Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-08-28

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men. 1t wasn't mere morbid curiosity,
and can't describe it in any way bet
ter than to say it was sort Of vague
desire which could not quiet without
satisfying it.
noticed that the lids were net fas-
tened down. My next discovery was
that the screws were gone. This struck
me as strange, for 1 was sure 1 had no.
ticed them when the coffins were lifted
to the car. / remembered that had
given the attendants permission tosar-
range the caskets to their own satIsiac-
ton, and that they had been long time
doing il. If they had removed the
screws unobserved at that time, what
possible object could they have had in
doing so?
With this question in my mind rais-
ed the upper portion Of the lid of the
coffin nearest me and took look at the
face Of the occupant. He was young
man with full face and square features.
His cheeks were not sunken, and he
had decidedly fresh appearance for a
young man who had been dead nearly
two days thought.
Replacing the lid, passed away to
the other coffin. Here new and start
ling surprise met me. The man in the
coffin was the man whom l had seen IN
the express Office That red eye was
staring straight at me, and 1 was not
mistaken Fer a moment my conster-
nation was too great fer words. eosld
not have uttered q sound had my life
depended on it.
This man who was alive after the ac-
cident, which the paper said caused the
death of Van Scooter and Grlggs, and
who had made arrangements fer the
transportation Of their remains, was now
here in this coffin, to all appearance
dead Then | remembered that .he be-
reavcd stranger had said that his broth
er resembled HIM very closely. But
two brothers are not apt to have red
glass eyes Such coincidence as this
was beyond the pale of reasonable prob
ability.
While yet | gazed at the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened a little
and l was sure that it was a looking at
me [ was convinced there was fraud
here, but to show that | had discovered
it might cost me my life. So l very
quietly replaced the lid Of the coffin and
took moments time to think the mat
ter ever.
remembered my conversation with
the express agent, which we feared had
been overheard By the clerical appear
ing stranger, and could only come 10 the
conclusion that the whole thing was a
deliberate plan 10 murder ME and gain
possession Of the $780, in my charge.
here was no denying that the man
with the red eye was alive, and 1 had
no doubt that the other man was also.
Kneeling down Iplaced my ear close to
to the side OF tho coffin and could hear
him breathe quite distinctly.
remembered that it was the lnten
ton of the attendant who had boarded
the train to enter the car at Redwood,
ostensibly for the purpose Of seeing to
The bodies; and could not doubt that
the three men intended to attack me
after the train pulled out from the sta
tion, and rob the car before our arrival
at the next stopping place. There was
but one station between us and Red
wood. and l knew we would be there in
ten minutes more.
| had no time for hesitation. Instant
action was my only chance for safety.
If could secure myself against an at
tack until we reached the next station,
felt that all would be we'll. In one
instant had determined upon plan Of
action. As quietly as possible piled
several heavy boxes of merchandise on
top of the two coffins, and then 1 knew
[ was safe. Scarcely was this accom-
plished when we ran into the station.
l immediately found two or three Of
fcers. First the man in tho coach was
secured. He was highly indignant that
he should be disturbed on such solemn
mission. But it was no go. He was
handcuiled in less than two minutes and
marched out on the platform.
1t was an easy matter to secure the
two quondam dead men. They were
taken greatly at disadvantage, and
were deprived Of all power to resist al
most before they became aware how
their nice little scheme had terminated.
All three had been we'll armed.
Bound and guarded the three miscre-
ants were taken to Redwood and lodged
in the county Jail.
Before l left took look al them
through the grated doors of their cells.
When l paid my respects to the man
with the red eye, he smiled little and
remarked patronizingly:
y ou're a pretty smart young man.
1t takes midding keen boy to outwit
u.s.
Permit me to sympatbize with you
in Your sorrew at the loss of your dear
brother, just little,' SAID, 'and more
at your failure to get the 100000
They all broke jail in less than
week, but not before one Of them, the
youngest corpse. was recognized as the
notorious Jesse James.
There is no doubt that it was the
James boys or some of their crew who