The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-05
THE FATAL NAIL.


peddler on horseback stopped at the
smithy of one John Steele, on the out
skirts of the town of T1ckhill. near DON
caster, England. Several persons were
in the smithy at the time, besides the
blacksmith and his son Richard, The
peddler asked Steele to shoe his horse as
quickly as he could. as he wished to reach
Doncaster early, and get to bed at his old
place: for the next day being "Statutes,"
or fair, number of visitors would be
looking for accommodation.
While the smith was attending to the
peddler's horse, another stranger arrived.
also on horseback, and likewise desiring
the smiths service. as his horse had cast
shoe.
The two strangers and the loungers
got into conversation, and the peddler
finally opened mahogany case which
was suspended by a strap from his
shoulder, and exhibited his wares, which
consisted of rings, gold and silver chains,
watches, and so forth. On the last
Corners hearing that the peddler was 90
ing to Doncaster he offered to accompany
him, as he was going in the same direc-
ton, adding that as he was stranger the
peddler might take him to some house
where he could get accommodation. The
peddler replied that he was going to
1.-The Travellers Rest" on the outskirts of
Doncaster, as it was good house, and
he knew the landlord.
When the smith removed the shoe from
the horse Of the last conner, he examined
it closely, remarking that it had been
made in Holderness, pointing out the fact
that the nail was peculiarly made, hav-
ing split in the head, and saying that
that was Holderness fancy.
'I'll keep this nail" said the smith, and
he drove it as a wedge into the handle of
small hammer, where it passed through
the head.
The peddler sent for fagon of ale,
and they stood drinking and talking for
some time. When the blacksmith joked
the peddler about being in such hurry
when he came in, he laughed and said:
''Oh, that's all right. I've made up
my mind to sleep in the big clubhouse,
where have slept before; it's comforta-
BILE, and you take anybody you like in
there, you know" the peddler added with
a wink.
When the two men were ready to de-
part, the peddler took large wallet from
the valise on his saddle bow and paid the
smith. The peddler seemed to make
rather ostentatious exhibition of his wal
let, which was crammed with bank notes
and gold. - Es.t5 8 ~
The two men rode off together, and the
smith cleared his place and closed for the
night.
In due time the peddler and his new
friend reached ''The Travellers Rest"
aud told the landlord they would sleep
in the outbuilding IN the rear, in which
there were several beds. The landlord
said there were good accommodations
there, and promised to make them COM
Portable. The peddler retired first, and
the stranger remained behind to have
supper and liDger over Lis ale. Ateleven
o'clock he went to the outbuilding, and
five minutes later the landlord observed
the light put out.
Next morning neither the peddler nor
his friend appeared, and the landlord
went to the outbuilding to arouse them.
BE found the door open, and on enter
ing the room discovered the peddler in
his shirt, lying on the floor at the far
end in pool of blood. His head was
battered IN, ana near him was living q
hammer with blood and hair on the head.
He was cold and dead.
When the alarm was given it was found
that the man who had accompanied the
peddler and occupied the same room
with him was missing, and suspic.
ion at once fell on him as the murderer.
The authorities were notified and officers
we're in pursuit of the supposed assassin
before the day was an hour older. They
tracked him to Comm bro, but lost trace
of hin just outside that town, on the
road to Sheffield. The keen eyes of the
officers, however, caught sight of horse
among the brambles in the valley to the
left of the road, and there the man was
captured. He was terribly frightened
80 much so as to be unable to articu-
late for some time. Strapped to his sad
dle-bow was valise, ana on opening it
a heavily filled wallet identified as the
peddler's was found. &c.. --.. .>...
Before the coroner the prisoner, who
said his name was Henry Scott, told
most astonishing story. He said that
when he went to the clubhouse the ped
dler had already gone to bed, which was