Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-19

my post III Ine SLOTe, dllu pdTJOOk VI
the general horror of the mysterious
and diabolical MURDER as the papers
termed it. All the morning | saw de-
tectives looking for clew, and direct
ed newspaper reporters to the propri-
etor. For time I could not look at
the remains, and was joked at by the
callous ones for being as squeamish as
a baby. How l lived through that
day; how remained at my post until
the coroner had finished his work,
and then overcome by an unconquera-
bic desire / looked upon my victim,
expecting to see the blood gush from
his wounds and point me out as the
murderer. One glance and | fell un-
conscious, and was compassionated for
my sensitiveness.
''The papers teemed with the dark
deed, and sagely elassed it as ven
delta, as nothing was stolen. The de-
tectives arrested several unfortunate
vagrants-one in particular, victim
to drink and an avowed enemy of the
poor watchman who had reported him.
"Three weeks came and passed and
| had grown secure in my safety, when
a feeble, emaciated young man enter
ed the store. was standing near by
and offered my services. He glanced
at me, carelessly at first, and then
without a word looked long and stead
lily into my face. His sunken eyes
seemed to read my very heart. | felt
myself growing confused. and as | was
about to speak he gave shrek and
sprang upon me.
"'Seize the murderer he cried. as
| flung him off and dashed into the
street. | was pursued and brought
back. Face to face We were put, and
in the presence of the clerks and a
policeman he commenced. / remem-
Der every word, for they scared in my
memory.
ale said:
81 live in the back room of the
house which oyerlooks the rear of this
store.
"'On the night of the murder | was
lying in my bed of sickness. when,
happening to glance into large glass,
/ saw scene enacted which. until
now, seemed to have been the fancy of
a mind diseased.
"'This man-and he pointed to me
this man was hidden behind the
boxes, and as his victim hesitatingly
neared him, saw him reach forward,
grasp a hatchet, and poise it for a
blow. | tried to cry out. but no sound
came from my lips. | looked again,
and saw the bright gleam of the de-
scending steel, saw the watchman fall,
and saw the fiend as hesrained blow
upon blow on the body of his victim,
and then-all was bland. had re-
lapse met death face to face, and by
an act of divine Providence lived to
bring this man to Justice Mean
while, ut the recital had lost all con-
troll of myself, and covering my face
with my hands, begged my accuser
TO stop.
but he went on, his voice growing
stronger and stronger, until the end,
and then sank exhausted into a chair.
MY employers dispatched clerk
to my aecuser's rooms, and standing
before the glass he took my position
on that fatal night. His action was
reflected through the circular skylight,
in the pier glass facing it in the Sec
ond story, and through window in
to my accnser's glass.
81 was tried and convicted, and she,
the woman, was there every day, clad
in the dress, every thread of which
was dyed with blood. My bloody
clothes were brought in evidence
against me, and was sentenced 10 be
hung by the neck until dead.
s.I am in the condemned cell, and
in three hours | am to die"
This manuscript, almost obliterated,
and closely written, was found beneath
the floor Of the condemned cell recent
ly, while undergoing repairs. 1t was
apparently forced, sheet by sheet,
through crack, and, as it bears no
date or signature, it gives no clue to
the identity of the unfortunate crimi-
nal or the date of his terrible deed.