The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-08-18
Remarkable Discovery of Murder.

The following facts are gathered from the
authentic records of Her Majesty's Supreme
Court at Sydenham, Australia.
A free settler by the name of James Fisher,
who had long successfully cultivated grant of
land in u remote district, had been for some
time missing at the nearest market town,
whittier he had been in the habit of repairing
with cattle and produce for sale. An inquiry
was instituted by his acquaintances and his
head servant, or rather assistant on the farm, q
convict who had lived many years with him in
that situation, declared that his master had left
the colony for some time on business, but that
he expected him to return in q few months. As
the man was generally known as Fishers con-
tdential servant, his assertion was believed, al-
though some expressed their surprise at the
settlers abrupt and clandestine departure. The
months wonder, however, soon .subsided, and
Fisher was forgotten. His assistant in the
mean while managed the farm. bought and sold
and spent money freely. If Questioned which
was but rarely, he would express his surprise
at his masters delay, and pretend to expect
him daily A few months after he had first
been missed, neghboring settler who was re-
turning late one Saturday night from the market
town, had occasion to pass within half mile
of Fishers house, As he was riding by tile
fence, which separated the farm from the high
road, he distinctly saw the figure of man
seated on the railng and at ones recognized the
form and features Of his lost neighbor He in
stantly stopped and called to him Familiarity
by name; but the figure descended from the
railing, and walked slowly across the field,
toward the farmhouse. The settler having lost
sight of him in the field, he proceeded on his
journey and on his arrival at his plantation,
informed his family and neighbors that Fisher
had returned and thnthe had seen and spoken
to him. The news spread from farm to farm
and most of the neighboring settlers repaired
the next day to visit and welcome their old
friend. On inquiry, however, Fishers assistant
declared that he had not arrived, and affected
to laugh at the settlers story, insinuating chat
he had possibly drank too free at market
The neighbors We're not so easily satisfied
their dormant suspicious were awakened by
what they now began to consider pretcrnat
ural appartion, and they applied to the mag
istrates Of the district, who directed ON imme
diate and strict investigation to be instituted
Several natives, of well known sagacity ant
fidelity, were attached to the Paramatta police
as constabes and were of invaluable service
in tracing and pursuing bush rangers ant
other criminals who had absconded. One o
these, known by the name of Sam, was orderct
to examine Fishers house and farm. and to en-
deavor to find traces Of him in the bush. I'll
sat off, followed by most Of the settlers belong
ing to the Napean and other neighboring dis
tricts, who had been collected by curiosity an,
intense interest. The farmer who had seen th'
figure resembling Fisher pointed out the exac
, spot and the black, having examined the rail
ing, discovered dark brown stain on the spill
timber, which he scraped, smelt and at once dc
| clared to be "achste ma,,s blood." He ther
without the least hesitation, set off in full run
after the manner OF a stanch bloodhound
toward q pond not far from the house. A it'll
dark brown scum was floating on the surface
he scoopcd some off with his hand-smelt
I and tasted it and cried " White mans fat!
!, Having tried the field, backward and forwar
in different directions as if to recover the seen
Sam led chase to a small coppice. Here i
bored the earth in several places with ramrot
smelling the point every time, until he pause,
pointed to the ground, ard said, "1phite ma
J . here :" The spot was speedily dug up, and
corpse, sworn to by the neighbors as that
? Fisher, was discovered, with the skull fracture
and in state of rapid decomposition, cviden
ly many weeks buried. The guilty assass
d was Immediately arrested and tried at Sy
n ney on circumstantial evidence alone-stror
enough however to convict him in spite Of h
selfpossesson and protestations Of innocenc
u He was sentenced to death, and previous to b
s execution made ample confession of his gui
:. He declared that he had murdered Fishe
i. while sitting on the very rad that The settl