Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-10
THE HORSE DETECTIVE.
BY DR.. S. CoMrToN SMITH.


that stream after traversing Pike county,
in the State of Mississippi, crosses the
State line into the Parish of Washington,
in louisiana The plantation lay wholly
in the former State, but its southern lin.
it was formed 10y the highway that led
westward from the Pearl River 10 the
Mississippi. This road lay directly on the
surveyed boundary Of the two States so
that two neighbors, meeting in their
morning ride, could shake hands from
their saddles, and each in his own State
the Mississippian and the Louisiana stand.
ing each on his own soil.
One morning business made it necessa-
ry for me to ride to Franklinton, the
county town OF Washington parish, and
the weather being unusually fine, my
friend proposed to accompany me there.
We Lad reached the State line road,
along which our route lay for a little way,
when, on approaching II thicket on the
northern 81 e Of the path, our horses sud,
Cen!y SHE'D to the right, and evidencing
great alarm, refused to pass the spot.
Dsmounting, and throwing the rein of
my bliale over the pummel o! my friends
saddle, | entered the thlcket, to discover
the cause of their unusual excitement.
perceived in the dust of the road, the
appearance OF something heavy having
been dragged through it in the direction
of the bark of the bayou, and following
this track into the dark shadow of the
clump, | was Mortified at the sight that
met my eyes.
Before me lay the body of large we'll
dressed man. VINO had been most it, hu,
manly murdered, for beside a pistol shot
through the head, the throat was cat
from car to ear, and the embroidered vest
and fine liner shirt bosom were sloshed
= and dabbled with gouts Of blood from
wide kLi!e wounds in the reast and
side.
, rhe man had but just been mur llcred
for on lifting one OF the arms in my hasty
-. examination, observed that it was yet
purple, and scarcely cold. Beside the
: cody lay pair Of leathern saddle bags,
= which had Dera riiled, and portions of
= their contents were scattered about the
: ground.
t. Ny exclamation of horror at the bloody
y spectacle had attracted the notice of my
. friend, and htcuing the animals, he was
! soon at my side. lie Immediately recog-
. MEL the man as Esquire Hendricks, a
:, lawyer Of high standing in one of the
While occupied in the cXai-4lnution OF
y the body and the surrounding locality, a
" violent snortimg and tramping was heard
!, closc at hand, and my friend, leaving me
y 10, an instant, returned, leading bv the
, broken bride noble and greatly excited
% animal, which he said was the horse ofthe
murdered man.
lie was a beautiful thorough >bred bay,
~ lp,tp,, i,,t hat - ,I..
country and noted for his remarkable in
telgencc.
> The horse, on being led to the spot,
> exhibited the utmost excitement and
trembling in every limb, almost fell to
the ground with terror. As he stood
= thus, with his fore feet braced forward,
: his long neck and head stretched toward
Il the mangled remains Of his master, his
" name standing almost on end, and his
3 eyes glazing wildly from their sockets,
= like balls OF fire, thought he presented
: the most perfect and sublime picture OF
a terror had ever looked upon. tor q
II moment the faithful creature stood thus
u gazing upon the fearful sight, and then
+, gradually dpproachtd the body, aud after
: smelling 1t, as if to remove all lingering
u doubts OF the identity, he reached forward
" to one of the outstletched hands, as lay
. palm up, on the grassy ground, and lick>
ing ii like an aiiectionate spaniel, evin-
y ced attachment and grief in language
' stronger than words could ever have
= done.
. OF course, this put an end to our jour
v ney to Franklinton for Il at day and
~ gathering up the scattered property of the
murdered man. and leading the excited
~ horse, we returned to my friends planta.
tion-calling on the way, upon the neigh
- bors and inparting the startling intelli'
70 gence TO them.
n A cold-hlooded murder like this, was
as circumstance that had not agitated the
e community of Boque Chitto 70: long
S, time and Squire Hendricks being widely
" known, and deseryedly popular, it crea'
Iy ted no small degree of excitement.
l. During the investigation that followed
or it transpired that the lawyer was at the
l. time OF his death, in possession of sun
As of money which he had for u client and
st Oh the morning Of the murder, was Ia
e. king it to Franklnton, to deposit for the
is benefit of his employer. This money wa,
e, missing, together with bis gold watch. -
re No doubt, OF course, remained that the
r. deed was yerpetrated by highwayman
1t But notwithstanding several suspicion:
j, persons were arrested, nothing was es-
id taolished against them, and they were
N discharged.
~ AZ length several weeks had passed
y away, and although the community were
+ continually on the qlIi vive for the detec-
u ton of the villain, the excitement in 9
II great degree had subsidized
&, The month OF March arri we'd and | be
II gan to turn my thoughts northward and
le in anticipation Of the homeward journey
"a | mad disposed Of my horse. In conse'
= quence of this, | was for some time in
debted to the courtesy of my fiiend foi
lie the use of the animal which had belong
rs ed to the murdered lawyer, still in The
lie keeping of my friend.
L. One day during tho Spring session o