The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-11-22

part of his head, revealing frightfu
wound, evidently made by the pix-ax
which must have been driven into hi
skull fairly up to the handle. His hair
and the sand nearest his head, wer,
wet still with blood; and, placing hi.
hand on the horror which he had un
covered, our man continued: 'Ant
he's warm yet, mates; the murderer
was not gone long when we came
here Then, suddenly rising. ht
reached up his hand. saying: "Givt
us hand up out of this. boys; l fee
sick"
We gathered in group, and dis
cussed the matter. That we had dis.
covered the corpse of a man, and q
murdered man, we did not question
who he was, who had slain him, or VIII,
the deed had been done, we did moi
know. nor what we had best do.
At last we decided that it was of no
use for us to try to unearth the corpse,
but that three of our number should
remain at the hole, and the other three
try to find the township of Black Jack 8,
where we should be pretty sure to find
ut least one police officer.
l was one of those who remained al
the hole, and us soon as our compan-
ions had left we spread a sheet over
the dead mans head, threw in some dirt
again. to cover the horrid object from
| sight, and then sat down to wait with
what patience We might for the return
| of our mates.
About the middle of the afternoon
they got back, accompanied by an uni
formed policeman and detective in
plain clothes. They had said nothing
of their errand to any one until they
found the officers, who had cautioned
them to maintain similar discretion
until they (the officers) were ready to
accompany them on their return, which
was in about an hour; SO that our party,
now increased to eight in number, were
the only ones who knew of the discovery
Of the body.
AS soon as they arrived VIC COM
mcnced digging up the corpse, the Off
GERS narrowly watching and noting
everything. As we cleared away the
sand and gravel it became plain that
the man had been struck while engaged
in digging. for his hands still held a
short-handled shovel. He had been
struck on the head with pick by some
one standing on the surface, and the
dirt he had thrown out had been filled
in on top of him again. He had dug his
own grave! We lifted him out and laid
him on the grass.
The officers looked ut each other as
soon as they saw the mans features,
and the detective observed to the other,
Tim Riley, by Jove! and had drink
of coffee from him at his tent this morn
ing: he told me he was going out to
prospect to-day. See if his watch and
money are gone. He carried that old
silver bull s-eye that Jake Wilson ratified
off Sunday before last-Tim won it.;
and he carried that and his money in a
chamois-leather bag in his hirt-jacket.
See if it's gone
Neither money nor bulrs-eye"
watch could be found; poor Tim had
been murdered for his little money and
the old watch.
Two poles and blanket made rude
bier to transport the body to the town.
ship. for we were soon under way.
An hours walk brought us to the Vi
entity of the camp or police station,
where we halted and concealed the
body, the detective going into the
township, and leaving the other officer
with us. As soon as it was dark he re-
turned, and, handing something to the
uniformed policeman, he said: g DO You
know that?''
Tins old bull's-eye! Where did it
come frOm??' replied the other.
Bought it of Big Hans, Tins mate.
jenkins is watching him. He's been
drinking all the afternoon: he'll be
locked up by the time we get in. But
come on, boys, if you're ready; you'll
get some grub when we get to camp,
and Il good place to Sleep
Our CHASTITY burden was soon dcpos-
tied in the camp, and 4 good supper
and good beds were furnished by the
police, though had but a poor nights
sleep myself. Big Hans, Riley's mate,
had been locked up before we arrived
by the vigilant jenkins, who handed the
detective a leathern bag he had found
on Hans person, which contained sew
enteen shillings, and was marked with
Riley's initials. L. H., rudely worked
with common black thread
We've got him; he's safe to swing
fol it." remarked the detective, as he
finished examining the bag. "This
was Tim's.''
During the night the body was placed
in an upright position in one corner of
the room in which we Were sleeping,
and secured there by cord passed UNI
der the arms and around stake driven
into the ground for the purpose, there
being no boards for a floor; a clean
blue shirt was put on in place of the
bloOd-stained one, which was removed;
the face was washed, and hat put on
the head of the corpse; blanket was
then hung up as screen, and all was
ready to give Big Hans a fearful sur
prise, in hope to secure confession
from him through terror.
At daylight the police threw out
some hints to various parties Of diggers
on their way to work, about the arrest
of whole party of new arrivals for
some great crime; the news spread like
wildfire, and curious crowd was soon
collected around the camp. Our party
were all up early, but we were kept in
side by the police, who did not wish
the miners outside to hear of Riley's
murder till they had seen what effect a
view of the corpse would have on the
suspected murderer; but they were not
long kept in waiting.
Big Hans woke from his drunken
sleep, thirsty, and begged for drop of
whisky. One of the officers gave him
some in tin-dipper, at the same time
remarking, "You didn't seem to sleep
very well, Hans. What was that you
were talking about in your sleep? Have
you and Tim Riley been having a
growl?'
If Hans had not been quick in drink
ing his whisky he would have lost 1t,
for the pannikin dropped from his hand,
and he trembled like a leaf as he gasped
out "What did say? l haven't had
any growl with Tim"
"Oh, 1 don't know what you said,''
returned the officer; ''but YOU talked
about Tim, that's all. But come, gel
out Of this; you're sober enough now