Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-11-28

wound which had compelIe0 nItn Lo'ehu9e'si
his holdal Lights we're brought, and there
sure enough, was the bloody confirmation O.
all that had been related. ~ ,iIto ~ h'1" +
I shall make no attempt to portray the in
tense excitement, the wild rage and conster
nation, which this daring murder occasloned
Every man felt that if the assassin escaped
without his Just punishment, there would NJ
longer be, security for any one in our hither'
to quiet and peaceful valley, and solemn
oaths were taken to hang the wretch, iff9und
on the nearest tree. $50, t.ynl "o'... :, mi
A large reward was offered for bis detec
ton, and every gambler that had ever beer
seen about there, was more or less suspected
and T believe that, had any man been arrest
ed on the following day, hetwould have beer
hung FIRST and tried afterwards. 'C"
? / said less than any, for l had my own sus
picions, and / contrived my plot in secret ane
made confdant of no one. g. -
The murdered young man was as decentiy
buried as surrounding circumstances woule
permit, and his companion, my superstition
friend, grew more moody with grief, refused
10 work his "lead'' any more, and proposed
selling off bis rocker and tools, and quitting
the country altogether. 'a :,
I.think he would have gone at once, only
that told him that would not look we'll t.
leave without an effort to discover the murder
er, as some people might be malicious enough
to say he knew something of the matter, ane
so get him into trouble. ya lr", -.
He turned very pale, and declared that hs
would stay year if be thought by that means
he could possibly discover the assassin OF hl'
very dear, dear friend.
On the second afternoon following the
tragedy, almost every. individual in the vi
cinity, the friend Of the murdered man among
the rest, assembled at my store, at my partic
ular request. I had told them had some
thing to communicate concerning the fou
deed, and thought it not unlikely | should
give them some clue to the assassin.
When all had collected, and arranged
themselves, as had directed, in a semlcrcle
before my door-eager, expectant, excited
I came forward holding in my hand an egg
Then made them short speech on the 81.
perstitions of mankind, which, I contended
had their origin in mysterious facts revealed
from the other world by Gods good provi:
dence for the protection of the innocent and
the punishment of the guilty, and among
other things, mentioned how the ghosts OF
the victims would often haunt the murderers,
compelling them to. reveal their crimes how
land and sea had been known to give up
their awful secrets-and how it had been as.
serted that if the guilty wretch should place
his hands upon the body of the man whom he
had secretly slain, the wounds would bleed
afresh. 81 ...-
"And now gentlemen" continued, 81
hold in my hand as sure test as any l have
named. This simple egg, 80 fair to the view,
contains the murderer's secret. Let him but
take it in bis hand, and the frail shell will
crumble to pieces and show. to all that it is
filed with the blood of his victim. You must
excuse me, gentlemen, for putting you all to
the test. We do not know each others &C.
crets-the murderer of the young man may
be among US; but only the guilty need fear the
trial the innocent will surely pass the ordeal
unharmed." ..-..... .... ...~.,l,
AS I said this, I fixed my gaze upon the
dark visitor, my suspected man; l never saw
q more wretcbed and ghastly countenance'
nor greater struggle in any living being, to
keep calm and unmoved exterior.
The egg began its round. Some took it
gravely, some lightly, soon turned slightly
pale, and some laughed outright. But on it
went, and came nearer and nearer to the man
for whom it was intended. could see that
he was trembling-that his very lips were get,
ting white. =.
1T is your turn now!' I said at length,
in cold, stern tone.
"Mine!" he answered, with ghastly at,
tempt at a smile. "Why-why-should +
1 take it? Poor Wilson was my-my friend. "
"Let him prove so nowP' l said. "All
eyes are upon you. Take the ordeal sent by
Heaven, and prove your innocence-J you
can" ........., ............
He glanced hurriedly around. All eyes
we're indeed upon him, and with look OF
awakened suspicion. He made one desperate
effort to be calm-then seized the fatal egg
with trembling hands, 1'''' -......' .'.''. 80.
The next moment it was crushed to atoms
and his hands were wet and stained as If with
human gore. -.....
A wild yell burst from the crowd.
A despairing shrek came from the lips OF
the guilty wretch and falling, rather than
sinking, down upon his knees, he cried out
"God of mercy, forgive me did kill him
did kill him for his gold his gold Oh
cursed gold ! Oh! God of Heaven, forgive
mew .... ....... .. -
"And how many before him2" demanded
I.
'Three! three! Obi God of mercy for
give me"
There was another wild yell, or rather
howl of fury-a rush like wolves on their
prey-and the poor wretch was seized, al
most torn limb from limb, and dragged furl:
ously away. f. -.-
In less than ten minutes from his confession
he was dangling to a neighboring tree, swing
ing by his neck.
So died the murderer, whose name l have
suppressed, because he had respectable friends
who are still living.
I will only add, that believing him guilty
1 had previously prepared the egg, putting
red coloring matter in it.
HOW MIMPBLEUF KEPT HOUSE.
"Not much to do, did you say, my dear P
remarked Mrs. Mimpbleuf, pausing before
her licge lord, and gazing at him Indignantly
eyes" growled the old gentleman; "it's q
mystery to me what women have to grumble
about; especially you, my love, with small
house, and only four children to attend to
Whereas, we men have an intolerable burden
resting upon our shoulders, and when we re-
turn weary and perplexed to our homes, ex
pecting to find rest and quiet, we are greeted
with the old, old story-'so much to do
tired to death-children so troublesome
and thousand other complaints"
Mrs. Mimpbleuf turned away to hide the