, 1864-01-02
The sheriT's STORY.

settlement on the Wabash. The day hat
been dark and lowery, and the evening Sc
in with a driving storm. After supper
goodly company assembled in the bar-room
and storytelling became the order of tn,
occasion. Among our number was gray
headed man, whose name l learned wa
Warren Alton. He was past three-s;ore
but his gestures and movements betokenet
all the vigor Of middle-age.
A number Of stories had been told, ant
finally all eyes were directed towards Alton
Some one had called his name, and hintet
that his turn had come. .
Gentlemen" he said, " If you choose t.
listen, can give you short story touching
a certain criminal that once had the plea
sure Of arresting." .-....
Of course we would listen. ..
"Twenty years ago, or thereabouts,
commenced Mr.. Alton, al was sheriff O
Jefferson county. Close by sharp bent
Of Bottom Branch Creek was located quit
a settlement, called jackson and ninC
miles distant, in southerly direction, wa.
the t)wn of Huntsville. The creek, aftel
bend ng around Jackson settlement, took {
sweep TO the west, and then turned back anG
crossed the track about midway between
jackson and Huntsville. OF the min,
miles between these two places, seven o.
them were through low, dismal swamp
where the road for the whole distance was
a corduroy Of oak logs. On this dark
sunken road, travellers had been murdered
and robbed. Two years before came into
Office, as many as six dead men had been
found by the wayside in that swamp. Aftel
l became sheriff, the trouble was renewed
and / went down to Huntsville to look int
tho matter. l found one of my deputie.
there-a fair, honorable man, named Wat
son. He told me that every cxertion had
been made to apprehend the perpetrators Of
the murders, but without effect. In fact
officers had not as yet been able to fix sus
piciOn upon any person.
! reached Huntsville in the evening
and on the following morning l rode dowr
with Watson upon the corduroy road. The
place was truly dismal and dark enough
The track had been cut through q thick
tangled, matted growth Of cypress, cotton
wood, and running vines; and in many
places the logs had sunk SO far that thu
mud and water flowed over them. AND
this piece Of swamp, by the road, was sever
miles in extent. About half way through
We came to the bridge which crossed the
creek-not bridge such as we usually sec
but sunkcn mass Of heavy timber, pinned
down by piles and ties, so that the stream
could be forded. 1t was near this spot,
was told, that most Of the murders had
taken place.
On the following morning word wal
brought to Huntsville that another mar
had been found dead and robbed in the
swamp. Watson and l posted off with
many others, and found it to be as had beer
related. The dead man lay upon the road
side, about three rods from the bridge, with
his skull broken, and his pockets empty
A score Of people from jackson were al
ready there, and l soon learned that the
murdered man had stopped at the latter
place on the evening before. ! whispered
to Watson that must not be known, and
babe hin not recognize me any more in
public. After this l mingled with the peo'
pie from jackson, and gathered what infOr-
nation could; and at length tho follow
ing facts appeared THE murdered man
was NOT known in that section. He had
arrived N jackson on the evening before,
on horseback, and had put up at the inn al
that place. He had started on his way
=. L. as.1 he