The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-02-27
HUNTING A MURDERER.
Thrilling story.

previous to the time Of which I write, a
gentleman had been shot down at his own
gate in Tipperary. Everybody knew that
the murderer was lurking somewhere in
my neighborhood, in the hope Of obtain.
ing q passage to America. An unusually
large reward had been offered for his
apprehension, and the police were
securing the country night and day, In
every direction. One fine summers eve.
ming had returned from o long days
fishing in the bay, and was smoking
farewell pipe for the night, when I heard
the tramp Of horses feet on the gravel
outside, followed by a sharp ring at the
bell. It was. with no small delight that I
recognized the well known voice Of Frank
Butler, constabulary officer, and one Of
my Oldest friends.
When we had seen the horse put up, q
splendid hunter, which had carried the
master nearly sixty miles that day,) and
sat down to supper, noticed Frank look
ed more tired and careworn than I had
seen him before. 1t was not long before
tile cause came out.
"You have heard Of this murder, Of
course, Harry" he said, "that is what
brought me over to night; 1t occurred in
my district, and the gentleman was an
intimate friend. Iwouldha dined with
him that day, but was called suddenly on
duty, and sent an apology at the last mo.
ment. l was told since that he walked
down to his avenue gate to meet me. His
hand was on the latch when the villain
fred from behind q tree; and he did not
bring his life to the ground. You know
this country well 7" he added abruptly.
$50 we'll, that if the fellow is lying out
anywhere within FIVE miles, l think !
could undertake to put you on his track"
Frank sprang from his chair and walk
ed hurried through the room.
u would give my right arm to be face
to face with him, Harry. If you had
seen poor-'s wife her weary, hopeless
face, has been haunting me ever since /
can never rest till the murderer is taken,
and l have certain information that he is
lying out somewhere. Every house has
been searched over and over again, but ]
cannot think Of bringing you into the
business. One victim is enough II il
we're known you would be marked man.
MAKE your mind easy on that score
Frank not one Of the fellows here will
touch hair Of my head, especially in Q
strangers quarrel. My life is in the mos
Of their leases, and the heir-at.law is not
such favorite that they would shoot me
to bring him in. So now to bust.
ness. ] will get the ordnance map, and
we can trace out the plan Of our cam
paign,"
Our task was not such difficult one
after all the ground to be searched was
limited and tolerably open, consisting
chiefly of bog, mountain an shore, will
every foot Of which / was acquainted.
pointed out to Frank each days work OF
the map, and without assistance, and hunt
ing in couples, three days would be amply
sufficient to beat IL all.
/ had brace Of young settlers in train
ing at that time, and, to prevent suspicion
it was agreed we should 60 ont as if dol
breaking was our only objectj according
lly, early the following morning, well pro
vided with all the Hetceteras' for sucl
work we started on our first days hunt
1t proved blank /; but the second da,
showed us that our game was on foot AM
not far of. In little wooded glen W
came upon severalartfully concealed chairs
which were evidently lately occupied, AM
in one Of them | picked up an old pistC
flint that had been thrown away and re
placed, as there was some paper lying be
side it from which small piece had bee
torn as If to cover o new one. We traok
ed footsteps for considerable aistauc
from it, until they we're lost in heather
bog, and darkness coming or, we wei
forced to give up the search.
| don't think either Of us slept muc
that night. When / went to Frank
room In the morning he was already dres
ed. ."0ne word, Harry" he said, "befol
We 70. This man is armed to the teetl
. and sWears that he will not be take
alive. These fellows seldom die gan
I when run to the earth, but he can not !
, worse off and may keep his word. Prom
, ise me, If there is any fighting you vi
act as q reserve, and leave me to- de
with him alone" e at
/ die promise, with some mental rese
yations, and we started. There was
Hong days work before us; all the like
8 places we had come aoross in our preyio
: search had to be visited, some Of the
miles apart. Franks senses seemed pl
ternaturally sharpened. No trace, ho,
ever slight, escaped his notice. A r
: Indian could hardly have displayed mo
= sagacity in following his snemy's trail,
Z II was then that learned how exciting
man.hunt becomes under certain circui
stances.
. Toward evening we reached a mounts
!. -our last hope. There was only one ia
y Of it over the sea, where man would
likely TO conceal himself. That side v
composed Of q number Of perpendicul
cliffs, separated from each other by gre
platforms, varying in breadth from Q
foot to ten /; but all sloping downward q
st considerable angle, 50 as to make I
:, footing rather precarious. The oil
Y gradually increased in hight until
\. lowest, which went right down for Q