East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-05-23

murder | learned were respected men,
though not very valuable citizens. They
were hunters and trappers, when hunting
and trapping would pay; and sometimes
they helped to tow fatboats down the
Mississippi. Their names were Matthew
Harm and Isaac Croft, and they lived not
far from the village; and l furthermore
learned that they had been at the inn on
that very evening. / was told that the
trial would come off in four days, and
that the prisoner would surely be hanged.
"When went to bed that night felt
uneasy. My brothers case seemed dubi-
ons. OF course knew he was innocent.
And if that was so, how could / account
for the manner of Harm and Croft P
They must have been either mistaken or
they must have sworn falsely. If they
had done the latter thing, then they
might be more guilty still. From what
1 had seen and heard, l judged that they
enjoyed the confdenc of their fellows
more from their conyivial and physical
qualities than from any morality or fixed
principles of honor; and determined to
know them better.
al retired to my room at 10 o'clock,
and went to bed. / fell into doze, but
was not destined to enjoy much sleep.
lay pondcring ON the fate Of my brother
for an hour or so, and then one of my
teeth began to ache. l had got cold by
exposure OH the day before, and it had
settled whore such colds are apt to do, in
my jaw. After suffering till my nerves
were all unstrung, got out of bed and
dressed myself, for could not endure to
lie there. / hoped that a turn out of
doors might relieve me. made my way
down with as little noise as possible, and
gained the street without disturbing any
one. The night was calm and clear, and
walked away without noticing or car
ing whittier l went. The village was q
small one, the houses being huddled to-
gethcr upon the left bank of the river, so
| was not long in getting beyond the line
of the settlement. had gone, perhaps,
about half a mile beyond the village,
and was thinking Of turning back, when
| heard some one groan as though in
pain; and, as l stepped to look around,
the same voice cried out for help. BY
this time had discovered from whence
the sound came, and upon approaching
the spot, | found a female sitting by the
roadside, apparently in great agony. |
asked her what was the matter and she
told me she had been thrown from her
horse, and that her ankle was either
broken or badly sprained. j stopped
down, and found that her right ankle was
out of joint, and | knew that the poor
woman must be suffering intensely. |
had seen good many joints set, and had
helped to perform the operation in some
cases; so told her that | would try to
fix her ankle if she was willing. She was
anxious that should help her, and l
made the trial. 1t was tedious job, but
she bore the pain like a martyr, and at
length had the satisfaction of believing
that the bones were all in place. Of
course the ankle was much swollen, and
still very painful, but bound it up as
best as could, and then told the suffer
er that would help her home. She said
she lived not far of, and as her horse had
probably made his way to his stable, she
would gladly accept of my assistance.
"She was not heavy woman, and as
i was a pretty powerful man, easily
lifted her in my arms, for / knew very
well she could not walk. AS l bore her
along thus | asked her what her name
was, and she told me Matilda Harm. /
then asked her if she was married. She
said she was--that her husban is name
was Matthew Harm; and she asked me if
l knew him. / told her no-that / was
a stranger in those parts, having only
stopped at the inn for the night. In a
little while we came to q narrow path
which led off to the right, and the woman
bade me turn into it, l did so and ere
long we came to a small hut, which proved
to be the home Of my patient. bore
her into the dwelling where found only
a young girl, who proved to be Harms
daughter. feE f.a as..gIH.s
"'Where is your father p asked the
woman. asraf
He's gone over to Ike Croft's, i
guess, was the reply. a hma
81 remarked to the sufferer that she
had better have her ankle swathed with
wet bandages at once, and then she could
send for her husband. So her daughter
got the necessary things, and soon had
the inhamed joint in more comfortable
condition. After this she sent for her
husband, and told her that would find
the doctor, if he was in the village, and
send him to see her. As / was abuot to
turn away she called me back, and asked
me if / was going to Columbia. / told
her | was.
And you mean to start early in the
morning.? she continued. 'i1
Yes / told her. a'tAaia
"She hesitated few moments, and
then said 34 a Hi' hoolo l.s''l
You have done me great favor,
and / bless you for it; and nov ! may
serve you in turn. Don't travel alone on
this road in the morning. IT you must
go, wait until you can have company
IL asked hor what she meant-what
the danger was. She said she feared
there were robbers in the woods.
There have been two or three mur-
ders committed near the place where we
turned off from the road, she added, and
/ have reason to believe there are bad men
about, even now al7tt
uSbe uro,e, mo IN bc yva rn ed in eaa am