Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1858-06-25
miscellaneous.
The shsrrms story.

In the summer of 1885,, while travel
ing on business in the wilderness Of
Northern Maine, we stopped one after
noon in the little village of P, which
nestles costly in the shade of Saddlebacly
mountain. After supper, while enjoy
ing our cigar, upon the porch" we
noticed peculiar looking scar uponthe
landlords check. Thinking thereby
hangs tale, we asked him to inform us oi
the cause of so unusual mark He
lpr9fessed himself perfectly willing e. W.
.late the story, and drawings chair close
to our side, commenced
/" In my younger days | was a sheriff
in the county in which I then resided
In the spring of 1889 q murder was com
mitted in neighboring town, under
circumstances of unusual atrocity. The
deed was done by Frenchman, whose
name was Liste. He, with his wife,
lived in a log cabin in the woods, some ten
miles from where the deed was commit
ted, and had long been suspected as be-
ing thief and secreter of stolen goods.
was sent to secure him--and you may
be sure l did not relish the job much
but go | must. As had ten miles to
ride, | started early and arrived at the
cabin at about noon. Tying my horse
to tree; ] went to the door and knocked;
after considerable delay in christening,
more than was necessary, the door was
opened by his wife, who demanded in no
pleasant tone, what ! wanted
" Isyour husband at home ?" I asked
"No." "He's gone to the village, and
will not be back till night" she an
swered.
Then I will wait till he comes home 7"
said [; and without giving her time to
reply, stepped into the room.
Zone glance around convinced me
that the murderer was at home. A rife
stood in the corner Of the room, which
he had been cleaning as | drove up, for
the water was even dripping from the
tube. / said nothing. however, but sat
down, and began to take survey of the
room. He could not have left while
stood at the door, without my seeing
him so that he either must have left
before came, or else, which ] considered
more likely, was concealed about the
cabin. My eye fell on rag mat lying
on the floor, and taking that up the
mystery was explained. A trap door
was underneath, which probably led 10
the hole or cellar in which he was con
cealed. | lifted the door up, and was
looking for means of descending, when a
push from the guide wife sent me
down without the use of ladder, and
the door was suddenly shut I tell you,
sir, I was in no enyiable position, in a
dark cellar with murderer-for be was
there, as / very soon after found out
Thinking / heard him move. took
q step in the direction Of the sound. In
an instant there was o fash, loud re-
port, and / felt burning pain in my
cheek. saw him by the flash of the
pistol, crouched in the further corner Of
the cellar. Ny blood was up. and /
made spring and closed with him.
We had a sharp tussel for few mo-
ments, but at length / managed to get
the bracelets on bis wrists. and then it
was all over. Meanwhile his wife was
above, standing on the door, and asking
every now and then
Have 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 shcrifr's horse into the
shed. My ruse succeeded perfectly,
and, as she left the room, l ordered him
up the ladder, and by using the argu-
ment of pistol, persuaded him to go.
Once up, the rest was easy. His wife
was somewhat astonished when she came
in, but seeing was well armed, mado
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 neighbors. Securing the
assistance Of one Of the men folks |
had him securely lodged in jail that
night, and now he is in the State
prison serving his scnten,c--imprison-
inent tor ire. I)et that wee tho berslsst
fight ever had; and / shall carry
mark Of it to my grave" So ends the
sheriff's story.