, 1870-04-26
A MURDERER'S MISTAKE.
HEt~ Own WiGe'A Throat Cut lMstcnd
Of IA Lodget'b-'rhc 1'er1ls of n Peu-

Het. Own NyiGc'A Throat Cut lmstcnd
of n LodEc14A-'rhc Ferlls of n Pen-
NIoncr.
sfcryra't. East Tan. Apri1 ls, Correspondence et
fhe .Sr,r York sHn.
4 terrible tragedy WAS enacted OH Thursday
Of lakt week, III Que Of the upper districts Of
Scyier County A poor widow woman Of tho
lame Of Stratton had been TO Knoxville to re-
GIVE pension money to the amount OF Sa5.
Ou her return Hhe sought and obtained lodg-
n.s On that Thursday evening, at tho house Of
tne Joe Burkhard, in tho border Of ono Of
tho mountain settlements.
Being much worn with the long Journey per-
foImod on foot, the woman retired at M e.rly
hour, occupying bed with Burkhar,l'B wife
Tho man himself went out immediately after
supper, and did not return until The hour at
which the women we're going 70 bed. lie sat
beside the fire short time, and then inkered
about the room a few minutes, aud finally de-
parted a second time.
Some time in ths night Mrs. Etratton auoke
from An unpleasant dream. She was greatly
disturbed in mind, and evidently apprehensive
Of danger. She tried to calm her agitated
intensified. Tho room was silent and utterly
dark; yet the woman fancied ahe heard sounds
without that bodied no good. Tho money in
het possession was no comforter then-
Finally, unable to endure this state Of sus-
A&
and begged to be permitted to occupy the back
kflc OF the bed, saying that she WAS afraid to
lie III front. Mrs IL, evidently considering
this freak OF tinidity, at once changed placcs
With the woman, and in short time w1s asleep
again.
Not SO the other, however. Weary ~ eho
was, she could not sleep nor drive fear from
her mind. An hour passed In usual silenco-
Finally movement was heard without.
The mu1sled tread Of feet sounded be-
ferc; the house. The door was softly
atcslthily entered tho apartment, Noi.elessly
they crossed the puncheon floor aud
approached the bedside where tho
two women were lying Muto and bro7thlcss
NTH terror, alr. 8. cav one Of tho rnfiians lay
his hand On the face Of her unconscious COM
panion, while with the other be drew long
tic kissing eound made by the kcen blade ~
II cut its way through the yielding flesh, then
the dull grating an it crossed the bone, and
felt the warm blood Of the victim Is it spu1te.l
acrnss the bed and fell upon her face.
Overcome With the horror OF this bloody
ssene, enacted hy her very SIDE IN the midst Of
flcnee and darkness, tho 1car OF similar fate
Taralyzed the poor woman, and she thought
ehc "ae dying Daring not to move or make
round, get scarcely able to control herself,
sle lay, NTH closed eyes and wildly beating
heart. helpleesly awaiting the termination of
The mutderers laid bold Of The ntcless body
ef Mrs. B., believing il, Of course, to be that
of the stranger, and dragged it on 10 tho floor,
and thence out into the y1rd, no doubt to
search fo1 the money, which Burkhard knew
AfTs. s. carried In her bosom.
The latter, tho moment she eaw them dis
aIFcaf through the open door, eprang from
TIC bed, in the hope Of making her escape.
Shc well knew that as soon rs the assaxains dis
covered the mistake they had made, they
would destroy her without mercy. The mis-
cradle cabin possessed one wretched c1cuee
for fireplace. 1t was built Of split timber,
lined will mud. and outside extended up, per
haps. foot above the level Of tho mantel
leg.
Through this broad opening Mrs. S. sav
the Light. shining from without, and there
.hc sought An exit. rlunging through the
bot ashcs and buried Goals, with feet un-
clothed. she clamGetea over tho low wall Of
fouse, h1lf-nilo dittant.
Tho alarm WAS given, and in q remarkably
short space Of time = small company Of citi-
ztns assembled and proceeded to the scene of
the murder. They happily reached tho plAce
in time to surprise and capture Buckhard who
was engaged in packing up = few articles Of
clothing. preparatory to fight. His daughter,
aG'Tl Of u or 10 yoars, was Assistlng him in
this operation.
Tic hardened wretch manifested very little,
II any, concern for what had transpireJ, and
seemed only to regret the failure Of his origi-
nal design. His Accomrlteo had cscaped, but
every c0ort ia being made to secure hiA arrest
1he unhappy victim Of this revolving csins
WAS found partially scc1eted beside tho corn-
crib some distance from the rear Of the house.