Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-10-16


ening large knife on g grindstont
and il was this that had made the purr
ing sound that I had heard. He fel
the edge and finding it sharp enough
discontinued his employment. The,
then began to converse. I could hea
every word they said.
"Are you certain, Charles. that It |
the deteetiye?" said the uncle.
"Perfectly certainl" returned th,
clerk. al know Brampton as well as
do you"
at is certain he must die then.
suppose he hiss plenty Of money will
him besides his gold watch"
Eyes, he must be well provided with
funds, and his business here Is evident
/ ly to arrest me-"
"Come. then, let US finish the busi
ness at once" said the uncle.
"Do you think be Is asleep yet?'
returned the clerk.
"No matter If he is not, he'll sleep
we'll enough afterwards. anyhow"
The clerk lsughed-hideously, ]
thought.
"will you do 1t. or shall n" said the
nephew.
40. you may go; but be sure you
make no mistake. Bill. you know. lies
next 10 the wall; he has a nightesp on,
the detective has none. Leave the light
outside the door. for fear Of waking
Brsmpton: and, above all. be quick
about It."
In moment my plan was formed.
Bill was fast asleep. gently turned
him over TO the outside OF the bed, and
pulling of his nightcap, put it on my
own head. I accomplished this with
out waking Bill. l then cautiously laid
myself in his place next the wall. The
agony Of the next few minutes was in
iense-my heart seemed ready to cease
beating. 1 heard step on the stairs;
it advanced. the door opened softly.
the floor cresked with the weight OF a
heavy tread. The murderer approached
the bed. l could feel his hot breath on
my cheek. had presence Of mind
enough to initiate a snore. l felt his
hand passing over my hesd-it rested
on my shoulder. o. agony Of agonies.
be had found out my ruse, and was
about to kill mel Ny whole body was
bathed in cold perspirstion.
Suddenly l heard heavy thud on
the bed, which was followed BY grosn.
and then all was still. The blow had
been struck, and l was not the victim.
A pause Of some moments ensued, and
then l heard the uncle ascending the
stairs. They wrapped the body Of the
unfortunate Bill in sheet. and con-
veyed it at once into the garden. They
had no sooner left the house than I
leaped out OF bed and ran to the win
dow. They had evidently not discov-
cred their mistake. for the body was al
ready in the grave prepared for it, and
they were filing it in.
/ lost not moment 10 put on the
rest Of my clothes. and creeping quiet
ly down stairs, escaped through the
front door. l ran as fast as possibly
could, and by chance took the right
road. In less than an hour / was at
Parkville. / reused the whole village,
and in a few hurried words told my
story. A large party of men imme-
diately set off for the scene Of the
tragedy accompanied BY myself.
When we entered the house we found
the front room still occupied by the un-
Gle and nephew. When they saw me
they turned deadly pale, and l really
believe they thought that l had risen
from the grave. for they had not yet
that they had sacrificed
Theodore Munsel's son. When they
saw that l was really alive, they as
,umed an air Of bravsdo. supposing
hat l had only come to arrest the clerk
Tor the bank robbery. Their dream,
however, was soon dissipated. for in q
lew moments the body Of the murdered
nan was exhumed. and they were con-
'ronted with their bloody work.
It was shocking to see the uncle's
Igony when he discovered that his son
rad been murdered. Neither Of the
'riminals attempted any defence
Three months afterwards they were
ried, convicted and executed.