Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-15
THE DEATH TEST.

"It is a foul and bloody murder, and
may God punish the one that did the
deed But may there not be some life
remaining2 May it not be in my power
to rob the grave? 1t is dangerous un.
dertaking, and if / am found here shall
most certainly be accused Of the crime.
Blood upon my hands and clothes, and
have not touched the corpse. Ali see
how it came. The bushes are stained
with it. The body was dragged to this
lonely spot. Lonely! Who would ever
think Of coming here unless he had a
foul purpose, save it might be geolo-
gist like myself, whom the simple people
in this part of the country would call
mad Yes, it would go hard with me,
especially as ! am stranger, and
though poorly clad, as becomes my pres.
ent occupation, have a considerable sum
of money upon my person.
He drew back a few steps from the
corpse upon which he had come suddenly
and unexpectedly, and looked around.
Without noticing his path, he had jour
neyed to the bottom of deep ravine be-
fore his progress was arrested. High
hills rose upon either side, covered with
heavy growth of trees and tangled un-
derbrush. A little stream found its way
with great difficulty through the rocks at
the bottom, and its waters we're never
gilded by single ray Of sunlight. Even
in the brightest day it was gloomy twi-
light there; and a more dismal place
would have been difficult to find-the
very spot for dark deeds, for murder.
er's hiding And there, before him,
stopping the path, lay blood-stained
human body, as if to finish the picture
and give CORY evidence of its evil char
acter.
His first thoughts were to move on.
What had he TO do with the crime of an
other? Why should be mix himself with
that in which he had not the most re-
mote business? His clear head and log
ical mind foresaw all the difficulties that
would arise should he be discovered and
charged with the commission of the deed,
and the fearful network of circnmstan-
tial evidence that would surround him ;
vet he was a man of the most determined
firmness as well as having tender heart,
and not for the sake of escaping trouble,
or even danger, would he suffer chance
to relieve suffering or save life to pass
unembraced. So he drew .nearer, and,
bending away the bushes, looked scru-
tinizingly upon the victim of some fiend' s
cupidity or revenge.
The corpse was that of a girl who must
have been under twenty years of age, and
the face was one of more than common
beauty. The oval Of tha cheeks was per-
feet, the nose straight, the m04th small,
and the lips, now parted by agony, were
full and arched. The eyes, wide open
and CLASSY, were blue as the depths of
the ocean, and ourtained by long lashes
a shade darker tRa1 her glossy brown
hair. The figure was tall and delicately
proportioned, the feet small and ex-
quisitely arched, the hands white and
slender, denoting good birth and freedom
from manual labor. The clothing, now
torn and stained, was of fine material;
and the diacoloration of the neck, ears,
fingers and wrists=-the piece torn from
the bosom of the dress, end the pockets
turned outward-told that roLheFy ns
well as murder had been committed.
AT once deeply interested, the stranger
knelt down, brushed back the tangled
tresses, gazed sadly upon the sweet pal,
lid face, and examined both pulse and
heart for symptoms of life, hoping
against hope that a spark at least faisLt
remain. But his intellectual and un-
usually sunny face clouded and he
shook his head in doubt. The marks
upon the base Of the skull, caused appar-
emily by heavy blows froW 3 sharp
stone, seemed sufficient to produces death
alone, but, in addition to them, blood
was slowly oozing from, and congeallng
upon, several wounds, in one OF which
knife was sticking. His profession had
taught him skill as well as GOODNESS, and
with extreme tenderness aRd dallcacy,
he made a still closer examination, and
began preparations TO the staunch blood
and dress the wounds.
With this knife" he said, giving ut
terance TO his thoughts as he drew out
the weapon, could even thus kill all
my enemies, make myself rich, and
| -
The sentence was never finished. Be-
fore il could be- dozen men, who had
been watching and creeping near, sprang
out of the bushes, and pinioned him be-
yond the power Of resistance. Taken be-
side the corpse, with the blood-dripping
knife in his hand, yhat could he say in
The situation he bad forseen
had come upon him, and he stood con-
victed, in their eyes at least, a murderer
The appeal to their reason he saw at
a glance would be useless; they were not
Of the class that would look deeper than
the surface. His defense must be made
at another time and place; and, in truth,
he was thinking more Of the corpse of
the murdered girl than Of his own desper-
ate situation, and drawing himself up
proudly, he asked that she might be cared
for.
Whatever may be your purpose with
me" he said, ''af least sec if there is not
life remaining. Tsks your hands of,
and let me see if my skill cs9 be Of some
avail. am surgeon. .-, ~
SeoWliDg broEs and clenched 6sis
we're the only answer he received. They
paid not the slightast attention TO bis
words, except il might be 10 grasp him
even more firmly than before aud harry
him before a nsighboring justice 70 be
examined ard exhibited IS . nOnsterl