Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-12-04
The Murdered peddIsr.
An Old story Rsteld.

An Old story Rsteid.
One Of the most striking cases of
presence Of mind and selI-possession of
which I have any recollection came to
light in trial which took place some
months since in Ireland. The story
looks like a fiction, but I have reason to
believe it quite true.
A woman was travelling along q road
to join her husband, who was engaged
as. q teamster in the army, and was
quartered some twelve miles from Ath-
lone. She had not proceeded far when
she was Joined by peddler, who was
going the same way.
They entered into conversation
during walk OF some hours, but as the
day began to wane they agreed that
they should stop for the night at house
of entertainment, and pursue their Pc
destrian journey the next day.
They reached an humble inn, situated
in lonely spot by the roadside, and,
fatigued after long days walk, they
were glad to find themselves under the
shelter Of a roof.
Having refreshed themselves with q
substantial supper set before them, they
expressed wish to retire.
They were shown into the travellers
room and went to rest in their respec-
tive beds.
The peddler, before retiring, had
called the landlord aside and given into
his keeping the pack which he had un-
strapped from his back until the
morning, telling him that it contained
a considerable sum Of money and much
valuable property.
They were not long in bed before the
peddler fell into sound sleep, but the
poor woman, perhaps from over-fatigue
or from thoughts of meeting her hus-
band next day, lay awake. A couple of
hours might have passed, when she saw
the door slowly opened and person
enter holding light, which he screened
with his hand. She instantly recog-
nized in him one Of the young men she
had seen below, son to the landlord.
He advanced with stealthy steps to
the bedside of the peddler and watched
him for moment. He then went out
and entered again with his brother and
father, who held in his hand large
pewter basin.
They went on tiptoe to the bedside,
where the peddler lay in deep sleep.
One of the young men drew out o
knife, and while the father held the
basin so as to receive the blood he cut
the poor victims throat from ear to ear.
A slight, half audible groan, and all
was still, save the cautious movement
OF the party engaged in the fatal deed.
They had brought in with them large
sack, into which they thrust the unre-
sisting body. The poor woman lay ST.
lently in her bed, fearing that her turn
would come next. She heard low NUT
terings among the men, from which she
soon gathered that they should murder
her too, as they feared she might have
it in her power 10 betray them. One OF
them said he was sure that she was fast
asleep, and there was no occasion to
trouble themselves; but to make sure of
this being the case one came to her bed
side with the candle in his hand and the
other with q knife. She kept her eyes
closed as if in sleep, and had such COM
plete command over herself as not to
betray in her countenance any sign that
she was conscious of what was going on.
The candle was passed close to her eyes,
the knife was drawn close to her throat,
she never winked or showed by any
movement of her features or of limb
that she appreh.nded danger. 30 the
men whispered that she was so soundly
asleep that nothing was to be feared
from her, and went out of the room, re-
moving the sack which contained the
body of the murdered man.
How long must that night of horrors
have seemed to that poor lone woman !
How frightful were the stiffness and its
darkness.
The presence of mind which had 80
astonishingly enabled her to act part
to which she owed her life, sustained
her through the trying scenes which
she had yet to pass. She did not hurry
from her room at an unusually early
hour, but waited until she had heard all
thefamily astir for some time; she then
went down md said she had oversight
herself, in consequence of being greatly
tired.
She asked where the peddler was,
and was told that he was in too great a
hurry to wait for her; but that he left
sixpence to pay for her breakfast.
She sat down composedly to that
meal, and forced herself to take with an
apparent appetite of the food set before
her.
She appeared unconscious of the
eyes which, with deep scanning, were
fastened upon her.
When the meal was over she took
leave of the family, and went on her
way without the least appearance OF
discomposure or mistrust. She had
proceeded but short way when she
was joined by two strapping looking
women. One look was sufficient to con-
vince her that they were young men,
and one thought to assure her that she
was yet in their power and on the very
verge of destruction.
They walked by her side, entered into
conversation, asked her where she was
going, and told her that their road was
the same way they questioned her as
to where she had lodged the night be-
fore, and made minute inquiries about
the family occupying the wayside inn.
Her answers were quite unembarassed,
and said the people Of the house had
appeared to be decent and civil, and
had treated her very well.
For two hours the men continued by
bar o;da copvaraino and Watching her