The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-07-31
Tho shoriTs Story.
nY VIII TRACY.

nY Will TRACY.
In the summer Of ls5-, while travelling On
business IN the wilderness Of Northern Maine
We Ioppcd>onc afternoon in the little ,illag,
of -, which ncsilrs cozily IN the shad,
Of saddlerack mountain -Aflcr Aupaar, N l.i!.
We were enjoying our cigar upon the porch
we noticed q peculiar looking scar upon IN,
landlords check, Thinking "thcroGy hang,
tale We asked him ,J iu;orm us Of the
cause of so unusual mark. He prorcsscd
himself perfectly willing to relate the story
and drawing a chair close to our sidc, conL
menecd
In my younger days was sheriff in the
county in which then resided. In the spring
Of 1889 a murder was committed in a neigh.
boring town, under circumstances of unusual
ntrocity. The decd was done by French
mau, whose name was Listc. He, with his
wife, lived in a log cabin in the woods, .omr
ten miles from whore the deed WIS commit
ted, and had long been suspected as being a
lhicfand secrc'cr Of stolen goods, / was
sent to secure him, and You may le sure |
did not relish the job much, but 80 ! must.
A. had ten miles to ride, started carly
and arrived a, the cabin about noon. T,ing
my horse TO tree, wen, up to the door aud
knocked. Amer considerable delay in un.
fastening more than was necessary the door
was opened 10y his vify, who demanded, in no
very pleasant, tone, what wanted;
as your husband ut home ~ asked.
"No he his gone TO the village aud viii
not hlc1lNiii'&iG'h1i Ic conc, home" said
| aud, without giving her time to reply,
--t..ff.i-...!- 1s.s..-' 'Le-a4..i..--
One glance around convinced me that the
murderer was at home A riisc stood in the
ing, as drove up, for the water was even
dripping from the tube. sbil nothing.
however but sat down, nHd-d.San to take a
survey Of the room. lie could not have left !.
while stood at the door, without my seeing
him SO that lac must either have left before
| came, or else, which considered more
likely, was concealed about the cabin My
eye fell upon rag mat, lying on the floor,
and taking that up, the mystery was explain
ed. trap door was underneath which
probably led jo'thc hole, or cellar in which
he was concealed. | lifted the door up, AMI
was looking for some means Of descending,
when n vigorous push from the "gude Nils.-
sent me down Without the use OF ladder,
and the door was suddenly shut. / tell YOU,
sir, was in no cnviablc position, in a dark
cellar with u murdercr-for he was there, as
very soon after fonnd oua'.
Thinking heard him move, took step
IN the direction Of the sound. In an instant
there was a flash, loud report. and felt
burning pain in my check. / saw him by
the flash of the pistol, crouched in the further
corner Of the cellar. My blood was up, and
| made a spring and closed with him We
had sharp tussle for a few mamcnts, but at
length managed to get the bracelets on his |
wrists, aud then it was all over. Meanwhile /
his wife was above, standing on the door, aud |
asking every now and then
"lIavc you fixed him, Jem ?"
Putting my hand upon the mans mouth, |
and initiating his voice as near as could ! .
told her had and ordered her to lead the
shcriT's horse into the shed. My rusc succeed
ed perfectly, and, as She left the room, .
ordered him up the ladder, and 10y the argu-
ment Of pistol pursuoded him to go. Once !
IN, tho rest was easy His wife was some
nStouishrd WHEN she came in, but seeing-I I
was armed, made no resistance. The man
was sullcn, and refused to speak, but did
not care for that put him on the horse,
and led the horse two miles through the
woods, to the nearest neghbors. Securing
ho assistance of one of the "mon folk" had
him securely lodged in the Jail that mig and
t-.i- new Strt-pri-urr yvrviry ++riv
sentence, imprisonment for life. But that
vas the hardest fight ! ever'had, and / shall
AIRY mark OF it to my grave Thus ends
he sheriHs story.