Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1869-05-20

" was conscious that Hammond was lookin
over my shoulder, his eyes glaring on the paper o.
which I had made my calculation. He saw in
moment that had discovered the truth, and
howl of rage escaped him. I turned quickly, jus
in time to escape heavy blow from hammer HI
had aimed at my head. The hammer crashes
through the desk, breaking the top into splinters
showing the violence of the stroke. He attempt
ed to repeat the blow. I grappled with him, ant
the sounds of rage came in hoarse growls from hi
throat The truth flashed upon me in an instant
he had determined to kill me, and then lay tn
guilt of the abstraction upon me. cried alout
for help. In vain my cry. We were in the bacl
Office: no one could hear me, I felt that m.
strength was failing, as he was much my Superior
in muscular force. therefore accepted the situa
ton that was forced upon me, l must kill him, o.
he ,oould kill me-! Then remembered small
dagger, with peculiar twisted point, something
like a Malay crease, that had been given me by
friend few days before. 1t was in my poke
now. I succeeded in getting it and I struck hin
in the breast with it. So help me Heaven, I die
not mean to kill, but only to disable him to sav'
my own life. His arms loosened their grip,-h'
staggered and fell at my feet, dead!
| stood for moment like one stunned then th'
dire consequences of my act flashed upon me- W.
had been left alone together, ths peculiar wount
in his breast caused by the peculiar shape of tn
dagger-a dagger known by twenty to have beer
given to me-would fix the murder on me at once
What could allege in proof of my innocence
Nothing The plea of selfdefence would be laugh
ed at where were my witnesses? The net wa
around me, with but one way of escape fly
Hammond's friends were rich and influential; if
remained, their gold and power would be my death
But flight required money, and was poor. A
thousand dollars which luckily had deposited il
the safe of the firm, was all I had in the world.
Iopened the safe with my key, took out my
81 900 from the little tin cash-box which held it
and in doing 50 I displaced another cash-box
which fell on the floor. recognized it. 1t be
longed to old Smith, a wealthy skinfint, who own
ed nearly a whole street in Pittsburg, and wa!
reputed to be worth about half Million The boz
contained U. s. bonds I had heard Smith say SC
when he begged De Witt to keep it for him.
Money I must have, and here was money J.
money, too, in portable shape and plenty of it
As we'll a sheep as lamb, thought l he can af
ford to lose it, so, with the hammer and the dag
ger ripped the box open. 1t contained Sl0,0O(
in bonds. I secreted them in my pocket, locked
the safe and left the Office locking the door secure
ly behind me.
went at once to my boarding house. I calcu
lated that Hammond's body would not be discov
+bn roor,;np-sf oho,1f
when left the ofice-but, as fate would have it
it was discovered about eight that evening. Mr.
De Witt, the elder, lost his watch-key and though
he dropped it in the Office He went back to lool
for it, and the officers, for was at once suspected
were put upon my track.
When got to the boarding house, 1 went tt
my room at once. With my scissors cut my hail
tight off to my head; from my neighbor's room
got his moustache dye, and applied it to my hair
making it dark brown; then with my razor
shaved off my moustache and imperial, and tht
greater part of my eyebrows; what left of then
I also dyed brown. Then, with some acid, lef
from some of my chemical experiments, I washed
the back of my hands, dis6guring them anu pro
ducng the appearance of small sores. 1t was ,
DulUlu Ope[dllUu, Uul huaI 10 lAOuCuC pam u
the cost of life? Next changed my clothes ane
put on an old suit, frayed and discolored by wear
which I had found in the closet of my room whel
I first took possession. An old hat and worn
out pair of shoes much too large for me, borrowed
from an adjoining room, and a common handker
chief tied round my neck, completed my costume
Thus disguised, I went down the back way, int
the alley luckily no one saw me. Thus George
Merriam changed into the German boy, Johr
Krouse I spoke German like a native and
knew the accent would alter my voice. Iproceed
ed to the depot-mixed with lot of German
emigrants-tound woman travelling alone on hel
way to her husband in Chicago, and not able te
speak word of English. With her I got in con
versation, learned her destination and persuaded
her to exchange the remaining coupons of he,
ticket which read from New York to Chicago, fol
frst-class ticket from Pittsburg there. There
again laid trap for the officers should they be
in pursuit, and as the after events proved, had
ceverly checkmated the detective
My brains against bis skill
The reader now knows all the events up to the
time when he commenced to follow me and my
fortunes
Nothing occurred of interest until we arrived in
Chicago which place we reached at eight in the
evening. did not leave the cars with the rest ol
the passengers, but quietly hid myself under the
seat. In few moments the detective and the
brakeman he had put to watch the outer door Of
the car met in the CENTRE From the short con-
versaton that ensued l saw that the detective was
convinced that the brakeman had carelessly let me
pass without seeing me; so they hurried off to try
and find me among the crowd.
After they were gone, I left the car cautiously
I was unobserved, and, going down the railroad
yard, got into back street, then by long de-
tour, by way of Van Buren, I at last reached
Wells street.
There stopped at the pawDbroker's shop, anc
buying few articles at each place, so as not tt
excite suspicion, got together full woman's tig
such as German girl would wear, and which
pretended 1 was buying for my sweetheart.
The final article of my purchase was long yel
low haired wig, made for woman, that l saw il
barber's shop on Clark street. Stay, l had for
gotten; I bought three more things, comb,
small mirror and little packet Of Chinese vermil
lion.
That night did not dare to 60 to hotel, no
even the poorest could find, but slept in an ole