The Hickman courier., 1871-04-08
MIsrLACED CoNFInrNcE.
Mans Knayery and Woman,s
Credulfty.

| N%-~ -'ae5 atia DtuuCIot.
! At the battle of Franklin, Tennessee.
in Deeember 1864, when Hoods men
charged the Federal Notifications, one OF
/ Gen. Forests brayest soldiers mar
ried gentleman whom we knew well-was
| fatally wounded, taken prisoner and soon
died. This wounded confederate soldier
lived ID Weakly county, Tenn, owned a
fine farm we'll stocked, and several thou
sand dollars in hard money. He left his
wife and four little children on this farm,
with plenty to supply their wants, and
chose the ilfe of asoldier. Aud he made
a gallant one. When he was wounded
and taken prisoner, he met with one w.
f. Bahon, federal soldier, whom he
told Of his family, his farm, aud children,
and made Barton promise, if be survived
the wtr he woaId inform his wife when
and how be died. When the war ended,
Baftoa Aue "a hts promise he made 70
i the dying soldisr, came and told his tale
i of woe to tie wife. The distressed
widow was sbout forty five and the fed
eal was NOT more than thirty years Of
,ge, but he was handsome and had a
rather pleasing address, aud though he
did not have dollar in the world. he
made up his mind to court the widow
and marry her. He soon told her of his
attachment and sympathy for her sorrow.
He promised to protect her with his
strong arm--to love and cherish her.
''These things to hear,
Would Desdemona seriously incline"
And SO they were married. She placed
implicit confidence in him who had sym
pathized with her, and offered her his
protection in her hour of distress and
SORROW. 1t is said she even bought him
his wedding clothes, and after marriage
turned over to him the farm, stock, and
several thousands of money. He proved
himself business man, everything he
touched made money. Bartons word
was as good as Barton's bond. Anybody
would lend him money and was glad to
get him to takeit. Barton bought all
the tobacco in the country, all the cotton,
corn, or anything that was to sell. To
increase his sphere of usefulness Barton
started store and grocery at Pierce $
Station, Tenn. Now Barton was rich and
a happy man, every body said what a
lucky man Barton was. How fortunate
the widow was in marrying a man of so
much energy and industry, and man
that took such good care of the widows
money.
On last Wednesday evening Barton
caught mule and went over to neigh
bors house to get few seed potatoes,
remained until after supper; but on com
ing home, aud in sight of his own house,
sbraa ,,;g.ola rara haard - g. ~ <..,s.t
succession, then all was quiet as nigh,
could make it, not even the whipperwill
was heard to warble a note over the scene
that was enacted. Here where the quick
discharge of the pistol were heard, tht
scenery is most beautiful. A small
stream divides the intervening hills, anC
country path winds its way, rising grad
ualIy until it reaches small church, o.
house, nronad- -Uhich the greuDd Is iesel
and tall forest trees add TO its appear
ance. The moon, yet young shed bu
a faint light, but yonder in the distanc
could be seen the tall white house await
ing his return. The moon sank slowly be
meath those forest trees, but the star
twinkled till morning, aud soon
"Jocund day stood tiptoe on the misty noun
tain tops"
Then all was excitement. There at thl
rack stood Barton's mule, with saddle an,
bride on. Great heavens, what can i
mean? Where is Bartonl Can it be tha
he has been robbed and murdered2 Tn,
whole neighborhood is aroused. The re
port of the pistol the night before wa
distinctly heard by all Barton mus
have been murdered in sight of home ant
murdered for his money.
The spot where the pistols were free
was found There lay Barton's pocket
book, empty; papers scattered over the
ground; the bag of potatoes lay in the
path; also scattered and near by was un
Unstable proof that scuffie had ensued
There were the tracks of hard and des
perate fight. It was terrible to think
that man would be murdered in such 8
quiet and respectable neighborhood and
that too, within sight Of his own door
Search was made, but no body could be
found, not even the faint resemblance ol
| one.
Runners we're then sent in every direc.
ton to learn what could be learned. The
one that went to Jordan's Station, on the
Mobile road, soon returned with the in
| formation that Barton was live man
and had taken the cars at that depot fol
Cairo, from there be hastened to Chica-
go, where it is said he has wife, and
whom he has constantly supplied with
money during his stay in Tennessee.
He (Barton) carried off with him some
s5, 900 in cool cash that belonged to the
children of our confederate soldier, hav.
ing ''went for" almost every man in the
neighborhood, from 500 to $500. AS
soon as it was found out that he had de
serted his wife, Barton's creditors at
tached everything left on the farm.
This brave Confederate soldier killed
at the terrible battle of Franklin, was an
honest, high-toned gentleman. He com
menced life poor, and by industry and
honest work had accumulated splendid
farm, and several thousand dollars o
surplus money, for his wife and children
in their hour Of need, and we deeply re
gret that they have been defrauded O.
their all, save their land, by this man
We withhold the name of this gallant
confederate soldier because of the re
spect we had for him and his family.
1t is but plain statement of facts, moi
written as sensation, but merely to show
how mean human nature can be; and
how easily it is sometimes to deceive 8
woman, then be her betrayer. IF il
turns out that be has no other wife, where
is the punishment?