The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-11-27

W "
always looked up to by the members of
the Society of Friends as leader
among them, When the Sharpless
family in 1882 celebrated the bi-cen-
tennial of the arrival in this country of
their first American ancestor, john
Sharpless, the Chester farmer presided
over their festivities and copgratulatory
meetings.
The farmhouse, a fine verandahed
building, is about two hundred yards
from the road. 1t is surrounded by
tall trees. At night the country is
dark and unfrequented. The nearest
farm to the Sharpless homestead is thai
of Joseph E. Mickle, third of mile
away.
Mr.. Sharpless, his wife and Miss
Pratt, his wife's sister, were sitting IN
their large parlor on Sunday night,
conversing quietly before going to bed.
The ancient case clock had just
struck nine when there was loud
knocking at the door. The old man
lifted up one of the lamps, and, going
to the hall, took down the heavy chain
and undid the bolts. 1t was raining
hard, and tall, heavy man, with a
black face, stepped hastily in. He
wore slouch hat, which completely
covered his hair. A handkerchief un
der his chin hid his neck. He seemed
to be thoroughly wrapped up. They
thought at the time that it was to pro.
tect him from the rain.
"Good evening, friend,' said the
farmer, kindly. "Wha. can do for
thee?"
81 was driving a buggy up the road
with three Ia lies in it, said the man,
sand the traces broke. If l could get
rope we might Fix it and go on"
IL will put the harness IN my stable
at thy disposal" responded John Sharp
less, who was MN who never turned
from his door anyone for whom he
could do anything. 1t was well known
in the vicinity that he always gave
lodging to any wayfarer. Then the
old man hustled about, putting on his
broadbrim hat and heavy overcoat,
buttoning the collar up to keep out
the rain. While he was thus engaged
Mrs. Sharpless conversed with the
stranger to put him at his ease. He
stood in the entry and awkwaldly anx,
ious to AVOID the light. Mrs. Sharp
less noticed that he had projecting
teeth and prominent nose. There
was somte',ing queer about the upper
lip that made her think that he had
i'll fitting false teeth or something in
his mouth. 1t impeded his speech.
His skin seemed artificially blackened.
SIS it white or colored mani" she
whispered to her husband as he light
ed lantern and prepared to go out.
81 think he's white" Mr.. Sharpless
answered, and then both lett. The
men went toward the stable, 100 feet
from the house. The women discuss
ed the unfortunate position of the
ladies waiting in the dark and lonely
road. Both Miss Pratt and Mrs.
Sharpless regretted that the ill-favored
coachmau had not accepted their offer
to 60 and invite the ladies into the
house pending repairs to the convey
ance. 1t was raining quite tiercely,
and the trees outside creaked loudly
as they bowed to the heavy wind.
Half an hour passed and Mr.. Sharp
less did not return. The women be-
came uneasy. Miss Pratt determined
TO go out and see if she could see any
thing OF the party to whom the acci-
dent had happened. She waded
through mud and puddles to the stable,
where light was burning brightly.
She called loudly to her brother-in law,
but there was no answer. She was
afraid to go in the building. She then
walked through the storm to the ad-
joining farm to ask the assistance of
Mr. Mickle, as there were no men in
the Sharpless farmhouse and she was
FEARFUL of danger.
While she was gone the colored
stranger astonished the ladies by walk
ing boldly into the house, and in a
threatening manner demanded money.
The women became afraid that some
Thing had happened to Mr.. Sharpless.
They answered that there was no cash
in the house. "Well. them" insisted
the scoundrel, 81 want to see that
little girl who was sitting here"
"She has gone to bed" replied Mrs.
Sharpless, becoming indignant and un.
easy.
"Well, then, 60 and wake her up,
the man retorted angrily. Mrs. Sharp.
less refused TO do this, but offered to
call the colored people who worked on
the farm. Just then the insolent and
uuwelcome guest missed Miss Pratt
and seemed to suspect that she had
gone for help, and hastily Withdrew,
BY this time Miss Pratt and Mr.
Mickle had reached the stable. They
found at the door the farmers um.
brella. Trembling with fear and ex
citement they went in. On the hard
door, just under the hook on which
hung the iops that the worthy old
Quaker, eager to help some one, had
gone to get, lay John Sharpless, quite
dead.
Two cruel wounds on the back of the
head showed that he had been struck
once with sharp and once with 6
blunt instrument. There was a cuI
about an inch and half long through
the back of the old Quaker hat, and
on the felt was something like iron
rust that might have come off a hatch
ct. The head lay within a few inche,
of one of the horses feet.
The body was carried into the house
and reverently placed on a lounge
while the wife and the sister-in-law
dumb from sudden grief, sat, hardl,
able to COM ehend that the husband
and brother, who had left them hall
an hour before, glad TO do an act oi
charity, lay horribly murdered at the
hands of ruffian, who had appealed
to his best instincts to get an oppor
iunity to deal beadly blow.
The police of Chester were notified
and telegrams sent out in every direc-
lion, but the murderer has not been
caught John Sharpless was rela
-. I....l L.. Al,