Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-06-16
The MurdeTer's Story.

The murderer's Story.
There were five of us togcther-con-
stant companions-fond of women, wine
and the dice box. We made love in COM
pany, got drunk together, and gambled
from the same purse. A very slender
purse it was, too-but that's not the
point.
Their was Harry Pierce and his brother
Fred, little Tom Needham, Jack Fry and
myself. Harry was impetuous, hasty.
irritable, but in the main good hearted; his
brother was cooler, more calculating, and,
of anything, little avaricous. Tom was
Il true topper, who enjoyed his glass to the
extreme, and was never happy except when
half drunk; and Jack was kind Of han
ger-on and toady of the whole of us. For
myself, there where only two peculiarities
worth mentioning, from their apparent i'll
consistency. AS quick as flash, the least
angry word would arouse me to tempest
of ungovernablepa which, when sub
sided, would leave me as cola as ice, and
with mind free to plot and contriye any
thing.
On one evening we had lost good
deal of money, more than we could well
afford, at poker, and had LETT the gambling
room in no very good spirits. Fred Pierce
had not been with us, too, perhaps, we
should not have played SO long, for Fred,
unlike the majority of gambling, who
play most desperately when fortune is
most unkind, invarioUly stopped when
a ccltlin maximum of loss was arrived
at.
In the morning Fred called to sec me,
having heard something about the loss,
and was astonished and angry when he
E learned the amount. He demonstrated
with me, and when | laughed at his words,
grew irritatcd. One word, as the saying
goes, brought on another we became
angry; and at lerg 9Th he told me that he
thought it unjustiiiable on our parts to
loss his share of the money during his
absence. called him fool and he re-
tolted that was scoundrel. In towe :
ing rage, l seized the tongs, which stood
Oh the side of the hearth, and, before ]
gave a thought to the consequence, struck
him on the head with all the strength o
which | was master. The next moment re
stored me to consciousness, and / raise
him up. The blow had fractured his SIX IL
although no blood had tlow-his thick
cap, which he had not removed during tn,
conversation, deadening somewhat tn,
blow; he was evidently dead.
A momen IS reflection convinced me that
one or two things must be done-ethol
to conceal the body or to disclose the fact
and proclaim that | had done the deed ir
self defence. The fear that | could MOI
well make it appear SO to the public, de
tered me from the latter course. | had
stated the day before to my landlady thai
| intended to send a box full of books anC
papers to my mothers residence in tht
! country; and the large packing box pro
a cured for the purpose then stood in my
q room. | determined to put the body il
this, but | heard ringing at the door bell
= Thrusting aside the window curtain, | pu
my head through the window, which was
+ luckily, half hoisted, and saw that m,
= companions OF the night before had come
. to pay me a visit. l knew that ths,
woulda once come to my room, and tax
=. no denial for entrance. In an instant M
. course was determined on. | hastiI,
draga ed the body to the closet, placed i
" upright, and taking my duelling case frou
> the place of its usual bestowent, closed til
closet door. I then threw on my grea
. coat, put on my hat, and tossed the chair
~ in confusion round my room. l ha
: scarcely done this when heard the step
of the party on the stairs, and as they ente
= red the room, gave tremendous oath
% - with every other evidence of counterfeite
- passion.
y Halo ! exclaimed Harry Pierce
y what is the matter with you? Coin
y out p
II " i have this moment come in said
= TO get my pistols l thought I'd practic
y this morning-and some vagabond ha
= bocn i'll my room and turned everything
% g upside down. It's too bad, by Joye; thel
!, !, a whole pile of shirts, just from the was
- tossed on the floor
y My friends burst in laugh and Tor
= Needham exclaimed
~ Served you right. What business ha,
= you to own so many shirts | ha,
:, only one. In fact that was what kept n
from you yesterday so long. l had to |
in bed while it was being washed an
!, ironed-and the woman kept it two hou
- beyond time, because owed her lit
BILL
=. 'Well,' said I, 4 wish you'd stop yol
ie 10 nonsense and fix matters and we'll g
- ;. out and take crack Or two this NOR
y ing
" mot with me- answered Tom, It's t.
7" cold for the fingers. I'lltell you what we
do. Well have game of whist There
" just snug party. wonder where Fir
: is 2 @
4 don't know, said I, 'he promised ye
n; terday to come and see me-
I'll bet nv sous cried Jack Frv. I'll