Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-11-16
5rIette0 Alistcllanp.
THE WHITE PERI UMERY BOTTLE or,
THE MURDERER DETECTED.
By DIR S. COMPTON SMITH.


Az few years ago the good citizens Of
Alexandria we're greatly excited, in con-
sequence Of an extraordinary murder
which had been perpetrated in the i'm
mediate vicinity of their littlo town. 1t
was circumstance the ike of which had
never occurred there since the settlement
of the place and there were old men
living in the town whose fathers had been
born there.
1t was true that men had shot each
other down in the streets of Alexandra /;
but it was either to resent insults, in self
defence, in some individual or family
quarrel, some misunderstanding at the
card table, some political difference of
the parties, or from some other equally
reasonable cause. But downright.
cold blooded murder, where the only APP
parent object was robbcry,-a murder at
tended as this was with the most marked
inhumanity, was really astounding!
The facts were these -
For many years Jew peddler named
Abrams had been in the habit of fire.
qucntiug the town, where he usually laid
in his assortment of goods, consisting Of
every imaginable article likely to be re-
CURED by the customers whom he regu-
larly supplied,
He had particular district of coun-
try, to which for years he bad confined
himself; and always made his circuits
with such regularity that the people Of
the different neighborhoods knew. TO an
hour. when to look for him. Abrams
had become SO we'll known, as an honest
dealer, that be Was frequently entrusted
with many. aud sometimes important,
commissions.
If there were any watches or jewelry
to be repaired. they we're laid aside till
the visit Of I" honest Abrams" as he was
familiar,y called, who would have them
put IL order by fellow-countrymsn in
Alexandria, and bring them home on
his next regular round or if an especial
article of dress or ornament was needed
Abrams was commissioned to purchase it.
He could push better bargain than his
customers; and was so well acquainted
with their peculiar tastes that be never
failed to make the very selections that
they themselves would have done.
Nor was the honest pcdler popular
alone among his country patrons; for his
returns to town were hailed as fortunate
occurrences by all the principal store.
keepers Of the place and his cspscioui
two-horse, covered wagon was consider
cd one of the important institutions
of Alexandria.
Abrams habit was to spend two day.
in the town at every visit, making BIZ
purchases, and waiting for such articles
as he was to take to the country; and OF
the evening Of the second day TO driv'
out to planters house, about FIVE miles
distant, where he remained over night
Between town and this point he never IN
locked his cases, or attempted to sell an,
Of bis stock This was in accordance
with a special understanding with thu
town traders.
| One night Abrams had been detained
in town later than usual, and it was SOM
hours after the closing Of the stores, tina
be was known to have passed the briig
over the creek, upon the outskirts of tn
place. The next morning plantation
hand coming early to market, found tn
peddler's horses tied to tree, and nea
by the wagon, which had been rifed 0
its contents. But the peddler himsel
was nowhere to be found. 1t was scarce
ly yet daylight, but the negro thought b
could see stains Of blood upon the seat q
the wagon. Fastening to town, the ma
lost no time in informing the people Q
what he had discovered, and in half a
hour hundreds had hurried to the spot /
investigate the matter
After daylight had appeared they ha
no difficulty in finding the body Of tn
peddlcr. lie had been most horribly mu
tilaicd and bruised with clubs, several {
which were lying about the wagon, plain
| ly indicating that several persons la
been engaged in the murder. The bod
had been dragged % good distance u
toe creek, aud thrown down the high clfi