Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-03-25

soon as I had said this he became yer,
pale, and quickly said, "Well, let's
have nobbler I can't stand this ever.
lasting talk about murdered man.
We had our glass, and parted for the
night; but my mind was already made
up. Stevens, beyond doubt, was the
murderer, and must obtain the proof
| am not going to defend our code o.
morals | admit that we often do evi
that our good may come but society
should not employ us to find out dark
crimes if they mean to condemn us fol
our questionable methods of pro.
cedure. 1t was now late in January
ard the weather was intensely hot.
1T was surprising to see how rap
idly the Gleneig ceased to be a river
and how each day the water holes be
came shalower and shallower.-
Prompted by me, Mr.. T. obtained
from neighboring magistrate orders
for the police to examine every water
hole within a mile on either side of old
Jefrey's hut. AS soon as this was
known, Stevens was down at the bar,
trying, I suppose, to smother his mem
DRY In deep potations of whisky
Directly the police commenced search
ing the river, l discharged myself, and
having obtained my check, proceeded,
Or pretended, to spend it after the
usual up-country fashion, which, as
everybody knows, means staying in
the bar, and shouting right off the
reel. This l did not exactly do;
kept myself sober as a Judge; behind
the scenes l prompted everything
through Mr.. I. l suggested every step
that had hitherto been taken, and now
l had only to wait the result of the
searching and dragging these water
holes. Those who know the country,
know that this is no easy matter, and
that it occupies considerable time
Sometimes, only two OF three could be
searched in a day, on others more.
"Whilst this was going on, Stevens
became almost resident in the bar,
seldom leaving it, but betraying the
most intense and childish curiosity as
to the result of the search. 'Have
they found anything yet 9" or Haven't
they found anything yet?' or ''Well, l
should have thought they would have
found something by this time were
expressions that frequently fell from
his lips. 1t was | think, the fourth
day of the search and Stevens had
been drinking hard all the time; on
the afternoon Of that day sack was
found with hlman rem aims in it at the
bottom of hole; and on the evening
Of that day drink and excitement had
rendered Stevens incapable of taking
care of himself and at my suggestion
he was conveyed to the lookup as
drunk and disorderly.
81 too, though perfectly sober,
affected to have been out on the spree.
and was also locked up in the same
place with Stevens, and my name also
entered On the night charge list as
drunk and disorderly. | never saw
such change in man as came over
Stevens when he found 1 was locked
I'D with him. The effects of the drink
were passing away, owing to the
strong mental excitement produced by
the discovery of these remains and no
sooner was the lock turned on me,
than he clasped me by the hand as the
''Groom that had always been so friend.
Iy, and began to cry piteously like a
child. His thoughts were running on
the murder, and l resolved to use the
opportunity. To make this right, l
say, Stevens, do you know
they have found the old mans body 2
1t was in a sack, and the sack was
weighed with stones and one Ct the
stones they say, was Cur lapstone.
The skull is broken in two places, so
that it is plain he must have been mur~
dercd. What made you talk about
him in your sleep just now?' odd
L? What did | say ?' You said ii
they would let you of, you would
show them where his money was"
(This he had said in his sleep) Upon
this he gave convulslve shrek, fell
back upon the straw, and exclaimed
Yes. l killed old Jefrey-but don't
peach on me; they can only bring me
up for being drunk and disorderly, and
III give you half the money. l say,
groom, you won't peach, will you? /
will leave these parts. / have had too
much whisky. Let me sleep; I'll tell
you everything Tomorrow but don't
peach, and II make clean breast of
it,"
"Before the morning broke he had
confessed everything to me. l had al,
ways been good fellow, and he didn't
mind telling Mr.. rs groom every.
thing. He had entered the old mans
hut at midnight, beat in his skull, put
H. Lo1 -, sal - 80 -