The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-15
The sheriR's story.

In the summer Of 1885,, while travelling
on business in the wilderness Of Northern
Maine, we stopped one afternoon In the lit.
tie village Of P, which nestles costly 10
the shade of Ssddlepack mountain. After
supper, while enjoying our cigar upon the
porch, we noticed peculiar looking scar
upon the landlords cheek. Thinking "there.
BY hangs 4 tale," we asked him to inform
us ofthe cause Of so unusual q mark. He
PrOfessed himself perfectly willing to relate
the story, and, drawing a chair close to our
side, commenced:
In my younger duys was sheriff In the
county in which then resided. In the
spring of 1889 a murder was committed In
neighboring town, under circumstan noes of
unusual atrocity. The deed was done by a
Frenchman, whose name was Listc. He,
with his wife, lived in log cabin In the
woods, some ten miles from where the deed
was committed, and had long been suspect.
ed Of being a thief and secreter of stolen
goods. was sent to secure him, and yeu
mny be sure | did not relish the Job much,
but 60 | must. AS had ten miles to ride,
I started early, and arrived at the cabin at
about noon. Tying my horse 10 tree,
went up 10 the door and knocked; after con.
siderable delay in christening more than
was necessary, the door was opened by his
wife, who d, manded, in no very pleasant
tone, what I wanted.
"ls your husband at home I" asked.
"No, he has gone to the village, and will
not be back till night" she answered.
"Then / will wait till he comes home,"
sud /, and without giving her time to reply,
stepped into the room.
One 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. l said moth
ing, however, but sat down and began to
take a survey Of the room. He could not
have left while I stood at the door, without
my seeing him; so that he must have either
left before l came, or else, which consider.
ed more likely, was concealed about the
cabin. My eye fell upon rag mat lying
on the floor, and taking that up the mystery
was explained. A trap door was under.
meath which probably led TO the hole or eel.
lar in which he was concealed. lifted the
door up, and was looking for some means of
descending, when n push from the "Rude
wife" sent me down without the use of
ladder, and the door was suddenly shut.
tell you, sir, ] was in no enviable position,
in dark cellar with murderer--for he was
there as ! very soon after found out.
Thinking heard him move, l took step
in the direction of the sound. In an instant
there was fash, loud report, and felt
burning pain in my cheek. saw him BY
the fash of the pistol, crouched in the fur.
ther corner of the cellar. My blood was
up, and made spring and closed with him.
We had sharp tussle, for u few moments,
but at length l managed to get the bracelets
on his 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, l
told her had, and ordered her to lead the
sheriff's horse into the shed. My ruse suc-
ceeded perfectly, and as she left the room
ordered him up the ladder, and by using the
argument of pistol persuaded him to 60.
Once up, the rest was easy. His wife was
some astonished when she came in, but
seeing was we'll armed, made no resistance.
The man was sullen and refused to speak,
but did not care for that. put him on
tho 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 the
jail that night, and he 10 now in the State
Prison serving his sentence-imprisonment
for life. .......
But that was the hardest fight ever had
and shall carry mark OF it to my grave
So ends the sheriff's story.