Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-04-29

well. He then hastened back to the inn, in {
state Of excitement hard to describe. He coulc
not make up his mind to allow such extraordinary
condolences to pass unnoticed But how was ht
to obtain clue to the awful mystery7 He wen
to the landlord, and asked him directly to whom
the cottage belonged that was on the by road
IT wonder, sir" said he, ''what caused you t
take such particular notice Of that wretched littl
howell? It is inhabited by an old man aud his wife
who have the character of being very unsocial
They scarcely leave the house, see nobody, and no
body goes to see them. never heard Of anything
against them beyond this Of late, their very e1
istenoe appears to have been forgotten, and I be
lieve that you are the first who, for years, hal
turned your steps to the lonely spot.
These details, instead of satisfying his curiosity
only reused it the more Breakfast was served
but he could eat none; and he felt that if he pre-
sented himself to the merchants in such state ot
excitement they might think him mad. He walked
up and down the room, and looked out Of the win
dow, endeavoring to interest himself in quarre
between two men in the street but the garden and
cottage pre-occupied bis mind and atlst, snatch
ing up his hat, he made bis way to the street
Fastening to the nearest magistrate be related the
whole circumstance briefly and clearly.
1T is very strange, said the officer; "and af
ter what has happened, don't think it would be
right to leave the matter without further investi
cation. will place two Of the police at your com
mand; you can then 70 once more to the hove
and search every part Of it. You may, perhaps
make some important discoveries"
| He allowed but very few minutes to elapse be
fore he was on his way, accompanied by the twc
officers. After knocking at the door and waiting
for some time, the old man opened the door. He
received them somewhat uncivilly, but showed nc
mark Of suspicion when they told him they wished
to search the house. :'
"Very wen as fast and as soon as you please, VI
was the reply. ~ -- ."'
Have you well here?" !" ~ 81
"No, SIR; We are obliged to get our water from
spring quarter of mile distant y -, =, '.7.~
/ They searched the house, but discovered moth:
ing Of any consequence. Meanwhile the old man
gazed upon them with an impenetrable vacancy Of
look, as if he could not understand why they were
intruding on his property. Finally they forsook
the cottage, without finding anything to corobo.
rate their suspicious. They, however, resolved te
inspect the garden. By this time number d
persons had collected together outside, having been
drawn to the spot by the sight Of stranger with
two policemen. They were asked if they knew
anything of a well in these parts. They replied
they did not; the idea seemed to perplex them.
| At length an old woman came forward, leaning on
crutah. -; :, %. ... -. .:,..: Il. F..
"a we'll ?, said she. lis it a well you are look.
ing for2 That has been gone these thirty years,
I remember how I used to throw stones into il
just to hear the splash in the water =. 49,
'sDoyou remember where that well used to be2'
asked the gentleman. .u -. a. --,-
"As near as I can recolect, replied the woman
it is on the very spot where you now stand. " .,
He suddenly started as if he had trodden upon
serpent. They at once commenced digging ur
the ground. At about twenty inches deep, they
came to layer of bricks, which, being broken up
revealed some rotten boards These we're easily
removed, when they beheld the dark mouth of thu
well.
ri was quite certain that was the spot, " sale
the old woman.
A sounding line, furnished with hooks, was nov
let down into the well-the crowd hard pressing
around them, breathlessly bending over the black
and fetid hole the secrets of which seemed hidder
iu impenetrable obscurity. This was repeated sew
eral times without result AT length, penetrating
below the mud, the hooks caught in something o
considerable weight; and after much time and ef
fort succeeded in raising it from the obscure hole
1t was an old chest. The sides and lid were de
cayed, and it needed no blacksmith to open it
Within they found what they were sure they woule
find, and which filed the spectators with horror
the remains of human body!
The police officers now rushed into the house
and secured the old man. As to his wife, she q
first could not be found. But, after fatiguinl
search, she was discovered beneath pile of wood
being much bruised by the heavy logs above her
By this time nearly the whole population Of th'
town had collected around the spot.
The old couple were brought before the prope
authorities, and separately examined. The maj
persisted in his denial most obstinatey; but hi
wife at once confessed that she and her husband
!. long time ago, had murdered peddler who pos
sessed large sum Of money. He had passed tn.
night at their house, and they, taking advantage
of the heavy sleep which compassed him, hat
strangled him, after which they placed his bod!
in chest. The chest was then thrown into tht
well, and the well stopped up. The two criminals
had reason to believe themselves free from detec
ton, as there were no witnesses of the crime, ant
its traces had been carefully concealed. Neverthe
less they had not been able to hush the voice O
conscience. They fed from their fellow-men
They were intimidated at the slightest noise, anc
silence thrilled them with fear They had Otter
thought of flying to some distant land; but some
inexplicable influence kept them near the remains
of their victim. Terrified BY the deposition of hi
wife, the old man at length made similar confes
sion; and six weeks after the guilty couple expired
on the scahold.
DISORDERS INCIDENT TO SPRING.
In the spring of the year pill-makers reap ricl
harvests from the sale of their nostrums. A single
dealer has informed US that in town Of 5000
people, between the first of March and the first o
June, he has sold as many as nine hundred boxe
of pills. Of course they had been pufed we'll b!
almanacs devoted to that purpose The reason
why there is always such demand for physc il
the spring, is because when the warm weather o
March and April comes, people keep on eating to-
much food, more than can be managed by tn
stomach except during the cold winter weather
The result is, the stomach is overtaxed, the live
and bowels obstructed, the blood deterorated, ant
the patient, for want of knowledge, knows no bet
ter than to resort to physic. The true method II