Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-12
caN TT RR arna


few years ags, rich citizen Of kz-lssl
left nome one Friday morning % attend 20
his usual business. He did not come nome
to dinner; he did not come bacS to supper,
and nothing was heard from him all day
As he was an old man, and very punctual in
his habits, his long stay frighten the fafni-
ly. Where is father p asks his sick daueh-
ter, hearkening for dis well known step-
Night passed away, and YET he did not come.
His friends became very anxious, and sent
word to the chief of the police of his sud-
: den disappearance. Hand bills were posted
up at every corner, and reward Of three
thousand dollars was offered for him. In
the search that was made, he was tracked
from street to street by those who had seen
him. to Medical College where he had A.
greed 10 meet enc Of the professors VINO ow-
ed hmm debt, and who promised to pay it
on that day, :. Yes." said the professor, on
being asked about the matter, " Dr. RAsA1r
came to my room; | paid him four hundred
aud eighty dollars he took it and left.'--
After that no traces of him, could be found.
Where IS he Did he ever leave the col
iege But in broad daylight, in the bosom
Of Christian city, in building which his
money helped to build, what harm could be-
fall peaceable citizen? One fact was GER
tain, that he was missing and the law, which
is bound to protect its subjects. was now de-
manding him, whether alive on dead. The
law took its stand at the college. door. That
man entered here it seemed to say, and
here he never came OUT
The rooms were all searched from tepsto
bottom, but nothing was found. A week
passed away, and no clue to his fate was dis
covered. Is the law bafiei? Can man
be murdered in broad daylight andthe crime
be hid? No, no.
In cne corner of the college is laborato-
ry, which is a room used for chemical expe-
riments. The professor had charge of that
room. He is a gentleman of education and
pleasant manners, and it was to that room
DIR. - went to receive his money. But
did he ever leave it? A terrible thought
creeps into the mind of the porter of the
college. He thinks there is some strange
work going on in that laboratory. The edoors
are kept locked. Fires are kept burning
there day and night. His usual services are
not wanted. No one has been let in but the
officers who came to search the building
What did all this meant There was one
spot on the college premises not searched
into, deep vault under the laboratory,
which could only be entered by making O
hole through the cellar wall. This the por-
ter was determined to do. He borrowed
tools, and went to work. a hole was made.
Putting in his lamp, what did the dark pit
disclose A part OF the body of a man.
A murder had been committed But who
could be the murderer Somebody did it.
The chief of the police was Immediately In
formed of this discovery. And what did he
do He directly sent two officers to arrest
the professor. 1t was Friday evening, just
one week after the murder. lie was at home
with his wife and ehild4 sa.. The ofEeere
ocGo God fo Or iy,fo rd Al
them. They drove to the jai. What does
this mean 2" he asked. " lou are my pris
oner," said the law; 60 charge you with tht
murder of Dr. -" The wretched men
wrung his hands, crying out Oh, my chil
dren, my poor children J" here wa III re
turn to his pleasant home. friends, money
nothing could snatcl. him from the grasp o.
the law it laid its iron hand upon him, anG
( locked hiiIn into prisoners cell
And now how dumb things began to speak
and swift witnesses rose up against him.
/ Stricter search was made In the labratory.
A sharp, bloody knife was found, Tn.
ashes of the furnace gave up Its secret Ant
thus dumb witnesses spoke as with tongues
pointing to the professor, an. saying, 'Thol
art the man. The law found him guilty
and condemned him to death.
Crime always points to criminal; siI
, always points to a sinner; and there is N
escape from the law of God and man whicl
IL surely tracks crime to the criminal him
elf. Nothing can screen you from its search
For whole week the professor filed th
duties of his Office, walked about the cheer
full streets, went home to his happy fire side
: Gould anybody suspect him of murder ?
+ Perhaps he thought no one could. No hi
: man eye saw him do it no human tongu
would testify against him. But other wi
/ nesses whisper the terrible secret. "Be sui
r your sin will find you out"