Huntington independent. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1871-1874, 1873-11-06
PEDLER'S RUN;
OR THE
BLACK DEMON.
From the Maryland Intelnsencer.l

and pursues sn essterly course until
IL falls into the Susque hanna ct Glen
Cave. This run received its name
ohe hundred years ago, on account OF
Q terrible murder that was committed
on its banks, not far frou and just
below where the public road leading
from Dublin 10 Darlington now cross.
es the stresm. ,
Ooe gloomy November evening, in
the year 1878, . French pedler whose
name was afterwards found to be NJ.
De Louis Lassee, approached the
Bald Frisr ferry, on the east side Of
the river, and requested the ferrynan
to set him over the stream. N. De
Lassss travelled on foot and carried Q
pack Of ligh. drv goods and notions.
The ferry Was kept by an old msn
named John Reese, aud he was as,is-
ted by . large negro who went BY
the name Of Guinea Tom. This fel-
low was q good waterman and did the
most of the work, IS Mr.. Reese was
getting old. He told Tom to take
the stranger over, which wss soon ac-
com plisbed. NJ. DeLassee vas travel
Jog on foot, en- route from Philsdel-
phia to Baltimore Town; ajourney
which was not uncommon 10 those
days to take Oh foot After they bad
rea ched the Hartford shore, TON
told the pedler that be wished to buy
a handkerchief, aud the polite French
man opened his pack and displayed
his goods to Toms sdmiring gaze.
Tom soon bought several small ar
ticles, and gave the trader Is note
on the Bank Of England. Monsieur
now in order to ges the negroes
change, unfortunately showed the
savage a large sum Of money, which
made his snsky, devilish eyes glisten.
Tom now told Monsieur that he
could take him to rich farm house
about three miles distant, where he
was quite sure be could sell out his
entire stock, and that at any rate be
would be sure Of kind welcome aud
good cheer. Our unwary Frenchmsn
eagerly accepted the profered bait,
and gave himselfDp to be guided by
the treacherous savage. They ssceD-
ded the river hill and then followed
bride path and went nearly in tho
directions of where Dublin now
tauds, the voluble Frenchman talk
ing in incessautly to bis depoDiac guide.
When they neared the run aforesaid,
it being now quite dark, Tom told
his victim "dat we is most dar," when
suddenly spripging behind his un-
suspecting companion he drew q large
knife and with a terrible plunge he
sen. the sharp blade of the weapon
through the unfortunate mans back,
| into his heart, aud he fell dead iu
his tracks. The assassin DOW search
ed his victim, and took his money
and available gold watch. He like
wise overhsuled the pack, but fearing
detection be left the goods where
they we're. He nov dragged his
murdered victim to the run, aud
threw the body into deep pool OF
water. Now he left the bloody scene,
and made hasty strides for the river,
aud getting into biz canoe he soon
pushed himself to the eastern shore,
where be tied bis boat and left for
parts unknown.
On the next morning the old ferry
man was greatly surprised at finding
TOMS boat but no trace OF him.
Tune passed on, aud in three days
afterwards somc hunters came across
the pedler's pack, which surprised
them greatly. Upon looking around
they discovered traces Of blood, and
after further search they fou d the
body of the murdered man in the
water. OF course they were horror
stricken, and taking the body out of
the water they laid it on the bank of
the stream. They then gave the
alarm, and gathering all the persons
they could find 10 the then srarsely
Inhabited neighborbood, they buried
the unfortunate traveller on a beauti-
fnI knoll about one hundred wards
from the stream.
Some papers found iu one Of the
pedler's pockets indicated that his
nsme was NJ. Louis ID L.ssee, and
that be was a Frepchmsn. There
was no police here then, and although
every one believed that Tom was the
murderer, after it had become known
that be was seen with him last, yet
years passed away and no trace ol
the murderer could be fouod. The
hunters who found NJ. DeLsssee gave
the name of 'Pedler's Run TO the
stream, by which name it has been
known ever since.
q the year l77S, one very dark
night in January, guard discovered
a dark figure approaching Washing
toms ,snt at Valley Forge, and call
ling other guards be was Immediately
captured. The person proved to be
q huge negro, ~ho vas armed With q
large kuife. lie was soon secured
aud laced under strong guard uoiiI
morning. Afterrunri.e next mora
ing he was brought inso the presence
of General Washington and. the Of
ficers Of his statf. lie gave Iii. name
as Guinea Tom, aud ad,nit ed th 4 he
vas from Philadelphia, and said that
be had been promised a rich reward
if be would pass through the Ameri-
can camp and report the condition
thereof 10 General Howe. lie begged