The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-11-13
PARKE 1FOCLY4fE.
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES HOWARD.

The finding of Randolph Rhett dead in
his library, on the evening of October Goth,
1853, gave rise to considerable excitement.
The sudden taking off of so prominent
member of the Carolina Legislature as Mr.
Rhett, was to be deplored by The entire
State, and when it became known that he
had been murdered, a thrill of horror shot
through every heart
AIr. Rhett's library was situated on the
ground floor ofhis spacious and magnificent
mansion. The eastern windows looked out
upon a beautiful palmetto grove, while
tLe southern ones revealed the loveliness of
a flower garden.
helegislator had never married. but his
roof sheltered a lovely girl who bore his
name. His nephew, young Georgian
named Parke Moultre, resided with him.
The youth was reading law under the Col
oncl, as Mr.. Rhctt was called throughout
the State and it was he who had found him
dead among his books and legal papers.
When the student entered the room at 8
o'clock on the fatal morning, he found his
uncle bowed upon the desk very like per-
son mapping. He did not manifest any
surprise at this, for the Colonel often rose
at four, read or wrote till seven, to fall asleep
again in the position have, in a word, de
scIibed. Moultrie-l am writing from his
testimony elected at the inquest-took
legal volume from the book case, and threw
himself into chair near one of the south
ern windows, the sash of which was raised.
He opened the volume at page where sew
eral slips of paper.bad beon placed by some
one, and sudden breath of southern breeze
lifted them from the book. One piece
aIightcd directly beneath the Colonel, and
the youth thought to recover it without
discommoding his relative. He left the
chair and was putting his hand beneath the
fuutcuH when he noted a dark red spot on
tho carpet.
AS it looked like blood, he started and
tried to awaken the Colonel. Failing to do
so by gentle shaking, lie raised his head
aud saw the unmistakable stan eOf death in
his eyes. There was a red stain on his well
ironed shirt front--it was the wound OF tao
Iife-destroying dagger. The Colonel had
been dead several hours. Parke Moultrie
could see this at glance.
He did not rouse the house until he had
examined the room. The ColonePs money
had not been touched; his papers were in
tact Then what motive prompted the
murder? Revenge! Colonel lthett had no
avowed enemies who would stoop to the
level Of the midnight assassin. He did not
fear the stealthy blow.
oh I,o ont
TO say. "When they want revenge, like
gentlemen, to the field Of honor they will
call me-
Pa1ke Moultrie found bruised daisy leaf
ON the window sill. 1t bore the imprint Of
shoe-nails, and it told the youth that his
uucle's assassin bad gained the house
through the flower garden. He had pre-
served the leaf, and exhibited it to the cor
oner's Jury | have said that the papers OF
the deceased were found intact But
mystery now bothered the minds of many.
4 will. which the colonel was known to
have written, could not be found, though
the marsion was searched thoroughly q
dozen tiues. At last deeply buried among
some old letters, codicil was discovered.
| 1t was dated year before the ihuraef ahu
read thus:
'sCodicil to the will of Randolph Rhett ::
/ beoueath to my nephew, Marion Rhett,
who. when last heard from, was IN itch
mond, Va, the sum of twenty thousand
dollars. on condition that he takes charge
| of my plantation and manages 1T for my
child Viola. Iappoint him executor OF my
estate. and the guardian ofmy child. The
other items of my will, namely, five thous-
! and dollars to Park Moultrie; the remainder
| Of NV pronertv. exclusive of the bequest to
Marion Rhett, to Viola"
| This codicil was properly signed with the
well-known authosiaph of the distinguish
ed Carolinan, and it was thought that he
had misplaced the will
oI do not know much about this cousin