Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-06-26
A True Story or the Past.

III was In the dark ana bloody Gays
of Murrell, when his lines extended
from the State of Georgia to Texas
through which he kept up constant
communication with his clan. In
those days it was fatal for any traveller
to be found in his trail, especially
west of the Mississippi river. The in
cident that / am about to relate, was
related to me the other day by a friend
who lived in the country where it oc-
Cured.
A traveller to the west, after crossing
the Mississippi river at Vicksburg,
missed his route, and fell into the
Murrell trail. After travelling all day
in the dense wilderness, he began to
have fears that he was on the Murrell
trail, but concluded that he would
push forward, hoping that he would
come to some settlement. Night came
on his fears increased. AT length he
came in sight of light; he drew
near, and found il to he neat habi-
tation, well fitted up for entertaining
travellers. He called and was very
kindly received by his host--so that
all his former fears were dissipated.-
His horse cared for, himself refreshed
by bountiful supper, he was easy for
a short time; but he soon discovered
signs that he did not like. Strangers
kept coming in and going out, he dis
covered them in private conversation,
which he could not understand, and
which served to increase his fears that
he was among "the 'clan." Finally
bedtime came on; he was conducted
to small Office in the yard; the office
was neatly furnished, with good
bed, washstand, and otherequipments
for bedroom. He was told by his
host that "when he retired TO blow
out the candle.n His host, when
leaving the room, closed the door and
locked it. He now fully saw his situ-
alton. He felt rs none can realize but
those in his then situation. He took
the candle and examined the room
carefully. He found that the chimney
was sealed up to prevent escape. No
windows to the room, and the door
locked. He now fully realized his sit
uation, and on further examination,
under the bed, lo!. and behold Ia
dead man
Reader, can you realize it?
What could he do? What would
YOU have done? Well, reader, l will
tell YOU what he did: heput the dead
man i'm the bed and covered him up,
blew out the candle, and got behind
the door to await the entrance of the
murderers. Finally they came, with
out lights, armed with clubs. The
door opens; they enter softly; make
their way to the bed; the man slips
out at the door behind them, and just
as he turns the corner of the Office he
hears them strike the dead man in
the head but he was then making
all haste for his life. He left horse,
bride and saddle, and all hiscquipage
behind. He made his way bnck to
where he found friends to the cause of
humanity and justice; reported the
facts; got assistance and went back
and arrested the landlord, with Others,
which finally ended in the discovery
of the Murrell plot. They also dis
covered near that place large grave
yard, in thickct, where the murder
ers had been burying their dead for
years.
The above narrative, says my in
formant, Is true, as related to him by
Major Wright, All old citizen Of Ar
kansas. II is further stated that
many of those bloody murderers were
caught and hanged, till finally the
elan was broken up and scattered To
the four winds. +. w. w.