his fate; but the general inpres.
sion was that he had sbsconded to avoid
his creditors, and his friends often won.
dered whether be would ever return:
THE AURDEBERs 8 STORY.
There were FIVE of. ysstoge thereon
slant companions -lpsi ,ef women, wine
and the dice bsx.ssy SASds love in com.
pany. got drunk togsestther, and gaMbIea
from the same purse. A very slender
purse 1t was. too but that's not to the
point.
Therewas Harry Pierce and his brother
Fred, little Tom Needham, Jack Frv and
myself. Harry was impetuous, hasty,
irritable, but in the main good hearted
his brother was cooler, more calculating,
and, II anything, a little avaricicus.
Tom was true topper, who enjoyed his
glass TO the extreme, and " as never han.
py except when half drunk; and Jack
was kind Of hanger-on and toady q
the whole of US. For myself, there were
only two peculiaritieS worth mentioning.
from their apparent Inconsistency. As
quick as a fash the least angry word
would arouse me to a tempest of uDgov.
ernable passion, which, when sub ,ided
wsuld leave me as cold as ice, and with
mind free to plot and contrlYe any
thing.
On one evening we had lost a good
deal of money, more than we could wei;
afford, at poker, and had left the gaming
room in no very good spirits. Free
Pierce had not been with US, or. peThans
we should not have played so long, for
Fred, unlike the majority of gamblers
who play most desperately when fortune
is most unkind, invariably stepped when a
certain maximum Of loss was arriyetat
In the morning Fred called to see me
having heard something about the loss
and was astonlshed and angry when bs
learned the amount. He demonstrated
with me, and when l laughed at his
words. grew irritated. One word. as tb.
saying goes, brought on another: VIC
became angry; and at length be told
me that he thought it unjuslifiable or
our parts 10 lose his share Of the money
during his absence. | called him a fooi
and he etoi led that [ was q scouDirel.
! Ia a towering rage, seized the t5nes.
winch stood on the side Of tie hearth.
and, before l gaze = thought to tha cen
sequence, struck him on the hes1 viii,
all the strength Of which [ was master
He fell instantly. The next moment Re
stored Inc To Consciousness, and [ raised
him up. he blew had fractured his
skull, although no blood had fiown-n,
thick cap, which be he'd not rlmoye!
during the conversation Geadening some
what the blow he wac evidently dead.
A moments reflection convinced me
that one or two things must be done
either to conceal the body or to discover
the fact and proclaim that had done the
deed In self-def,nce. The fear hat
could not well make it appear so to the
public, deferred me from the latter
course. | had stated the day before TO
my landiady that | intended to send q
box full Of books and papers to my
mothers residence in the country: and
the large packing-box procured for the
purpose then stood In my room. de-
termined to put the body in this, but
heard ringing at the door bell. Thrust.
ing aside the window curtain, pus nv
head through the window, which was.
luckily, half hoisted, and saw thai my
companions Of the night before had come
to pay me visit. | knew that they
would at once come to my room, and
tske no denial for entrance. In an in.
slant my course was determined on.
hastily dragged the body to the closet
placed 1t upright. and taking nv duel.
ling case from the place of its usual be
stowment, closed the closet door. [ then
threw ON my great coat, put on my hat
and tossed the chairs in confusion round
my room. had scarcely done this when
L heard the steps of the party on the
stairs, and as they entered the room, |
gave tremendous cath, with every 9th.
er evidence of counterfcited passion.
Halo" exclaimed Harry Pierce,
what Is the matter with you? Going
out Z"
Il have this moment come in," said /,
"to get my pistols. thought I'd prac-
tice this mOrning-and some vagabond
has been IN my room and turned every.
thing upside down. It's too bad. by
Jove; there whole pile of phirts, Just
from the wssh, tossed on the floor"
My friends bur into a laugh and Tom
Needham exclaimed:
Served you right. What business
have you to own SO many shirtsl have
only one. In fact that was what kept
me from you yesterday so long. had
to lie in bed while it was being washed
and ironed-and the woman kept it two
hours beyond time, because owed her
little BILL"
We'll" said I, 81 wish you'd stor
your nonsense and fiY nm rnattarC. ont