The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-08-02
THE BUSKERCK MYSTERY.

The year 1865 ushered in the carnival
of crime. From that time to the pres
ent, the era has been fruitful in extraor-
binary crimes, and social incidents of a
strange, sinister character. The causes
that produced the general demoraliza-
ton which followed our terrible civil
war are patent. A million men, accus-
toned to camp life, and the dreadful
scenes of the battlefield, had been sent
back in a body to the peaceful condition
of civil society. It's not wonderful that
many evil spirits should have been nur-
tured in the school of carnage and ra-
pine, and have had their bad natures in
tensified by such training.
One morning in the month of June,
1855, a lady and gentleman entered our
office, and, in the absence of my part
ners, introduced themselves to me Us
Mr.. and Mrs. Buskerck. They had
come TO have their wills drawn, they
said, and asked if could postpone other
business and attend 10 this matter, alone,
Immediately, as Mr.. Buskerck wished to
leave town the following day; l should
be amply compensated for my loss of
time in so doing.
Wh;le the gentleman was preferring
this request in a very polite way, was
studying the appearance of my would
be clients, after the manner of lawyers
who wish to know with whom they are
dealing.
The gentleman was tail, well-mold-
ed, with jet-black, curly hair, black
eyes and n sunburned face. His man.
nerS bespoke an acquaintance with the
best society, and his clothes were a mir
acle of Broadway sartorial art.
The lady was a magnificent blonde,
apparently about %, some 10 years her
husbands junior Her air and costume
proclaimed, at once, wealth and high
breeding.
OF course | readily acceded to theil
desire, and was mentally congratulate
ing myself upon the acquisition of two
new clients, who seemed at once so rich
and so distinguished.
The draft wills which immediately
prepared were extremely short and sim
pie. The husband devised ali his real
estate and bequeathed all his personal
property of every name and nature
TO his wife. The wife, in like manner
and form, conveyed to her husband al
her real and personal property. The
draft wills were then copied by one o.
our clerks, and signed, sealed, publish
ed, and declared to be their last will.
and testaments, in the presence of two
witnesses, as prescribed by the statute
so made and provided. A schedule o.
the property conveyed was attached t.
each will. They were then inclosed il
separate envelopes, sealed up and de
posted, by request of the testator anC
testatrix, in a compartment of our oflic'
safe. A 500 bill was then handed IN,
by the gentleman, and the couple, hav
ing made their congo, left the office.
This transaction took place on Tues
day. On the following Friday the after
noon papers contained a brief accoun
of a horrible murder in Nineteentl
Street The victim was Mrs. Buskerck
lady, who, with her husband, occu
pied furnished house in that street.
FASTENED to the scene of the tragedy
and there learned from the servant VIII,
discovered the murder, the followin!
particulars:
On Wednesday afternoon next pre-
ceding the finding of Mrs. Buskerck
her husband and herself had left tn
house in a carriage, with the intention
of driving to the depot in Jersey City
where Mr.. Buskerck was intending t
take the cars for Philadelphia. Befor
going they had dismissed all the ser7
ants but one Cwho was now telling N
the story), had sent their plate and jew
els to the bank and packed up all the
trunks, preparatory to quitting posse
sion of the house, as in the followln
week their lease expired.
Mrs. Buskerck told the servant that
she wished she could spend the nigl
with her CHE servant's) brothers fan
lily, as she Olrs. Buskerck) intended
remain with a married sister until Il
following afternoon, when she purpose
returning % the house, and stayin
there until the lease expired. Aecor,
ingly, Immediately after the carriae
drove away, the servant went out by IL
basement door, locking il and takin
the key with her : The Key of the froi
door was taken by Mrs. Buskerck he
self.