Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-12-09

Established Deeenbef I5thc 1850.
The Hunters Crime

woods we're bright in the yariegated
hues which follow the light touches
of frost, a mounted Traveller was
quietly pursuing bis way through a
dark, broad, lovely, forest in the
Western part Of the State Of New
York. Ey
/ He had riddenEthree miles since
seeing single habiIation and had
yet two miles to go before be could
get sight of another. He was de-
scendiDg a hill into a gloomy valley,
through which flowed a shallow but
swift running stream, and on reach
ing the water he permitted his
thirsty beast to drink.
At that moment man stepped
out from a cluster Of bushes into a
road or horse path, on the other
side of the stream. This man was
dressed like a hunter and carried
a rifle on bis shoulder. In his
general appearance there was moth,
ing that indicated hostility or wick :
ed design. He was of medium
size, compactly built, with intelligent
features and a certain air of gentili-
ty-seeming rather as one abroad
from some settlement for days
sport, than a professional hunters.
All this the mounted Traveller
carefully noticed before he crossed
the stream to continue bis journey,
and when they came together pleas
ant saIutations we're exchanged.
Slime weather for travelling, air.
remarked the man with the gun. p
"And for hunting, also, | sup
pose," smiled the man on the borse.
eyes, there is game enough
returned the other, shut | am not q
good hunter, and can only show one
bear for my days work thus far
and that is almost useless TO me. !
have no means of taking it aNay.
I would willingly givela dollar for
the use of horse like yours for a
couple of hours. II you can spare
five minutes or go would like you
see the bear; it is just beyond these
bushes some two or three hundred
yards from here" 20 an,se. a.
81 will not only look at il" said
the traveller, dismOunting and, fas-
tening :he horse, "but If not too
heavy l will take il along for you,
as 4 am going the same way." %
The hunter thanked him in q
most cordial manner, and thens as il
to make himself agreeable and keep
up conversation, inquired where the
other was from, whether jOurneyipg,
and so forth; and learned in reply
that the latter resided in Albany,
was merchant in good business,
and was travelling partly for bis health
and partly with view of making an
extensive purchase of land. ~ e7l
"Well, here we are," exclaimed
the hunter, and the two emerged
from a dense thicket through which
they had slowly forced their way
into an open road; "here we are,
and III show you as fine and tat q
beast as you ever sew. Observe
when l point my rifle
He stepped back eight or ten feet
deliberately raised bis gun to hi:
eye, and pointed the muzzle at The
, head Of the traveller. There was {
flash, a loud report, and the victim
) fell like log, kis face covered with
blood. i.s ,tss ~ as.tsr -7rd ri
This might or might not hav'
!. . been the first crime committed b.
the man with the rifle, but as tn,
, traveller fell bis rifle slipped from bi
: hand and be shook violently frou
J head to foot; yet he ran to his vic
: tim and hurredly robbed him Of b
pocket book, gold watch and chain
some curious seals, and a damon
4 ring which he fairly tore from hi
finger. Then he dfaggedthe bod.
iuto The thiOket, picked up bis rifle
! plunged madly through the bushe
into the road, mounted the 2 trsyeI
er's horse and dashed away fiom th
awful scene. e'i5 = sFai'7s e
! We must now suppose q lapse q
twenty years. aasaii' as1's' e & q