Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-10-08
DEADLY WEAPONS.
The Curious Collection In the Hands OF
the New Orleans Authorities.

the New Orleans Authorities.
Eyes. said johnny O'Hcarn, the
property clerk, Il sit here and look
about room fun of painful, mystic
rious, and murderous history. 1t is
piled up with awful stories. Nearly
every article it contains tells a story of
blood. In fact. it is no place for any
thing good that belongs to anybody
that is any account"
This long needle-like concern, that
is rusty now, came here long before
my time, and the record of it is lost.
But it was the instrument used by a
young fellow, in the years away back.
10 kill his aunt with The aunt was
wealthy and elderly; he was poor
and young. So he just chloroformed
her one night, and being sort of
medical student, showed that quietly
through her heart, nearly hiding the
outward end beneath the skin and coat
ing 1t over with flesh-colored paste
That rendered detection well-nigh i'm
possible. Discovery followed, and he
ned, first TO Texas and then over the
Lilo Grande.
Here's another old relic, this ugly
looking blunderbuss. Many years ago
the stiffness of beautiful moonlight
night in the early springtime was sud
denly broken in the vicinity of the
French market by tho loud report of
firearms. The police dashed up to the
spot to find dead Italian, two live
ones, and the weeping wife of the de-
ceased. None of them were armed,
only the dead man; he wore long
sharp knife. They placed the two men
under arrest, but the wife declared
their innocence claiming that both
were particular friends Of her husband.
No conviction followed, but one of the
Italians shortly after disappeared,
and was never heard of again. The
morning after the murder that blum
derbuss was picked up in the gutter.
1t had done the work of the night be-
fore.
This slung-shot as big as mans
clenched fist still has blood on it of
somebody's cracked skull. 1t was
found on Barracks street one morning
lying in pool of blood that ran out of
someone. No one ever knew who the
unfortunate was or what became of
him or who had used this murderous
instrument.
This long. broad butcher-knife,
with its edge dulled and nicked from
striking against the ribs of the murder
er's victim, is covered now with bloody
rust, but was keen and pointed and
had sheen one bright Sunday morn
ing In the past. 1t was put to cruel
use-the slaughter of man who was
running from his fierce pursuer 1t
lies there on top of other knives, hate
full to touch and to the sight. 1t will
be removed some day, perhaps, and all
traces of it lost.
This little thing is a single barrel
Remington, but it severely wounded
one man, and then the shooter COM
mitted suicide with it. The sword -cane
attached 10 it is the weapon that he
first attempted 10 use, but his friend
took that away from him.
Here is the slung-shot that Joe
Martin almost beat the life ont of Mr..
Stafford with; this the revolver that he
shot Corp. Duffy with, and these the
skeleton keys and chloroform after
ward found in the room.
Here Is bundle of axes that were
used by the negro Alexander in cutting
his wife to pieces on the Stanton plan
tation, about nine miles below Algiers.
After he had finished his work of cut
ting her up as he would cord of
wood, he threw her into ditch and
walked off
This ugly-looking slung-shot, made
OF three heavy bolt nuts tied together,
was taken from the negro Noel Bern
ard, who was discovered lying in wait
in another mans house. 1t would split
a persons skull open at one blow.
Here is shelf loaded down with
fire arms gathered up i'll one house
after the enacting of a terrible tragedy.
They were found in the different rooms
during the search for the one that had
been used in the preparation of the
deed. 1t was found. 1t lies in the
corner with two chambers empty.
Neither missed its mark.
This is the Sykes knife, found in
the alley opposite the window of the
room in which she lay the morning of
the killing of Kate Townsend. 1t will
never wash off, for it is part of the rust
that has corroded the long sharp
pointed blade. 1t is kept in red
scabbard, and locked up in the little
safe in the property clerks room.
I'm the same pigeon-hole, and lying
by its side, is STRAIGHTFORWARD knife,
still comparatively bright and new
looking. There are few dark blotches
on it, but its scabbard has preserved it
well. 1t is the Eloi knife that commit
ted the murder for which he hanged
year ago.
THAT flat-iron has story, too, and,
if it could talk, would divulge the par
ticuiars of murder, the mystery of
which has never been unveiled. A
very beautiful young girl was found
one bright morning lying in her bed
dead. Her skull was crushed in, and
the flat-iron lay near by.
This piece of split board is recent
receipt. 1t was used no longer ago
than June 80 by a negro woman. said
to be one Mary Wilson. She struck
her supposed husband, Ike Wilson,
over the head with it, fracturing his
skull, and he died the second day at
the Charity hospital.
This narrow bladcd concern, was
sharp once upon a time, but it is dull
now. 1t was used to cut woman's
tongue Off Yes, this old room is full
of tales of crime, and no one can tell
what sort of an instrument murderer
will use."
Some day before long the regular
two-ycar sale will occur, and the room
will be somewhat cleaned up, and the
clearing will not hurt it in any way.
The style, get up, and character of
customers who usually attend property
clerk auction sales are curious MKT
ure of the different grades and classes
of mankind, and are worth view to
the casual observer. Orleans
Times Democrat