The Shasta courier., 1863-05-02
s.It;s shoekinr hut frrse .,

"a IL ~ out tto
Relieve my mind. my dear Mrs. Smith,
and tell me the particular -
But 1t is a sscret-a great secret!"
{. With me it will be secure. I'll never
mention itn
& Well, then, Mr.. White has murdered
Tom Jones the peddler.n
Horrible Poor Mrs. White."
Terrible ShockingFs
As blaze of fire spreads over the prairie,
so also spread the news of the murder. Great
indeed was the CONSERVATION of the villagers
as they heard the news. They could hardly
be convinced. But yet the information was
80 current, and from such undoubted author
ity, that they were compelled to credit it
Mrs. Gabmouth had it from MIS-. Brown.
who was told confdentially, by Mrs. Talker,
that Mrs. News was made aware of the fact,
that Mrs. SANDER heard Mrs. Tonguely say,
with her own lips, that Mrs. Wise was pre-
sent at the time that Mrs. Gossip enjoined
secrecy on all, as she related the fact, that
Mrs. Smith told her that she had it from Mrs.
White herself; with such an array of testi-
mony there was no battling.
One week had passed, and nothing had
been heard of the missing peddler. His
friends used unceasing endeayors to find out
his Whereabouts. but all in vain. Rumor
had carried the news to the officers of justice,
but so high was Whites character held, that
it was not until the peddler could not be
found, that they apprehended the murderer.
One morning as White was pouring the
pages of his newspaper. he was interrupted
by the entrance of two officers who came to
take him into custody.
:" Very sorry, Mr.. Wbie,"' /" said one, g but
can't help it,
81 feel for you Sol, said No. ?, but l
must do my duty"
"Why am thus insulted7'
t'Come along, you know well enough"
charged with the murder of one Thomas
Jones, the peddler.
Solomon White smiled pecul ar smile,
as be heard the grave charge, but when he
was told that Jones had in reality disappear
ed. an ashy hue stole over his face.
Squire Clark, said he, 81 am innocent
/ merely wished to see if my wife could keep
a secretn
" Mr.. White, that story won't go down.
We are too wide awake. Now, sir, we will
ask you few questions"
. Did you kill anybody-or not?'
i" did
:" Mr.. White. we don't want you to Grim
inate yourself, but yon admit that you did
kill somebody"
g 1t was not Tom Jones, though"
I" We will come to that point aftera W lille
now, who was it ?'
"Well, Mr.. Justice, said White in sar.
castle tone, . by the evidence of your own
words you are wide awake" so perhaps
you can save me the trouble of informing
you. Do so, and you shall see the grave of
my victim"
''None of your insolence-you presume
too much on your former character. We
shall find out all ourselves
'.Well, dc 500
Time, Mr.. White is srequired for all things
We will now give you in charge of the officers,
and see where you will lead them"
1t was an imposing spectacle; with that
self same self. possession, Solomon took the
lead, and the officers kept by his side Be-
hind them came motley crow of all kinds,
sizes. and complexion which curiosity had
led to follow, After taking them about
mile, he stopped before a tree, at the bottom
of which was large stone.
81 Here. gentlemen" said he, " is the spot
where the deed was done, and beneath this
stone is his body"
By the confined efforts of the two officers,
the stone was removed, and as they. and the
eager crowd rushed in to see the murdered
man, they beheld-not Tom Jones but land
1srrapin ,ohose shell ,cas his pack!
Astonishment kept them silent for mo-
ment. but recovering their senses, they cried
And is this all ? Is this the murdered man ?''
Well, | think it is" chuck'ed White,
- you see, an idea struck me that woman
could not keep secret, even ifher husbands S
life depended upon it-you see the result.
1a ha. ha ~
'' Ha ha, hal" yelled out one.
'' A glorious joke" all chimed in.
A capital joke it was to everybody, and
when Tom Jones made his appearance, none
enjoyed it as much as he.
Poor Mrs. White, when she was informed
of the case, declared it was plot to ruin her
character-that Solomon White and Tom
Jones, were brutes so to deceive her. But a
day or two of calm meditation taught her
useful lesson, and whenever she felt inclined
to tell a household secret abroad. she would
pause as she thought of the MURDERED
TRAVELLER
A.