Daily national Democrat., 1860-11-15
The St Louis Republican vouches for the

The St Louis Republican vouches for the
truth Of the following strange story:
ga young man-whose name we choose to
withhold-employed as clerk in the office,
which is located in the third story of the
building, was engaged in writing at his desk
between nine and ten O'Clock at night No
one else Yves present or in the immediate vi
cinity, all the adjoining Offices having been
closed at nightfall. While thus engaged in
writing he was suddenly Interrupted by a
man whose entrance he had not noticed, who
inquired if McCulloch was in. The clerk re-
piled that he was not, and that he knew of
no man by that name employed anywhere
about the premises. Having made this reply
he commenced writing again. Two or three
minutes later, he discovered that his strange
intruder had not moved from the position
which he first assumed, and the inquiry and
attendant circumstances then struck him as
being somewhat singular. lie Immediately
turned about from the desk at which he was
seated, and scanned the strange gentleman's
appearance, inquiring at the same time
whether he had any further busines. The
appearance of the stranger was rather pre-
possessing He was tall, dark featured, and
well dressed. He made no response to the
clerks first nterrogatory, however, but cool.
ly gaZed at him with an air of indifference
This procedure aroused the suspicious of the
clerk, as well as his anger and he repeated
his first inquiry rather more distinctly, and
at the same time informed the strange gen
tleman that unless he could give satisfdc-
tory account of himself he should be under
the necessity of hustlng him out of the office.
The stranger thereupon placed his hands be-
hind him and leisurely replied as follows
I've been sent here, and | shall stay here
Without stopping to parley further, the clerk
opened safe near at hand, took out a re
vOlver and leveled il at once at his visitor at
the same time informing him that he would
give him two minutes to leave the office
The stranger did not move, and did not offer
any remark in return but gazed steadily,
with his hands behind him, at the clerk. The
two minutes passed, and there stood the
stranger in Stdtu quo. The clerk then took
deliberate aim at him and fired. lie stood
within ten feet of the stranger. lie is known
10 be good shot, and his bravery is undues
tionable, and were we at liberty to publish
his name, his numerous acquaintances would
not doubt our assertions But notwithstand-
ing these facts, the stranger, after the dis
charge Of the pistol, remained as immoyable
as ever. He exhibited no surprise whatever,
ana onered no remarks. The clerk was OF
course much astonished, and not little start
led, and was at loss what next to do, as he
had discharged the only barrel of his pistol
which was loaded. After the lapse OF about
"a minute after the discharge of the pistol
during which time no word was uttered
the stranger shook his coat skirts, gave
slight shrug and walked lesurely out of the
room and down stairs. The whole affair
was so strange, unusual and unaccountable,
that the clerk was completely nonplussed,
and remained stationary for few moments
after the departure Of his visitor Suddenly
rousing himself however, he rushed down
stairs into the street, but the stranger had
vanished The clerk has heard nothing from
him since. The affair, every one must ac-
knowledge, was very singular, but the cir
eumstanees occurred precisely as we have
related them"