New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-15


was powerful mad, and said they shouldn't
git married; that he'd sent his darter away;
and, at last, that Miss Shelby had married
a rich Canadian in Montreal, whar her
father'd sent her. Then I heern that the
General had quarreled with bis darter's hus-
band, and cussed her. and wouldn't hev
nothin' to do with her. Eff ever thar was
an unreasonable man when he was giIed,
that man was General Shelby.
"EleYen years passed, and / kind Of got
over my love it, and had the Californy
fever instid. So iined train that was
fttln' out at st. Louis to go cross the
plains. One of the bosses was the man q
been so jealous of-Frank Harris. lie
hired me at once as teamster, and seemed
powerful glad to see me. Iother was a
gentleman of st. Louis named Rassette.
Mr. Rassette's wife had been KIND 0, peeked
for some time and he thought { nd do her
good to 90 to Californy, 80 she was goiu'
with us. One day when | was in the office
repOrtin to Mr. Rassette suthin' about the
horses, a woman come in to see il she could
be hired to wait on the lady while he was
on the journey. She said her husband and
her little darter war in Californy. and she
wanted bad 20 go and find em. She had
her veil close over her face, but thar was
s0methin' in the voice that made my heart
futter. Jes then Frank Harris came in and
stood back Of her, near the desk. Mr.
Rassette shook his head. Says he: My
wife is delicate, and would prefer some per
son she knows The woman spoke again,
and thcu hit Frank Harris I'D drop; he
turned as white as sheet.
"He Just said: 'Rassette, she must go
with us if she wishes, but not as servant,
no. not as a servant and he left the office
Yes, bows, that poor, broken-hearted woman
was General Shelby's pretty darter Her
husband had gambled away all his property
and all her father had ri'n her had abused
her. and almost starved her. and about four
wears before had stolen her only child and
cone off with another woman, She had
folIered arter. irwin to keep track Of her
little darter, till at last he'd gone to Cali
fornv. and his moor wife was irwin TO 90
thar. too bODin' to find her little raj She's
now in MarysyiIle, and must 90 and tell
her that I've he'd sight of that tarnal
scamD. her husband. and must let Harris
know. too: perhaps they NAV oft on the
track of the child"
The day after Jim's departure we struck
rich lead; so we staked out our claim,
built our ghanties, and set ourselves to
work as a regular mining company. We
kept n GOOD watch of our former visitor.
however He was called Tom Burnet, and
we learned that his reputation was bad
through all the country round. He had
been SUSPECTED of several robberies. and
more than one murder had been laid to his
charge. The feeling against him was strong
and deep. The bows were on the alert
and determined that proof of his Guilt
should be followed by his death The per
son who had been with him the first time
he visited US was Mexican woman, whom
be had married at Los Angeles. The miners
said that she was not without personal at
fractions, and seemed fond OF her brutal
companion; but that he treated her cruelty.
till she was quite cOwed. She worked with
him, or rather Tor him, IN the mlnes-tOr he
did little but gamble-washed Tor the
miners, and was the obedlent slave OF her
cruel husband.
One evening an old miner, originally from
canada, VINO nad Deen minlng successfully
at CamptonVllIe, came TO the PlacerTllle
mines, bringing with hlm large bag OF
gold DUST which ne compared with the
specimens found at these dlgglngs. In the
evening he accepted the invitation OF Bur
net 10 accompany MIN TO lis caoin anu
spend the nlghV there: some miners who
were returning nome iate that nlght were
by hearing woman shrek, the
report OF a Flhe, loud shouts and the noise
OF Struggling men, proceeding IRON burners
CABIN. Ihey forced the door and entered
PoOr ANITA lay DEAD, shot through the
mead me stranger lay on the MOOR
wounded, Burnets Knee upon his breast,
ana ms mana nololng large BOWIE knlte, |
raised 70 stflke MIN 70 the heafV. lhey |
'elZeQ MS arm, oound MN hand ana 1907, |
and Kept guard over MN I'LL notice could |
be sent to the camp.
The next day Annita was buried, and on |
inc next her murderer was tried by the |
miners. The old man said that soon after |
supper Burnett produced pack of cards, |
md challenged him to play a game of |
,uchre. He declined, for, although an old |
miner, he was unaccustomed to card play |
ng. Burnet then commenced mixing some !
IND of hot drink. To 90 this he stepped
nto a little shed adjoining the shanty, |
where the stove stood. Annita moved to
part of the cabin where her husband could !
Tot see her, and, looking earnestly into the
we of her visitor, raised an empty cup to
Ter lips, and then turned away her head
with q gesture OF disgust She repeated |
hese motions twice pointing to her visitor
md in the direction of the shed. Burnett
DON entered, bringing two cups one of
Which he offered to his guest. This was re-
used. the old man pleading a severe head
che as an apology Burnett made some
ude and surly remarks about the mean fell
ow. who would neither play nor drink with
i'm, and seemed inclined to be ouarrelgome.
The old miner took no notice Of this con
uct, and his rude host at last threw him
elf on pile of blankets in one corner of
he room, and seemed to sleep. The wo-
1an, apparently restless and uneasy,
rouched down by the door. her head rest,
lg on her knees. The miner unstrapped
is own blankets, and lay down on the op-
osite side of the cabin. 1t was long be-
ore he slept and when at last he fell into
doze, he was awakened bv a piercing
hriek. Starting up, he saw Burnet stand,
lg a few feet from him. and Annita, with
ar arms nytnn6pd coming toward him
efore he sufficiently awoke to comprehend
10 Situation Rurnet had seized his riHa