The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-02-24

Then | made them short speech OF the
various superstitions of mankind, which
| contended had their origin in myster-
ious facts revealed from the other world
by Gods good providence for the protcc-
ton of the innocent and the punishment
of the guilty and, among other things,
how the ghosts of their victims would
often haunt the murderers, compelling
them to reveal their crimes--how land
and sea had been known to give up their
awful secrcts---and how it had been as
serted that if the guilty wretch were to
place his hand upon the body of the man
he had secretly slain, the wounds would
bleed afresh.
"Aud now, gentlemen | continued,
II hold in my hand as sure test as any
have named. This simple egg, 50 fair
to the view, contains the murderers Sc
cret. Let him but take it in his hand,
and the frail shell will crumble to pieces
and show to all that it is filed with the
blood of his victim. You will excuse me
gentlemen for putting you all to this
test. We do not know each others Sc
crets-the murderer of the young man
we buried yesterday may be among us
but only the guilty need fear the trial
the innocent will surely pass the ordeal
unharmed."
AS | said this, I fixed my gaze upon
my dark visitor, my suspected man. |
never saw more wretched and ghastly
countenance, nor a greater struggle in
any living being to keep calm and uu-
moved exterior.
The egg began its round. Some took
it gravely, some lightly, some turned
slightly pale, and some laughed outright
But Oh it went, and came ne,rer and
nearer to the man for whom was inten
ded. | could see that he was trembling
that his very lips were getting white.
at is your turn now!' said atlengtl
in cold, severe tone.
/ Mine ?" he answered. with a ghastl,
attempt at smile. "Why-why-shoult
II take it? Poor Wilson was my
my friend y
Let him prove so now!" | said. "Al
eyes are upon you. Take the ordeal sen
= by heaveo, o,and prove your innocence
you can
= He glanced hurriedy around. Al
| eyes were mdced upon him, and will
| looks of awakening suspicion. He mad
, one despairing effort to be calm, gulpe,
+ his breath like one choking, and seize,
!, the fatal egg with trembling hands.
, The next moment it was crushed t.
e atoms, and his hands were wet and stain
$ ed as if with human gore.
4 4 Al,
: A despairing shrek came from thelip
of the guilty wretch; and falling rathe
) than sinking, down upon his knees, h
| cried out:
!, ''God of mercy, forgive me | did XII
y him | did kill him for his gold hi
y gold Oh, cursed gold! Oh, God c
:. heaven, forgive meI'
$ "And how many before him?" d
!, manded |.
t Three threel Oh, God of mercy,fo
give me y
/ There was another wild yell, or ratht
o howl, of fury-a rush like wolves upo
$ their prey-and the poor wretch Wa
n seized, almost torn limb from limb, an
" dragged furiously away.
II In less than ten minutes from his col
n fesson he was dangling from neigl
/, boring tree-swinging by his neck.
: So died the murderer, whose name
have suppressed because he had respe
II table friends who are still living.
y | will only add, that, believing him
d be guilty, | had previously prepared IL
egg, putting red coloring matter into
expecting to see him crush it throug
d his superstititious fears of supernatur
- discovery.
n They offered me the promised rewal
a for the detection of the murderer-b,
70 this declined. Justice was all that
a had sought, and this / hal obtained
n Orient0l CdSket