The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-11-29
This was the way Bob used to tell

mo man in Swipetown stood
| higher in drinking circles than your
hnmble servant.
Il could stand straighter under
more crooked whiskey, than any two
men in the place.
sPshaw? said [, when Deacon
Waterman tackled me with his ever
lasting pledge. that's we'll enough
for weak-headed chaps without
strength of mind enough to bear a
square drink. But liquor never
faxes me. No man ever saw me
staeger, or SO [ couldn't say, Con-
stitutional Amendment without trip
ping. @ m eea -
The Deacon only shook his head
and said:
It'll get you down yet p
'''Not before l get some Of it
down. / Ireplied. laughing, and START
ing over to Dick Flipp's for another
nip
After all, there was a good deal
Of hrag in what I said. But, then, |
knew could quit just when I pleas
eds and that set my mind easy.
Il came into a little money, in
the course of time, through the death
of a distant relative. and thought
Id take jaunt to the city, Just to
celebrate his memory.
"Now, I'd never been lin big
town before; but I'd heard consider
able about the extortions of crack
hotels. and caring more for comfort
than show, l took q room at re-
spectacle boardingshouse.
The landlady gave me 8 latch
key, telling me could keep my own
hours. So, started out to look at
the sights.
"First and foremost 1 thought I'd
take sort Of private census of the
drinking shops. merely for private
reference.
81 found it a bigger job than I
counted on. In the course of the
evening / visited more rum holes,
and sampled more kinds of liquor
than / wish to remember now, even
if / could.
II preserved manfully, but had to
yield at last. Such a complication
of drinks, found, was beginning to
muddle my ideas and tangle up my
legs perceptibly. As the best thing
to do, | got policeman to put me
on the way home.
"sAnd you better be gettin' there
as quick as possible he growled af-
ter me, assI wended my unsteady
way. s-s
"Whishis-th' house? / soliloquized
interrogatively, as l drew near the
place. l don't think could have
said Constitutional Amendment
very distinctly just then.
Il didn't remember the number,
but had good head for locality,
so travelling phrenologist had once
told me.
'Thishisit,' answered myseli
confidently, staggering up the steps
"A man came out quickly at the
moment. and | took advantage o.
the opening of the door to enter.
felt thankful to the stranger, for
was not quite sure. in my then con
/ dition, of being able to manage my
1 night-key very successfully.
i .Thangysir,' 1 stammered. Bu
the man hurried away without heed
ing.
1 "Once up stairs, I felt certain 81
to which was my room. The doc
stood partly ajar, and I pushed |
open and reeled in. The gas wa
turned down to speck; and as
started forward to turn it up,
stumbled over some object on tn,
floor, and fell at length. AS strug
| gled up. felt my hands. which
had thrown out TO break the fall
smeared with something moist, whicl
on turning mp the gas, ! discovered
was blood
"Turning quickly about, a sigh
still more horrible met my eyes
The object / had fallen over was thi
dead body of man, covered viii
blood, and disfgured with ghastly
wounds
"A glance at the room and it
contents proved that it was not M
own, though its relative position wa
the same. was evidently in tn
wrong. house.
Il was sober enough TO compre
bend my danger. To be found ther
with all that blood upon me. for m.
clothing, as we'll as my hands. ha
/ been stain in my fall, knew was t
put my life in jeopardy.
Il heard a sound as of some on
stirring in another apartment. NJ
, impulse was to fee. With wins
speed / could command. / rushe
: down the stairs.
a !" Stop theft" I heard shoute
4 after me.
. ssThank Heaven the street dot
!. stood open. had neglected
close it. Another step, and woul
!, be free. I was in the act Of crossin
the threshold. when q policema
i grasped my collar. I was dragge
back. The body of the murdere
man was discovered. At who's
j, door could the fearful crime be la
but mine? Assistance was calle
: and I was dragged TO the neare
J. station-house.
WHAT'S your namer asked Il
r sergeant in charge.
] : Smith, / answered, with boo
> less lie-worse than bootlesss for n
:, only chance Of safety lay in stickil
to the truth but my wits we're da
=, ed.
:, !, which Smith 2 continued t
J. officer. with an unwinning smile.
= 4iJnhn, replied doggedly.
~ IL thonght 50" be answered IL
iy~
ssAfter o few more formal qnl
q tions and answers. was locked
~ for the night: and s0rry night