The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-03-28

llNtlh 1lOlu bOh1f bAANf NNNAN ~ |
have done so, he could not have placed |
it on the stone. Why any maa should
have murdered him no one could con-
ceive, Expert detectives came and
spent days in looking for clue, but
went away puzzled. Squire Duval de-
clared that the old man had been aided
by bad spirits in the execution of the
bloody design, yet this, while it may
have found ready supporters among
people who believed in supernatural
agencies was ridiculed by the Coroner
and laughed at by the jury.
Some time previous to the arrival oil
the old man l had incurred the mortal
enmity of a fellow named Givens. This
soulless wretch, biding his time, swore
out warrant for my arrest, charging
me with the murder of the curious
scribe. OF course l was indignant, but
l soon saw that the people paid but
little attention to my protestations of
innocence. | was arragned for eXami-
nation before Justice of the Peace. l
had Squire Duval and the man with
whom | boarded introduced as wit
nesSes. The Squire 5 testimony amounted
to nothing, but the testimony of my
landlord made my blood run cold.
''Mr Buck went to bed at the usual
hour" said he, "but about midnight he
got up and went out. When he came
back, which he did after some time, /
heard him washing his hands, and at
morning when | went to the wash shelf
on the porch l saw blood stains in the
bottom of the bowl"
The truth is, unable to sleep had
gotten up. | went out, lighted my
pipe, and walked around, smoking. AS
| was returning to the house, ! came in
contact with the end of rail which
projected over the fence, forcing few
drops of blood from my nose.
When made the statement, the peo-
pie looked suspiciously at me. My
lawyer made an able speech, dwelling
on the fact that | was the old mans
friend, and that | had nothing against
him; and, although had known him to
be something of a materialist, yet sup
ported the Squires opinion insomuch
that as the old man had unqueStionably
written the note, he might have cut of
his own head.
The magistrate decided that the evil
dence was sufficiently strong to Justify
my detention, and, as the case was not
bailable, l was taken to jail. | had
great hopes that the Grand jury would
fail to return an indictment, but was
disappointed. When it became known
that the charge against me was sus-
tanned by the gentlemen in secret SEES
sion, mob assembled and it was with
great difficulty that the Sheriff could
keep me from the clutches of the yelling
avengers
One morning, just before the meeting
of the court before which | was to be
tried, the Sheriff entered the Jail and
said:
"Mr. Buck, you are free. Read thi.
letter. 1t was written by crazy man.
well known in this community, and was
addressed to the circuit Judge"
The surprise was So gladdenng- the
thought of regaining my liberty ant
once more taking my place among re
spected men, filled Inc with such desire
to throw up my hat that it was will
difficulty that | could repress my exulta
ton long enough to read the letter
The document which effected my liberia
ton ran as follows:
Judge, while no one is botherng me- anC
while sit alone in my roOm number lO2 lief
wing, will drop you few lines. We used t.
goto school together, didn't we, Judge2 Well
some time ago-l don't know how long, 70
sometimes it seems ten years and then tel
minutes-I slipped away from the asylum
They had given me the privilege of walking
out. got on train and went up to you
, town. 1t was night and nobody saw me
After had walked around awhile, got dow
on my knees and Tapped water out of pud
die. Yes did. ! saw Il light in n house ant
| went in. An old man with white hair was il
the house 1t tickled me to look mt him. Whi
we were talking funny idea occurred to me
} Suppose the people were to come here il
, the morning and find that old mans heat
on the rock table, what would they say? |
would puzzle EN- if he was to leave not
saying that he had cut off his head and put
there. | could put his head there and writ
the note, but the people might know his hand
writing and detect the forgery. | won't con
: init forgery. 1t is wrong. They send folks t
; the penitentiOry for forgery. I'll get him t
: write the note. That is the way the funn
idea ran through my head. | began to tai
pleasantly to him, told him that / owned
farm snort distance from town. Well, / dc
5 Judge. won't tell lie unless it is to hel
along great cause. win you do me a grea
. favory | asked. He said that he would.
want to play joke on my little girl said
She can read and write but i can't. TIL
Z other day she whipped her doll told her sh
ought not be so cruel, that if she didn't min
I the doll would commit suicide Now, l te
: you what am going to do. am going to CT
- Off the dolls head and put it on u stool an
leave note explaining the funny situation
While she is weeping over the death of tn
, doll will take out nicer one which Sha
: have handy and make her glad. Won't yo
) please write down the words dictator II
} laughed at the idea, said it was the first tin
he had laughed for years told him thu
4 | was glad to afford him any amusemen
e and that | would be grateful If he woul
write the words for me. He did so and
went out. | slipped into a store, through
D window, and got a new butcher knife. The
+ ! went back and found the old man reading
:, We talked awhile, and then, when he WASH
J noticing me, | grabbed him by the throat ar
Il forced him to the floor. He was too weak
4 struggle much, and | had very little troub
in cutting his throat but cutting off his heG
was not such an easy job. | got il off aft
: awhile and had to laugh when | put it {
: the rock table, and when | put the note b
~ side it, 1t tickled me so much that / had