The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-13

TENNESSEE, FRIDA
sitting upon the remains Of the unfortu-
nate Coheni -
We will now relate the circumstances
which led to this inquest. The trunk had
been taken to the hotel in safety, and
Fanny, with her borrowed baggage at the
foot of her bed, had slept the sweet sleep
of an innocent maiden, without being
troubled by the ghost of her quiet room
mate. Everything had gone on admira-
bly,, and she arrived at Martinville in good
season, where her father was waiting for
her in buggy. He was surprised that
she had brought another trunk, for her
baggage had arrived early that morning !;
but she explained the matter, much to his
merriment, and he ordered the station
master (who was also express agent and
several other things) to send the trunk
after them in q wagon. This the man
trunks up there that morning, and cx-
pecting no more jobs for the day. his
wagon was undergoing some repairs at
the blacksmith's, and so he could not
promise to send it much before nightfall
However, in an hour or two, along came
Silas Hopes, peripatetic green-grocer
and general vender, who for half the or
dinary fee offered to take the trunk to Mr..
Birch's. He was going that way, and
was always glad of an excuse to stop any
where ON his route, even If it was not at
the house of customer.
On the road Silas examined the trunk
"Well, reckon" said he, II never saw
such common old trunk 60 to the Birches'
afore this day. Shouldn't wonder if Miss
| Fanny'd been a-buying c'rosities up to
| Phily. It's light, too. Yes, that's so; /
thought it ratified when put it in; l don't
| doubt it's shells, or sewin' machine
'Tain't locked neither-Only strapped.
They might as well a locked it, for here's sa
hasp and all. l don't expect it's much,
any how, or it 'ud a been locked"
A slow drive of q quarter of mile now
| followed.
"O' course, there's no harm Just look
in in, when it amt locked nor nuthin.
Everybody else has looked, I'll bet"
Just little ahead was turn in the
road, and a large tree at the corner with
| a nice bit of smooth grass under it. 1t
was just the place for Silas' horse to rest
and cool off a little; and 80 the old man
drew up there. Then he whistled little
and looked about him carelessly. Then
he stood up and looked around carefully.
Then he unstrapped the trunk. Then he
whistled few bars more, and raised the
lid.
On the other side of a pretty thick
hedge of cedar trees and blackberry BUSH
es was Squire Curtis with his gun. He
had been watching for shot, but when
he saw Silas stop and stand up to view
the country he watched Silas. He
had long suspected the old chap, and what
was he going to do now! "Oh no open
trunk, eh and not his either, or he'd
wait till he'd got home!"
So softly through the hedge came Squire
Curtis, and the instant Silas opened the
trunk the Squire had him by the collar.
Cohen languidly stuck up his two attenua-
ted legs, which had been tightly doubled
up in the trunk, was only equaled by the
shout from Squire Curtis. The horse
started; Silas fell backward out of the
wagon; the Squire stood like man of
marble and away went the wagon, with
Cohen's legs dangling carelessly over the
end of the trunk.
aWh6se is that ," said the Squire; when
his voice CAME I'd Him. a.
"Mr-r-rABirch's," chattered poor old
Silas
"That's lie," said the Squire. "He's
not dead, l know. What have you been
doing?"
Silas then explained that he knew moth
ing but that the trunk was to go to Mr..
Birch's; and who the :" corpse I" vas bless
Els Soul and body, he knew nothing about
it, but it might go to-any place, for all
| he would touch it; and upon this he was
for cutting across the fields to his
home. But the Squire seized him,
and forced him to hurry on after the
horse and wagon. They carie up with 1t
just as it reached Mr.. Birch's gate; and as
Silas would not go near the wagon, the
| Squire had to seize the horses head and
turn him into the yard.
1t is useless to endeavOr to describe the
scene which took place in the happy
family on the portico upon the advent of
Mr.. Cohen. Shrieks, fainting fits, shouts
to take 1t away, and general scene
Of horror and confusion which had
fiefef been known, ir ,that paft of the
county, was succeeded by the e&odtis; OH
foot, or in some ones arms, of all the
women, and council of the men. Silas
told his story, not emitting in his fright
his sin of curiosity. Mr.. Birch went
up stairs to question Fanny, and only dis
covered that she knew nothing, and that it
must have got changed on the cars; and
"Ohi please never mention it again Oh
Il VAS finally concluded 10 PUT tie re-
mains of the murdered man" in the
stable for the night; and the Squire, who
was the coroner for the county, declared
his intention of summoning jury in the
morning. That night, however, Mr..
Birch, who thought that Mr.. Durham
might be able to explain this (thOugh how
he knew not), sent the telegram.
When Cyrus appeared before the jury,
told the history Of the skeleton, showed
how all its joints and separate and iiidi;
vidual t6I1es wefe neatly Joined aid artic-
ti1ated BY niearis df Wifes, and pulled from
his pocket the bill and receipt OF the skill
full artificer who had prepared the speci-
men, the jury fOttnd ID verdict Died OF
SOME eatise unknown"
Cyrus then repacked Mr.. Cohen, and
sent him by one of Mr.. Birch's men to the
station, to await orders; taking care this
time to lock the trunk.
Mr.. Durham did not go over to his
fathers house right away, but staid to
supper. Fanny was still very nervous,
and he walked out into the garden with
her to explain 1t sll fully and he et-
plained 1t all to such an extent that she
agreed, before the conversation closed; that
when she travelled in the future it should
be with him ai!. and teey Seta should have