The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-05-06

/ the circumstances OF IQ6 case, anu now
| I heard the rascals confess their numer-
Gus crimes, and particularly their last
murder, the proofs whereof were with
! in their tent, the enthusiasm of the
commissioner was fully aroused, and
/ he felt as anxious. for their capture and
punishment as myself. He suggested
/ that two policemen, disguised as dig
gers, and well armed, should come to
my tent that evening on the pretence
/ of paving me q visit as old acquaint-
ances, and that after it was dark, and
the murderers had turned in for the
night, we should rush into their tent
and secure them.
This was a very feasible plot, and l
! heartily entered into it, SO 1 minutely
| described the position of my tent, and
i to make it more easily discOVerable,
promised that q bright red pocket
| handkerchief should be hanging on
some conspicuous part of it, as though
! to dry, and having made all these ar
rangements, took my leave.
Well, I got back to my abode about
one O'Clock in the afternoon, and after
hasty meal, not wishing to lose q
whole day, went to my claim, anS
set to for a three hours dig. S&ana g
| to say, l had not been at work five
minutes when came across a pretty
| little nugget, Of about the size Of wal
nut, and a few minutes later picked
out another as large as a crab-apple.
/ 1 was about to pocket the latter, when
l looked up and saw one of the assas-
! sins looking down on me.
" Lucky find, mate :" said he, with
a broad grin, that in my prejudiced
mind seemed to say, g Aye, but it will
/ be mine Be4Ore long"
/ Pretty WELL" l replied, brusquely,
and he walked away.
l found no more nuggets on that Oc-
casiOn; and at ) o'clock L knocked of
and made my way to my tent, where,
after a good wash, l pulled an old gin
case outside, sat down on it, lighted my
pipe, and cody awaited the arrival OF
my visitors.
/ had not to wait long. presently
observed two strongly framed men
strOlling leisuTely in my direction, as
7 though merely sauntering at random
/ through the diggings. As they came
/ opposite to me, one of them started,
and addressing me, exclaimed Hello
/ Ted how long have you been at Ophir?
and where did you hail from last ," and
/ stepping up he grasped me warmly lay
the hand.
/ Seeing what was expected of me,
heartily returned the pressure, saying,
in loud tone, ''NYhy, about three
weeks. But when did you leave sgd
ney? Come i'll man, and bring your
friend with you. Old friends like you
and me should liquor up before cues
tiOns are asked and answered" ," and in
side we all three of us went.
One of the two men that we wanted
to catch was an eye and ear witness OF
all this scene, but it was SO naturally
fpI
acquaintance were detectives could
I have entered his head.
l found that each Of my visitors was
armed with a revolver and Il pair OF
handouts. They were both strong,
powerful men, and more than match
for the others i'll every way. The plan,
! however, to make all things certain,
and to prevent any unnecessary spill
/ ing of blood, was to wait until the rut-
! fans were in their beds, and asleep,
/ when we were to steal in, and handcuft
them before they could wake up.
/ We had to wait many weary hours
/ for this time to arrive, but at last the
/ snoring commenced in earnest, and this
was our signal. Handouts in hand,
the detectives Aept into the adjoining
! tent. / folISVV Athem with my reVol-
yer Ieveled, id e that one or both the
rascals shOuldl PIKE up and be too
quick for then Whey did not wake
up, and the iron ere clasped around
and locked on TIN wrists without theiI
even twinklIng al lid.
| But now they WEI ughly awaken
ed, and the senior offfi r said: "TOm
for willful murder. You must both Ol
you get up and come along with us.
am Detective Sinclair, of the New
/ South Wales police.
Il Inever saw two men so struck witt
III cOnSteVnatiOn ahd surprise as were
4 thosd EvO worthies. At last, one Of
A them asped out, " Murder WiLIful
murder! Detective Sinclair why, yoU
must all be mad.p
"The evidence of their crime are i'll
this tent, remember" l said to Sinclair
nudginA him with my elbow. Lee
us search o,r the limbs of their las
slaughtered Victim"
/. The hint was promptly acted upon
We seized spades. and picks, and i'll tel
minutes every inch OF the ground GOV
cred by the tent was turned over to ;
yard i'll depth.
No old mans legs were found bu
we were not to he daunted, and pro
ceeded to ransack the tent all over, still
!, without any old mans legs turning up
though we spied two fine hind legs of ;
: kangaroo hanging up in an obsure cor
uer.
" Well, are you satisfied ," askec
one of the prisoners. Are you con
/ WINGED that you are ON some wild goos
5 chase? If so, take these cursed iron
off and be going"
, mo, we are not 50 convinced an
] swered Sinclair, with some asperity
"This worthy gentlem&" pointing
| TO me, "heard you confess last nigh
/ to having murdered no leSSthan eigh
$ old men, and such crimes VIII have
T be accounted for. He heard you con
= fess too, to having hid the legs of you
o last victim in this tent; but doubles
t YOU have this day removed them t
some more secure hiding place"
: 8 He told that, did he? the yOun
G donkey" screamed one of the accused
: with a hyena-like laugh. And 50 W
d have, HtOo-old men kangarOos-a
I there are the legs we spoke of hangin
5 up in that corner ready for tomorrow
It pie. All! ha ha! he has brought yO
= on q FOOLS errand, sure enOugh," an
= the roars of laughter the two men il
II dulged in fairly shook the tent.
It Both detectives looked fearfully an
n nOyed, and yet they could not hel
d laughing. Without word to me the
g took the handouts off the men and II
Z Eturned them TO Jnelf pockets. Inc
le Sinclair said: What will you take
l. keep this matter a secTet9 You Sc
1t through this unfortunate new chum
blunder, we shall get laughed off IL
1t diggings, unless you choose to be me
a ciful. I'll give you e5 note out of m
l. own pocket if you will keep, this III
/, unfortunate affair dark. >
le I will supplement Sinclair's of
with the largest of the nuggets l dJ
- up to-day" said, feeling that if beiT
ID laughed at was the general dread,
at stood in the worst position of the tri
l. "Hang your bribes - was the retOl
IN - | would not give up the chance
n .spo,,Io{ir,os oil a worm fnr l.