The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-06-22

/ WAS OesAA IA low Win ueI. 8 1OIOeI
he had spent . great deaf Of his time il
Macon. drinking and gambling. hk'
many other Georgia planters: but s,nc.
Annie Berdan had been at his house b,
had hardly lefs il; and everybody coclt
see that he delighted in nothing more
than being in her company. To be sure
she Vas . most attractive companion
She played the piano beautifully. shs
sang like an angel. and she was sh'
most vivacious Of couversatioualists
'Mas'rs going 10 marry her, said 'h'
plantation hands
That, as matter Of course, would
have been terrible breach of the mat
rimouial etiquette then prevailing
among the slaveholdsrs Of Georgia; bu'
/ Csllow was known 10 be . man Of in.
domitabie courage. and to care very lit
sls about public opinion.
Afte, living with Annie for . year
she gave birth 10 . boy. bearing . nlosi
striking resemblance 10 Csilow.
He was 50 delighted over the birth OF
this boy, whom he unhesitatingly ac.
knowledged to be bis sou, that he prom
ised the Young mother TO marry her al
an early day, sell his plantation and
slaves. aud 90 with her and child Il
Europe.
This promise WAS overheard by one
of his oversesrs. Robert Barber. . thor.
oughly bad man. and . great hypocrite
BARRIERS principal trait was his ex
traordinaIy sensuality.
Southern oyersesrs, IS . general
thing, consider colored women legiti-
male objects of their lust. and Barber
whose worst passions were kindled by
the charms of the beautiful quadroon
determined to revel 10 them.
SO. one day, when his employer was
at Macon. he coolly entered Annie Ber-
dams room, and made improper propos-
ais to her She Indignantly repelled
him, and finally drove him from her
presence.
When Csllow came home she told
him what had occurred. The planter
flew into towering passion. and arm.
ing himself with . heavy cowhide. be-
labored Barber with it for ct least ten
minutes Howling aud yelling. the
oyerseer fsd from the premises. lie
went to Macon and drew from the bank
. few hundred dollars which he had OH
deposit there. Then he disappeared
from the neighborhood.
Two months later. Mary Roqueby
and Robert Barber arrived near CAL
lows plantation in . buggy driven by
the former overseer 1t was about dusk
when Mary Roqueby sligLtsd.
Il shsll hold my interview with him
in the back parlor. The window will
be open. she SAID. significantly.
Fifteen minutes later she entered
Callow's house. Her step-fsther him
self received her in the hallway. Mary
told him she wanted to see him on bus
iness.
Come with mo in the back parlor.
father" she said. with forced calmness.
Il must have = private interview with
YOU"
Csllow led the way to the back par.
lor and lighted the lamp on the centre
table.
They sat down. and Mary requested
him to open the window He raised
the sash. and .. the same moment the
report Of rifle resounded, and the
planter, with . loud shrek, staggered
back
He pressed his hand against his left
breast. A bullet had pierced his heart.
Six seconds later he sank TO the floor,
and expired with . Groan.
Now Barber's face appeared for a
minute in the window, but Mary Ro.
queby motioned him away. Then she
deliberately drew Q doubled d-bsrreled
pistol and fred one of the bullets into
her step fathers corpse.
The report Of this second shot
brought Annie Berdan. who had been
alone in the house with her baby, into
the room.
Seeing the prsstrate body Of the
father If her child on the floor, she
flung herself upon it with O shrill cry
Of despair.
Mary Roqueby burst into scornful
laughter.
Thro~ing the double barrsled pistol
towards her. she left the room. uttering
only the word, "Murderess.
An hour later she appeared with Rob
or, Barber At the Office Of a justice of
peace, IN Macon, and there charged
Annie Berdan with having shot her
step-iather in her presence in conse-
quence of . violent alteration she had
had with him.
Barber confirmed the accusation.
The qusdroon Was arrested. and came
near being lynched by some white loaf
ers, Who we're always on hand on such
occasions.
The coroner who held the inquest over
Caiiow's remains was, however, . con
scieatious man.
He found the rife ballet in Caliow's
heart. and caused both Mary Roqueby
and Barber 10 be arrested on suspicion.
Barber. who ., heart was an srrant
coward. MAS so frightened when be VAS
lodged in Jail that be made full con-
fs.sion. but charged Mary Ro9ueby
with having inssigs.ed the deed Mary
became frigh,fully excited upo. hear
ing her accomplice's confession. She
gave . circums,antisi account of the
murder. and said .ha, she would not
have connived .: il but for her solemn
conviction .ha. Callo~ had poisoned
her mother No indictment Was found
against her. bat Barber wss triad for
murier. convicted. and hangs. on the
i9,h # MAY. 1896
Ami. Bsrdan WAS tli-charS,d and