The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-01-28
Peddler'S Run.

The following account of the murder
which gave name to the run, is furnished
by gentleman who obtained his informa-
ton from reliable source. The story can
lar. The narrative, it will I've seen, was
written sixteen years ago. and has quietly
reposed in the writer's desk since then;
CHARLEsTowN, MD, Feb. 1865.
Gentle readers, would crave your atten-
ton for brief point, while relate a story,
not of fiction, but one of fact, that hap
pened in my own immediate neighborhood,
in the good old county Of Cecil, and within
one and half miles of this place. My
story commences:
Those who have ever travelled the road
from Charlestown to the village of North
East, i'll this county, must be familiar
with small streamlet that crosses the
road about one and a half miles from the
former place, and known by the name of
Peddler's Run. This little gurgling stream
glides smoothly and silently along in its
wandering course, unconscious that its
crystal waters had ever been crimSoned by
the life blood of the murdered, and here
too the wild bird of the forest pauses in
his onward flight, alights to cool his tiut-
tering wing therein, little dreaming of the
dark crime that hangs around this spot.
A short distance from where this stream
Ia 81
farm house of Mr.. b. B. Sweet, may be
found 4 solitary grave, marked by rude
head and foot stone, this is called the Ped
dler's Grave. shall now proceed as briefly
as possible to relate to you the story of this
grave, as l received it from the lips of an
aged man of four score years, and who now
SAUNDERS in the silent tomb.
About the year 1885 peddelr in travelling
along this road was met and most brutally
murdered at this place, the black hearted
villain who perpetrated this dark deed of
crime, after having stabbed his victim a
number of times, dragged his Ifeless body
into the bushes near by, and after having
robbed him of his purse, and whatever
property of value that might be found
victim to his fate, when his attention was
arrested by the Gathering of horses feet. On
peeping from his hiding place, the muir
derer discovered two horsemen slowly
approaching the spot where he Stood he
Immediately betook himself to tree that
stood near by the spot, carefully conceal
ing himself in the foliage around him
The two horsemen on reaching the stream,
gave a loose rein to their horses to allow
them to drink at this little stream, but no
sooner had they put their noses to tn
water than they threw them high in tho air
and gave each wild snort, and their riders
could not prevail upon them to taste of the
water of this troubled stream. The strange
movement of the horses excited the suspicion
of the riders, and after short consultation
they concluded to ride up the run little
further to see what discoveries they could
make. They had proceeded but few steps
when one of them discovered what appear
ed to be a drop of blood upon stone, he
stopped to examine it and found it quite
fresh and not yet dry. As they advanced
still further they discovered still more, and
soon came upon the body of a murdered
man, and, although the vital spark had
fled, the body was still warm, and the blood
still flowing freely from his wounds. The
horsemen commenced searching around,
thinking possibly the murderer had not yet
fled, when one of them directing his gaze
toward the tree top at once discovered the
murderer. They called upon him to come
down, which he at first refused to do but
on being threatened with bullet he came
down and was tied, confined for a brief
period, arraigned, tried and fonnd guilty
and afterward executed on the spot where
the murder was committed and from that
time to the present, has this stream received
the name of Peddler's Run, and often, when
a boy, have | listened to the many strange
stories told by the superstitious, who have
had occasion to pass by this spot after
night had set in, of peddler without head
that might often be seen there, and not
long since 4 gentleman from Carpenter S
Point Neck. whose veracity no one will
question, asserts that as ne was riding
along the road after night, man without
head jumped on behind him and rode
about mile. Did time permit, I might
tell you many strange things concerning
this haunted stream, but perhaps | have
already occupied too much of your time,
and will, for the present, close. ALTON.