The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-05-04
Desportes, Williams & Co., Proprietors.]

those with whom he had associated du-
ring the latter part of his downward
career was notorious gambler named
! Ralph Knowlton. This Knowlton was
known william, and blackleg Of the
most accomplished description, albeit
he was gentleman in appearance,
and could assume manners of the ut
most polish when he pleased.
On the night of the 9th Of April
three men played late at one of the
tables in the club-room. They were
Frederic Eastou, Ralph Knowlton,
and man named Carl Clarkson. =
This Claakson was a wcll-known sport
ing character, though he did not Of
ten play at the club, his favorite field
of operation in the game Of hazard
bcing tho racc.course and the prize.
ring. Others were in the room, drink
ing and smoking, but only three we're
! playing, as midnight drew near.
At length Fred. Easton arose, and
staggered back from the table. He
had lost his last dollar! On that day
he had drawn five thousand dollars
from the bank-tho sole remnant Of
his fortune-an now he was pcnnilcss.
Ralph Knowlton had won it.
Knowlton gathered the bank-notos
and the gold into his pockets, and
having swallowed glass of brandy,
| he put on his own coat and left the
! room.
"Don't be down-hcartcd, Fred. y"
said Carl Clarkson, patting the young
man on the shoulder. ''I have lost as
we'll as you. Knowlton has cleaned
mo out to the last red. Let's 20 home
and sleep upon it, and tomorrow
we'll whistle for better luck" And
with this, Clarkson called for glass
of brandy, having drank which, he
went away.
"The villain cheated me !" said
Fred after he had swallowed two or
three glasses of spirits.
COZ course he did" returned one of
the few who still remained in the
club.rom. "I saw him stock the
cards, and I thought l gave you sufi =.
cient warning"
"And l." said another, "saw him
lift cards from the bottom Of the
puck and the hand with which he
won your last stake he had gathered
in his lap, beneath the table,"
"By heavens ~ exclaimed Easton,
clenchiug his fists, and starting toward
the door, "I'll follow the scoundrel,
and he shall make restitution. am
desperate! ] am desperate az Raj ph
Knowlton shall find TO his cost, if ho
does not give me back what he has
robbed me of y
And with this fierce cry upon his
lips Frederic Easton rushed from the
room.
All this was testified to by various
witnesses who had been present in the
club-room on the night of the 5th of
April.
And at the hour of midnight, of
chat same 9Th of April, man named
Solomon Barbour, who lived on the
corner Of Main and Davidson streets,
was called from his bed by the cry of
Murder. It was II gasping, smothercd
cry, but his window was partly open,
and he heard it distinctly. He leap
cd from his bed, and looked down in
to tho street, and upon tho sidewalk,
on the opposite corner, he saw two
men. The moon that very moment,
burst from dense cloud, and cast its
rays upon the scene. One man held
the other by the throat with the left.
hand, while in the right ho held some.
thing that cleaned like krife-blade.
That right-hand was raised-there was
a downward hash-and the cleaning
blade was buried in the bosom of the
throttled man, who was quickly after
wards born down TO the pavement.
Solomon Barbour beheld thus much
from his window. Then he caught
up his Clothes, and hastened to the
chamber where two of his hired men
we're sleeping, and having told them
what he had seen, the three hurriodly
dressed, AMI proceeded to the street,
where they found Ralph Knowlton
dead upon Ine sidewalk, and, stand
ing over him, was Frederic Easton,
with a bloody clasp.knifo in one hand, f,
and the gold watch and pocket.book
of the murdered man in the other.
They seized upon Easton, and qucs.
toned him. but his answers wero wild
and incohorent. Others came to tho
spot, and were witnesses Of the dread
full scene. The clasp-knife, complete
ly covered and clotted with the blood
of the dead man, was recognized as
Easton'sone which he had carried
constantly with him for several months.
All this appeared in evidence, pain
fully clear and incontroycrtiblc. And
all that could bo brought forward in
the prisoners behalf was his own sto-
ry, which was as follows:
On the night in question he had
left the club room, as has been stated,
for the purpose Of following and over.
taking Knowlton, and, if possible,
. L y 49,. n 4 l. d