The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-08

entered the house, and Burton, alter or.
derlpg the men in front Of him, sat down
10 breakfast with his gun resting against
the bed and in easy reach. Thomas,
who was thin and very pale, acted As
spokesman, informing him that they had a
few days before escaped from a Federal
prison ut Springfield, and that they were
on their way South. They had heard Of
him, and knowing that he was we'll pro.
yidCd with such things, came to him for
horses, clothing and arms. They pro.
Iesscd to be able and willing to pay when
they reached home, and promised 10 send
him the money. Burton replied that he
had no more sympathy for SOutherner
than for Northern man, and that he
had no friends. lie murdered and robbed
both sides, and did not propose 10 assist
any ono. The men urged that they were
perishing with the clothing they had on,
and would either freeze or starve 10 death
II he did not assist them. Burton said he
could furnish them with an easier death,
and thought he had better kill them and
put them out OF their trouble. Look
ing ut Thomas cmaciatcd figure
and white face, ho added, with hOr.
rible humor, that the skeleton could not
live long anyway, and might as well be
hustled out Of the world at once. The two
men, whose teeth were Chattering with
fear and cold, but dared not approach the
fire without permission, stood In silence
while he munChcd his breakfast and Ut
tered his glastly jokes. lie at Inst finish.
ed his meal, and, picking up his rifle,
placed 1t across his knees as he seated
himself IN front Of the fire, and gave them
permission 10 approach. They drew up
chairs ind seated themselves on each side
Of him, and again urged him to give them
horses and arms, saying that Il could at.
ford him no qualification 10 kill two mis-
cradle devils like them, and that they
would he forever grateful TO him for as.
sistanCe. Burton told them to stop their
talk, anl he would let them know what
he would do with them after he had
smoked pipe. Drawing his pipe from
his pocket, h0slowly whitfield some tobac.
co from hard twist and filled the bowl.
Thomas, who was ut his right hand,
reached out, and raising the heavy iron
poker in his hand, pokGd an ember out of
the fire for him to light his pipe with.
Burton stopped down TO put it In the bowl,
when Thomas, with the spring OF a pan.
ther, gained his feet and deal the ruflian
fearful blow across the back OF his head
with the poker. His companion ut the
same instant graspcd the muzzlC of the
rifle and snatChed 1t from his lap Bur
ton pitched forward on the hearth, but.
although stunned, still cndeavOred
to clutch at his riilc.stoCk. Thorn
as hnd no intention OF allowing
his advantage 10 slip from him, and
while Burton was still on his hands aud
knees, sprung on his back, and using both
his hands, showered blow alter blow upon
his head, crushing his skull in at almost
every stroke. When satisfied at last that
the wretch was dead, Thomas dropped
tho poker and the two men completely
unnervcd with the terrible struggle,
laughed Historically. The woman, who
had been terrified spectator Of the scene,
and who had, after the first blow, wrung
her handsAnd cried, "For Gods sake don't
let him get up or we are lost" fell to the
floor in dead faint. The soldiers dashed
n part Of the contents Of q water bucket
over her, and soon restored her. to con-
seriousness. They then took Burton's
rifle and silG arms and started for the
camp, leaving the body on the hearth.
They mad proceeded but about q quarter
Of mile when they heard tho woman
scream, and, turning, saw her Reckoning
for them TO return. Not knowing what
she wanted they ran back and saw the
most horrible sight they had ever wit
messed. Burton, whom they had suppos.
ed dead, still had spark OF life in his
ugly body, and alter they left had gained
his hands and knees and cndcaVored to
crawl away.
His eyes were pounded from the sockets,
and, as his head was beaten to jelly, he
Of course knew nothing, although he had
grOped around until he had found the
door, and on his hands and knees was
crawling away over the dead grass.
Thomas and his companion gaSel on
the blood'curdling spectacle moment,
and then seizing the AK at the wood pile
hcwcd the head from the trunk, and, anx.
ious to get away from tho spot, dropped
the weapons, and still bearing the CORY
head ran toward their camp. They reach.
cd it in about two hours time, and, cXhib.
iting tho head, related the story TO their
Colonel. Several of the soldiers rCCog.
nizCd the head us that Of Burton, and the
two men had no difficulty in obtaining the
reward. Their exploit made them heroes
in that portion Of tho country, and il was
principally owing TO his reputation and
the start in life obtained through the re-
ward that Thomas alterward married the
daughter of the Colonel of his regiment
lie is now living in the southern part Of
this State, and with u modest competence
and u charming family, is as happy rs he
could desire To bG. Even ut this day he
is disinclInGd to speak of his adventure,
and shuddCrs Involuntary when the sub.
iect is alluded TO- What became of his
companion our informant was unable 10
state.
Thomas, accompanied by some soldiers
from his company, and under tho guild
anCC Of the boy who had summoned Bur.
ton for them, visited the robbers cave Il
day or two after the adventure, and there
found q large pile of arms OF all dcscript.
tons, number Of watches, quite large
sum Of money, and over fifty suits Of
clothes the monster had stripped from
the bodies Of his victims.
III the breast Of almost every coat was
found bullet hole, and in the heaps of
garments the Southern gray and the
Northern blue were Unfortunately
piled. What became Of the plumber Is
not clear, but 1t probably fell to Thomas
and his friend. Both men atterward re.
GREETED that they had left Burtons rifle in
tho cabin, as it was not to DO found when
they returned and looked for II. They
solcmnly declared that the stock contain.
ed u row Of notchcs, reaching from the
brGech to the muzzlo, aud that Burton