The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-05-30

A warrant for his arrest was imme.
diately obtained; and he was con-
veyed to prison I'd sNait his trial at
the next session "a the Circuit
Court in June; whila Twas required
to remain in the county as a wit
ness in the case.
1t was q matter Of doubt whether
the murder was within the jurisdic-
ton of the courts Of Mississippi, or
of those of the Stgttof Louisiana;
and the prisoners Ssansel, it was
limited, would pleai this question
of venue in favorof their client.
The body of the murdered man
was found on the western side OF
the road, and some little distance
from it., and consequently within
the territory of the State of Missis-
sippi. This would be testified to,
by both my friend and myself; but,
at the same time, it could be pro-
ven by the appearance of the dust
of the road, that the body had evil
dently been dragged some distance,
to the place where it was discover
ed, after the deed had been perpe-
trated. The vicinity had been
thoroughly searched, as was sup
posed, and no evidence of the pre-
else locality of the death scene had
been detected, by which the venue
could be established. In conse-
quence of this itwas feared that the
guilty man would escape the
clutches of the law.
Since the discovery ofthe murder,
1 had not had occasion to pass over
the road where it had been per-
petrated, having transacted my
business at Franklinton, through
the kindness of a friend. But q
few days previous to that set for
the trial Of Nevins, l found it nee
essary to visit that town myself.
1 started from my friends plan
tation in company with several
gentlemen of the neigborhood, so
that we formed quite company of
horsemeu. AS usual, Of late, was
mounted on the beautiful bay,
which had been the property of the
murdered lawyer; and it was on
this occasion tfiatthe extraordinary
intelligence ofthe animal led to the
complete elpsi idasionof the mystery
of the murder a.s'.s'
When, we reached the vicinity
where the bloody acthad been con-
sumated, the. animal began to ex-
hibit the same SYMPTOMS of alarm
he had shown on thesformer occas-
ion, and at the courthouse square,
notwithstanding the horses of my
companions evinced no signs what
ever of the fear. We had passed
the spot where the body of Hen
dricks had been discovered, when
the horse, in spite of my guidance,
dashed into the tangled thickets
with me, and forcing his way
through the grape vines and over
hanging limbs, reached the roots of
large sweet gum, when he stop
ped, and paving the ground vio-
fently, exhibited signs Of excessive
agitation.
The gentlemen, as we'll as my
self, having all confidence in the
remarkable Intelligence of the beau
tiful creature, we busted ourselves
in examining the locality, convin-
ced that this was the verey scene OF
the killing of his master.
And such it proved; for one Of
my companions soon picked up a
large, peculiarly shaped bowie knife,
which was Immediately recognized
by several as having been in the
possession Of Bill Nevins shortly
previous to the murder; while on
| the roots of the tree were found
tangled masses of hair, of color
comparing exactly with that OF the
deceased.
These facts were sufficient, not
only to prove the guilt of the pris-
oner, but also established the ven-
us thus making all the initlatory
proceedings in the case in strict ac-
cordance with the forms and re-
ouirements of the law.
On the morning Of the trial, I
visited the prisoner in his cell, and
stated the recent facts that had been
developed against him, and conjur-
ed him, if he was really guilty, to
confess the fact at once, and no
longer attempt to stand out against
the strong array of testimony that
would establish his guilt.
AS I have said before, the man
was not hardened criminal, this,
doubtless, being the first crime he
had ever been tempted to commit
and with terrible agitation, most
fearful to look upon, and which !
can never forget, the poor wretch
made a clean bosom of it, and con-
fessed to the murder.
He had become aware of the fact
that Hendricks wasin possession o.
a large sum Of money, and also
that he intended to deposit it al
|, Franklinton, and secretly leaving
, Holmesville, he proceeded to thu
State line road to intercept him.
Meeting hie victim, to whom h
7 was well known, by the roadside