Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-11-25

- - IN Il IL inbsr-4A1
ss1neer bssfds ne, Ire murders,
~ passed aufoss ~ mind. I m
not however loeA my seif-pos.
resstcn, but renosing my cigar from
ny mouth, I gave my attention for q mo.
ment to guiding my horse.
In TIE mean time 1 considered that
cigar might b. used to drug, or even poison,
the smoker. / had road Of such cases, and
4 was ffm in my resolution to smoke nc
mote 0f the one held between my fingers.
But how avoid it? II the peddler were
indeed, as I fully believed, q murderer, II
would mot do 10 LIT him know / suspected
him: he might have accomplices at hand. l
glanced at his face, he was smoking dui.
city. Il Was evident that his cigar was moi
dfugged or poisoned. Ny resolution was
taken in IN instant. / would smoke hi.
cigar.
my cigar has gone ont, please give me
. light | said, amoment later.
Certainly responded the little man,
tapping his cigar with his finger to remove
the gray ashes from its end, and handing
1t to me; shat will do the business, |
guess"
lighted my cigar and handed 1t to nv
companion, re~tainingthe one had received
from him. He evidently did not notice the
exchange. for he went on smoking, and
talking about the murders.
suddenly 1 heard a faint explosion, moi
louder than that Of an ordinary PERCUSSION
cap. and looking at my companion saw the
cigar he had been smoking disappear over
the side OF the wagon. The peddler him
self reeled to and FRO in his seat for a few
seconds, and then fell forward heavily
upon the dashboard.
! hastened to stop the horses, and lift the
inanimate form TO the seat, but a glance al
the pAllid lips, and staring eyes, told me
that life was extinct.
/ alighted and secured the cigar that had
fallen to the ground; and with the corpse Of
the little man, on the top Of my wagon, and
my hands shaking so that l could barrel,
control my team, I drove rapidly back te
the tavern / had SO recently left.
My appearance with the dead body caused
. great commotion, and I saw at ono.
that l was suspected of having muir
dered the peddler, but suspicion van.
ished when / told my story, ant
| became the lion Of the day.
The coroner was notified and held IN in
quest next day, at which l was the principal
witness. The cigar which the peddler was
smoking ut the time Of his death was found
to contain a small coppertube closed at one
end. This tube had evidently been partly
filed with some sort of Illuminating powder
SO arranged as to explode when the cigar
had burned a little way, and send a small
needle with considerable force into the
mouth of the smoker. Such n needle was
found imbedded in the roof Of the peddler's
mouth, and being charged with subtle poi
son had caused his almost instant death.
The corpse was identified as that of a
farmer named Winters, living five miles to
| the eastward. He had often been absent
from home for a day or two, but bore nm
excellent reputation In the neighborhood.
l accompanied the coroner and his jury
10 the Winters farm. In q large
granary was found n considerable
amount Of merchandise, clothing and
other property, stolen from murdered
travellers, more than q dozen cigars, con-
tanning copper tubes and murderous
needles, and q large number Of DISCUSSES Of
a size 10 fit the false peddler.
1t being potent that the dead man was
responsible for the murders Of the timber
belt, the Treasurer of the county, who was
present ut the inquest, notified me that the
thousand doffnrs, offered as a reward, was
subject to my order.
And the county, added the coroner,
will ever remain under obligations to a
man, who, by his shrewdness and nerve,
relieved her from n reign of terror"
/ thanked the gentlemen. and producing
the box Of cigars l had sold the false ped
dler, and for which he had not lived to pay,
l distributed the forty eight which remained
among those present, with the remark: "Im
sure you will like them. gentlemen;they are
my fayorite cigar. and | think you will all
admit that / know a good one, since I've
just saved my life, by being a good Judge
Of the weed. Chicago Ledger.