The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-07-09
Seleff Sfng.
THE FATAL NAIL.


On the evening of June 20, 1897, a
peddler on horseback stopped at the
smithy of one John Steele, on the out
skirts of the town of Tickill, near Don
caster, England. Several persons were
in the smithy at the time, beside the
blacksmith and his son Richard The
peddIer asked Steele TO shoe his horse as
| quickly as lac could, rs he wished To
reach DOncaster early, and get bed lit
his old place; for next day being sta
tus" or Fair, a number of visitors would
be looking for accommodations.
While the smith was attending 10 the
peddler's hogse, another stranger ar
rived, also on horseback, and likewise
desiring the smiths services, as his horse
had east a alIoe.
The two strangers and the loungers
got into conversation, and the peddler
finally opened a mahogany ease which
was suspended by n strap from his
shoulder, and exhibited his wares, and
SO forth. On the last cOmer's hearing
that tue peddler Was going on to Don
caster, lie offered to accompany him, as
he was going in the same direction; add
ing that as he was a stranger the ped
dler might tahe him TO some house
where he could get accommodation.
The peddler replied that he was going
to ''The Travellers Rest" Qp tie out
skirts of noneaster, as it was good
house and he knew the landlord.
When tho Hlgith removed the shoe
FROM tie horse of the last conner, he ex-
amined it closely, remarking that it had
been made in Holderness, pointing ont
the fact that the nail was peculiarly
made, having a half SPLIT in The head,
and saying that was Holderness fancy.
"Tll keep this nail" the smith said,
and he drove it as wedge into the han-
die of a small hammer, where It passed
through the head.
The peddler sent out for tlagon OF
ale, and theT stood drinking aud taik' 'ns
for some time. When the blacksmith
ioked the peddier about being in such
"A hurry when he first came ia, lac
laughed and said:
ooh, that's all right. Eve IrAde up
my uind TO sieen in the hig outhonse,
where l have oftDn slept before it's
comfortable, and you take anyb"dy you
like In there, you know" the P"ddier
added, with wink.
When the two men were ready to dc
part the peddler took IA large wallet
from the valise on his saddle-bOw and
paid the smith. The peddler seemed To
make a rather osteutntinus exhibition OF
his wallet, winch was crammcd with
notes and gold.
Tie two men rode Off together, and
the smith cleared his place aud closed it
for the night.
In due time the peddler and his new
friend reached the Travellers Rest, aud
told the landlord thai they wonld sleep
IN the outbuilding in the rear, III which
there were several beds. The landlord
said there were good accommodations
there, and promised 10 make them com
Portable The peddler retired fist, and
the stranger remained behind 10 have
supper and Iinger over his ale. Atelevrn
o'clOGi, he went to the Oqtbuilding. and
five minutes later the landlord observed
the light put out
Next morning neither the peddler nor
lis friend appeared, and the landlord
went to the outbuiiding to arouse them
He fonnd the door open, and on enier-
ing the room discovered the p' ddier IN
Iis shirt, lying on the floor at the far
end in n pool of blood. His head was
battered in, and near him was lying
hammer with blood and hair on the
head. He was dead and cold.
When the alarm was given it was
found that the horse belonging to the
man who had accompanied the peddler
to the inn and occupied the same room
with him, was missing, and suspicion nj
once fell on him as the murderer. Tie
authorities were notified, and officers
were in pursuit Of the supposed assassin
before the day was an hour older. They
tracked him TO Coninbro, but lost trace
of him Just outside that town, on the
road to Sheffield. The keen eyes of the
officers, however, caugit sight Of II horse
among the brambles in n valley to the
left OF the road, and there the man was
captured. He was terribly frightened
so much so as to he unable to articulate
for some time. Strapped to his saddle
bow was yalise, and on opening it IA
heavily-filled wallet. identified as the
peddler's was found.
Before the Coroner the prisoner who
said his name was Henry Scott, told
most astounding story. He said that
when lie went to the outhouse the ped
dler had already gone to his bed, which
was high, old fashioned tent bed, with
curtains.
Scott took bed at the opposite end
of the room. This bed had curtains
also, as the room was large and draughty.
He placed his clothes on n chair, and
flung his valise, or holsters, on bit of
carpet at the side of the bed. When he
put out the light, he observed that the
moon was shining full into the room.
He Law awake for some time, but at
length fell into a dose, from which he
was startled by n Dise. He listened for
some time, and heard footsteps in the
room. The next moment the curtain of
his bed was gently drawn, and he saw n
face looking down upon him. He lay
perfectly still, though greatly alarmed.
The face disappeared, and retreating