East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-07-21
EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, JULY 81, 1863

stopped by your cutthroats, on my way
to the plantation OF one Bretual, who is
said to reside in these parts And now,
having answered. your question, may
take the liberty to PROFOUND similar
one, and inquire what brought you hereY
"Wby, my vocation, of course" he
replied with a merry lnugh. al heard
from ono of my spies that a well.dressed
individual was approaching on horse.
back, and sailed forth to give him a
surprise but the surpriser was in this
instance surprised. L felt a strange
aversion for presenting myself, aud gave
the business into the hands of my lieu.
tenant. The sound of pistol-shots recall.
ed me from the painful reverie itno which
| had fallen, and | hurried forward, in.
tending to command your release. /
reached the margin of the road just ms
my men were raising their knives to
strike, and was petriied with astonish.
ment when | beheld your face. You
know the rest-and more," he added,
his voice taking lower, softer intona.
ton as he spoke. "You know that my
everlasting gratitude is yours, for your
generous and selfdenying care of me
when incapable of caring for myself"
he continued 1.-The description l
gave you of the famous robber was cor
rect, taking off his hat as he spoke,
and disclosing head of brown hair. l
had assumed that disguise in order to
avert suspicion. There was, on board
the Crescent City large amount of mon
ey and plate, which had determined
to obtain possession of at any risk. My
plot was in fair way for succeeding,
when it was prevented by that unlucky
fever, through which you nursed me so
tenderly? Here we part, probably for.
ever; but first accept this ring, holding
out to me glit.ering circlet of dia.
monds, Then seeing me hesitate, he
said, while a look of pain crossed his fea.
tures:---"Take it; came honestly by
it it was my mothers" t.,
A tear trembled on his dark lashes as
he spoke, and dropped upon his bronzed
check. The mention of that ''mothcr'
had stirred the fountains Of his soul and
the strong man wept.
l urged him earnestly, as / took the
ring, to abandon his present way of life.
But lie replied while sad smile broke
over his countenance--a smile such as
fallen angel might have given as he
gazcd once more on paradise:
"No, my friend; it is impossible. i
ion, to- ,f% no @ turning back }srf }Sr me- Farewell
my friend, may God bless you ~
He wrung my hand and Mas gone
Gone, while stood gazing after him,
like one in dream / mounted my
horse, and rode slowly and sadly back
to the city,thinking sorrowfuly Of this
man, whose splendid talents might have
raised him to stations of power and hon.
or; but which, prosttuted to the lowest,
basest purposes, would probably bring
him to the gallows.
/ never saw him but once since. 1
was being shown by the warden over
the Tennessee State Prison, several
years afterwards, when, on reaching the
workroom, l saw face with melancholy
black eyes, which brought back the
memory of other days His glance en-
countered my own, he started, turned
pale and red by turns aud respecting
his grief and shame, / was about to
withdraw my earnest gaze, when the
warden, mistaking my emotion for Gu
riosity said ,.I..
"That sir, is the famous land-pirate,
robber and murderer, once the terror
of Tennessee j Ohm A. Murrell
i turned and left the prison with a
saddened heart.