Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-09-09
Ordeal By Touch.

some wears ago gentleman oi the
name ui Elcock resided IN Barbldocs
His grntlcnc>e and Kindness To hiS
slaves were proVcrbial, aud they were
all, IN appearance. deeply attached 10
Hnn. One negro i'll particular, whp had
been selected for Ai- mtciligrnc" and
readiness. II, Mr.. Eirork'~ bpds servant
~ valet. wa- admitted into much ot hi-
mL-t"r, confidence and intimacy, and
the pleasant relations between them
We're well known tn all the nrighbpr-
hood. oI one occasion MIR Etcock, r.
ilertIng that u" diligence and affection
vi hi- -cryaut might be enhanced bv
granting his freedom. made out an in
strum"ut y, fnnnumi- -~ion. by which the
man WA to BE- liberated from slavery a.
soon a he Mr.. E,cprs) deceased. IL.
acquainted hi- valet with hI> intention.
whp expressed hi ypy and gratitude
protu-rlt. but seemed i little dlsap-
pointed al no; receiving iminediat
freedom Mr.. Elrock explained that
the only reason Tor this po-ipnnemcnt
oi hi release was to avoid making an
iuvidiou, distinction between one OF
hi servants and the rest ui the c-tab-
l-hmcnt, who We're. not unuaturully. Il
little jealous OF the fIyorlte. Matters
were thus arranged, and all seemed To
20 on H. before
One morning. however. one of the
servants, coming to Mr.. Elcock' room
with hi early cup OF coffee discovered
hl- master lying acro>- the bed with hi
throat cut from ear to ear. Alarm WAS
given, aud soon the news spread FAR ana
wide that Mr.. Elcock had been robb,d
ami murdered oy some enemy. The
valet, who slept i'll the next room, aud
| had To be awakened in the morning Dy
| the dl>coycrcr OF the murder. was dl--
/ tractci with grief: he tore his hair, and
| gave way 10 cNtravagant griet, calling
on Ibis dear master, "''hl- poor, loved
master, ctc., and vowing vengeance
| on the a->ussin-. No suspicion, oi
course, attached 10 him, IL every one
| was aware oi the intimacy and affection
which existed between Mr.. Eicock ana
himself. UnioI tunately for nim, how
ever. he exaggerated hi, complaints so
! tiansparcntly, that Il gentleman OF the
| inquest, who was well acquainted with
| the super>tition- oi the Africans. deter
mined on IA public trial oi the servants
ot the establishment. One by one the
slaves We're summoned into the room
where the murdered man lay bianched,
and with all traces OF hi, wounds COM
cealod by the graveclothes.
One OF his hands, however. which
had suffered i'll the struggle for life, was
lett bare, and composed decently Oh the
chest. The slaves passed through the
dead mans chamber, some with dread
some in tears, none with indifference
At length came the confidential servant
wringl ing his hands and exhibiting ex
cessive grief. The inquisitor bade hin
, 90 and touch its hand. The man smiiet
and made a ghastly effort to speak, bl
his lips We're white and his face twitch
; ing with fear. Tue juror, with laugh
ing expression OF confidence in his iii
, nocence, now seized his hand and ap
3 preached the body. With face bedab
| Dled with sweat, and with knees knock
ing together. the valet neared tn
corpse; his hand almost touched hi
masters inanimate fingers. when, wit
= a shriek, he fell on the floor with tn
horrible confession pouring from hi
! lips. He had been discovered BY Iii
e fear that the murdered mans bloc
would flow when the guilty hand toucI
I, ed its victim.
SO his superstition convicted him, All
by the side OF his murdered benefactt
3 he told the hideous story of murder All
e ingratitude.