The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-09
TRUTH sTANGER THAN FICTION.

We yesterday learned the denoument of &
painful story equal 10 the most thrilling ro-
nance in interest, but with the circumstance,
and acton Of which We were we'll scquaini.
Cd.
Some twelve years sgo, two young men,
named Clyma and PAUL. lived In small VII.
lage not from The sea coast in the extreme
West Of England. Both were miners and
worked In the same tin mine near the village.
Both paid their addresses 10 the same maid
en- though not with the same snccees. Cly-
ma prospered 90 we'll in his suit that day
was appointed for his nuptials, and In due
course the bands Of marriage were asked 10
the village church on the three Sundays pre-
scribed by the English canon law.
Before the second Sunday came round, the
rivals met at q wrestling match in the village,
and il chanced TINT the turn came for them 10
wrestle together. PAUL was excited and en-
deavored strenuounly to give bis Successful
rival In !ove "wicked fall" but his eagef-
ness worked his defeat. He was thrown to
the ground amid the shouts OF the villagers
On springing to his feet he swore that he
would be fearfully revenged, and tha,
Clyma should never marry his intended
bride. From that day he took to drinking
deeply, and was fierce in his imprecations on
his rival.
The day before tina! fixed for the marriage,
PAUL told all his acquaintances that he
would be at the wedding and would find
means to prevent its taking place. Knowing
his determined character, Clyma appeared
alarmed at the threat, and got some friends
to intercede with PAUL, but in vain.
Late that night, Cyma left the house Of his
intended bride for his own cottage. The way
lay across patch Of barren moor. where there
were several opeR mine shafts, which had
been deserted, and the bottom Of whose
black depths were now covered with several
fathoms of water. About the same hour
PAUL was seen crossing to the same patch Of
moor from another direction. A miner, who
passed little later toward the mine where
he worked--it being his turn for night work
--averred the next day TINT he heard noise
MS ifH dispute and scuffle, but il was too dark
to distinguish any one.
TIE marriage was to take place at eleven
o'clock in the morning at the village church.
Long before tha: hour the village was The
scene of great excitement.
The hat and ckerchief of Paull-,he lat
ter torn and b!oody-had been found near
the deepest Of the abandoned pitt shafts, and
Of PAUL himself nothing could be found.
nor had he been seen since. The ground
where the articles had been found bore traces
of scuffie having taken place, and to crown
the whole, two buttons, recognized as be-
longing to Clyma's coat, were discovered
among the earth and stones. To these omin-
Gus facts Clyma could only reply that he
had beaten PAUL, who retired cursing him.
This account was not considered satisfactory,
and Clyma was taken into custody to await
further developments. Several days passed
away; an examination was made Of the pit
and the surrounding locality, but not truce
could be found Of the body. II was argued,
however, that II n stone were attached 10 the
body before Il was thrown into the pit, SO as
10 sink Il, there would be no probability Of
its ever being found. After several examin-
ations before magistrate the accused was
released from custody. but only TO be shun-
ned a. q murderer BY the whole community.
In the meantime the intended bride became
sick through excitement; . violent fever was
succeeded BY . wasting illness, and, after
lingering some months she died Of broken
heart. These accumulated ills were too
much for the unhappy object Of general sus-
picion, and in less than twelve months after
what should have been his wedding day, ne
became the inmate Of an insane asylum,
where he still remains a hopeless lunatic.
Among the relatives Of Clyma was sister,
married to q farmer, who two or three years
after the occurrences related above, removed
to thi. country and settled down on farm
in Northern Illinois. About ten days since,
this sister, whilst sbou. taking the cars in
Chicago for her home, suddenly encountered
the supposed murdered man! Her excite
ment was intense. Drawing him to one side,
she made herself known TO PAUL, and was
immediately recognized by him. The expla-
nation given by him Of his disappearance,
was, that he had met Clyma on the eventful
night with the purpose Of beating and diSfg'
uring him 80 that he could not be married on
the succeeding day. but that his rival was
more than match for him. Burning with
rage al his discontinue, he had rushed of
without knowing or caring what became Of
himself and on reaching the beach had ia.
ken on old leaky boat and pulled directly out
to sen. Next morning when the boat was
nearly sinking, he was picked up by an out
ward bound vessel, which took him to New
Orleans. Since then, he had resided severnl
vears In California and In the United States,
had become moderately rich, and vas now
on his way to his native home, with which
be had maintained no communication since
his abrupt departure. On learning the sad
svents which had occurred In the meantime
bs Immediately accompanied the sister 10 her
bome In Illinois, and after the necessary ar