The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-01-20
THE DRIVERS CONFESSION.
NJ G. ,, I. !.

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Perhaps some Of the readers Of this pa
per may remember the Eaton murder
which occurred in Central Pennsylvania
about 20 years ago. A rich old widow
was brutally murdered by masked rufh-
m at midnight, and the detective spent
whole year trying to catch the murderer.
At that time my brother and owned
several stage routes in Virginia. having in
our employ about eighteen drivers. There
Vas good deal Of changing about, for
some cot sick Of driving. aud others wore
out, and it Was nothing strange for two or
three men day to apply at our Office for
situations. AS a general thing We knew
nothing about our drivers. nor did We care
to. They we're given 50 much per month.
we're expected 10 make certain round, and
some Of them we're hardly seen by US once
a month. "*s
Ous day, about year after the Eaton
murder, and when the public bad nearly
forgotten the affair. stranger came into
the Office and inquired for drivers. .situa-
tion. Twas glad to see him, for No. III
vas under the weather and wanted to 20
home. The stranger said his name was
Charles Green. and he professed to have a
good knowledge OF horses. lie WIS .
strange fellow. lie was restless, bad tbe
look Of one who was dfeadTng some great
blow. and his face aud build went TO show
that be would be more at home behind q
desk than on n driver seat. a
However, be wanted the place, aud |
wanted driver, and il was soon soon set
tied thai be was to take the Deerville route.
This was y short trip Of thirty miles. The
stage left K-----abolt one o'clock in the
afternoon ana reached Dserville at mid
night. and cams back on the same time.
The rule was TO give driver lay OF
Of one day out Of four. or pay him for -ex-
ira time.
Green took the stage out the day hired
him. The men around the barn noticed
his nervous actions aud haunted look. and
some Of them said that the new man would
have case of the delirium tremens if he
didn't look out. Ne took his stage through
all right. came back on time. and didn't
hear anything moro Of him for week. lie
seldom leet the beiel excep.as he mounted
1.-THE stage. and mntled up in such strange
manner that oue could not help wondering
at 10.
AZ The end q a week, his stage came
into town one night with the horses on the
dead ran. and Green was almost crazy
with ezcitemcut. he had no passengers.
land be said that as he was enmin6 W tho
swamp. about three miles from the ety.
the figure of woman dressed, in
white, had taken a seat on the box beside
him. The man was terribly frightened.
and could not sec that be bad been
drinking. When Ireprimanded bim for
running bis horses be said 70 ne, with
great earnestness;
Il know you don't believe II. but ss
lsure as heaven is above Us saw woman,
lghosl. and il tried 70 catch my thrOat with
its bloody hands,
thought lie was going crazy. but next
morning be seemed all right and went out
rs usual. Travel was pretty COED. and
for the next ten Gays the stage had som,
each way. Green's conduct had almost
been forgotten when he repeated u coming
) into town witAhis horses at fell gallop.
wss routed out hy the excitement. aud b,
! came 10 me and said he had seen the ghnsl
again. There we're no passengers thai
night, and the spirit bad sat on bis shoul.
J der.
you see this was lcng time ago. ant
! there we're plenty q beiiesop 10 the sa,
. pernatural. Ail. ,he men aronnd III,
barns believed tkat No 70 bad actually
seen ghost. aud same % tho driver
talked Of fquiiting. | prosised 10 inyes
J Iligate The matter, and gtould have dis
chsred Green bas' or The sympath,