Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-06-11
THE sHERITF'S STORY.

In my younger days | was a sheriff in
a county of Maine in which then resided.
In the srring of 1889 murder was COM
mittcd. in u neighboring town, under
circumstances Of unusual atrocity. The
deed WAS done by Frenchman, whose
name was Liste. He, with his wife, liv
eG in log cabin in the woods, some ten
miles from where the deed was commit.
ted. and had long been suspected as be-
ing a theft and secreter ofstolen goods
l was sent to secure him, and you may
be sure did not relish the job much, but
90 must. As l had ten miles to ride, |
started early, and arrived at the cabin at
about noon. Tying my horse to a tree,
went up to- the door and knocked; after
considerable delay in unfastening, more
than was necessary. the door was opened
by his wife, who demanded in no very
pleasant tone, what wanted:
as your husband at home?' asked.
No he has gone to the village. and
will not be back till night she answer
ed.
Then will wait till he comes home.'
said l.; and. without giving her time to
reply. stepped into the room.
Que glance around convinced me that
the murderer was at home. A rifle stood
in the corner of the room, which he had
been cleaning; as drove up. for the wa
ter WAS even then dripping from the tube
l said nothing. however, but sat down
and began to take survey of the room.
tie could not have left, while l stood at
the door without my seeing him, So that
he must either left before | came, or else,
which considered more likely. was con-
cealed about the cabin. My eye fell up
on a rag mat. lying on the floor, and taxi
ing that-up. the mystery was explained.
a trap door was underneath, which pro-
bably led to the hole, or cellar in
which he WAS concealed. | lifted the
door up. aud WAS looking for some
means Of descending. when push from
the '-gude wife" sent me down without
the use of a ladder. aud the door was
suddenly shut. Itell you sir. was in
no enviable position. in dark cellar
with "a mMrder-fOr he WAS there. as
very soon after lind out.
Thinking | heard him move, took a
step in the direction Of the sound. In an
instant there was flash. loud report,
and felt burning pain in my check
saw him by the Il .sh Of the pistol crouch.
ca III Iu0 VI VIC
My blood was up. aud l made o
spring and closed with him. We had a
sharp tussie, Tor few moments. but at
length managed to get the bracelets on
his wrists. and then it was all over
Meanwhile his wife was above, standing
on the door, aud asking every now and
then
Have you fixed him. Jim?'
Putting my hand upon the mans mouth
and initiating his vice. as near as l
could. told her had. aud ordered her
to lead the sheriIf's horse into the she'd
My ruse succeeded perfectly, Hnd as she
left the room. ordered him up the lad
der, and by using the argument of Pis.
tol, persuaded him to go. Once up. the
rest was easy. His wife was some aston~
ished when she came in, but seeing l was
we'll armed made no resistance. The
man was sullen, and refused to speak;
but did not care for that. put him
on the korse, aud led the horse two miles
through the woods. to the nearest neigh
bors. Securing the assistance of one OF
the "Men folks" 1 had him securely
lodged in the Jail that night, and he is
now in the State prison serving his SEN
tence. imprisonment for life. But that is
the hardest fight ever had; and shall
carry a mark Of it to my grave.