Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-05-05
THE MURDER IN THE ROOM.
From the Note. Book of an eminent Philadelphia
Lawyer, lately deceased.


LaUyer, lately deceased
The narrative which present, give as find
it in my notebook. It was taken in almost
the very words Of the murderer, though not
committed to writing until next day; for the
narrative made very powerful impression on
my mind. The disappearance of the murdered
! man had excited much conjecture as to his
fate; but the general impression was that he
| had absconded to avoid his creditors, and his
! friends often wondered whether he would re-
| turn:
THE MURDERER's STORY.
There were five of US together-constant
| companions-fond of women, wine and the
dice-box. We made love in company, got drunk
together, and gambled from the same purse
A very slender purse it was, too-but that's
not to the point.
There was Henry 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 if anything, q
little avaricious. Tom was true topper, who
enjoyed his glass to the extreme, and was
never happy except when half drunk; and Jack
was a kind of hanger-on and toady Of the
whole of us. For myself, there were only two
pecularities worth mentioning, from their appa.
rent inconsistency. As quick as a flash, the
least angry word would arouse me to tenn
pest of ungoverna5le passion, which, when
subsided, would find me as cold as ice, and
with mind free to plot and contrive anything
On one evening, we had lost good deal of
money-more than we could well afford-at
poker, and had left the gambling. room in no
very good spirits. Fred Pierce bad not been
with US, or perhaps we should not have played
so long, for Fred, unlike the majority of gam
blers, who play most desperately when fortune
is most unkind, invaribly stopped when a cer-
tain maximum Of loss was arrived at.
In the morning Fred called to see me, having
heard something about the loss, and was as
tonished and angry when he learned the
amount. He demonstrated with me, and when
laughed at his words, grew irritated. One
word, as the saying goes, brought another; we
both became angry, and at length he told me
that be thought it an unjusti6able outrage on
our parts to loose his share of the money
during his absence. called him fool, and
he retorted that l was scoundrel In tow.
ering rage, seized the tongs, which stood on
the side of the hearth, and before ] gave
thought to the consequences, struck him on
the head with all the force Of which was mas.
ter. He fell instantly. The next moment res
tored me to consciousness, and raised him up.
The blow had fractured his skull, and although
no blood had fown-his thick cap, which he
had not removed during the conversation,
deadening somewhat the blow-he was evi.
dentIy dead.
A moments reflection convinced me that
one of two things must be done-either to
conceal the body, or to discover the fact, and
proclaim that had done the decd in selfde-
fence. The fear that could not well make it
appear so to the public, deferred me from the
my Iandlady, that 1intended to send book full
country; and the large packing box procured
for the purpose then stood in my room.
determined to put the body in this, and thus
dispose Of It. As was about to do this, l
heard ringing at the door.bell. Thrusting
aside the window, which was luckily half-hoist-
ed, and saw that my companions of the night
before had come to pay me visit. ] knew
that they would at once come to my room, and
take no denial for entrance. In an instant nv
course was determined on. hastily dragged
the body to the closet, placed it upright, and
taking my duelling case from the place of it's
usual bestowment, closed the closet door.
then threw on my great coat, put on my hat,
and tossed the chairs in confusion round my
room. l had scarcely done this when heard
the steps Of the party on the stairs, and, as they
entered the room, gave tremendous oath,
with every other evidence of counterfeited
passion. s4 @a &s
sHallo!' exclaimed Harry Pierce, awhat is
the matter with you? Going out"
Il have this moment come ID" said ], sto get
my pistols.s ! thought ia practice this morn
ing-and some vagabond has been In my room,
and turned everything upside down. It's too
bad, by Jove; there's . whole pile Of shirts,
Just from the wash, tossed on the floor"
:. Ny friends burst into wild laugh, and Tom
Needham exclaimed:
sServed you right What business have
ron to own 90 many shirtss Ihave only one.
In fact that was what kept me from you yes
lerday 90 long. had TO lie 10 bed while it |
vas being washed and ironed-and the woman |
kspt il two hous beyond time, because ! owed
her little bill"
swell" said I, Il wish you'd stop your non
lenss and fix up matters and we'll 60 out and
like crack OF two this morning"
sNot with me-" answered Tom. SITS too
:old for the iingers. Tell you what we'll do
well have game Of whist. There's just
j snug party; wonder where Fred is!"
Il don't know" said |; ahs promised yester- !
lay to come and zee me"
sI1l bet SOU" cried Jack Fry, sthat be
Ras the Robin Goodfsllow who upset your
wardrobe" e .
lsJust like him," I replied; sbut nevertheless,
am bent on shooting this morning."
sSe You shall shoot, old fellow" cried Tom
Sesdhsm, $50 yoa shall and you needn't cool
zap tomorrow, don't you!"
"Yes."
svsry good. Then wen give your land
cdr peoef Of esr solid regard. Here" and
be teok Z. piscs Of coal from The hearth = be
chalk ont the old lady on this closet
ioor. Load the pistols-it's about twelve