The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-09-17
DEADLY WEAPONS.
The Curious Collection In the Hands OF
the New Orleans Authorities.


the New Orleans Authorities.
"Yes," said Johnny O'Hcarn, the
property clerk, II sit here and look
about room full of painful, mystic
rious, and murdcrous history. 1t is
piled up with awful stories. Nearly
evory article it contains tells story of
blood. In fact, it is no place tor any
thing good that belongs to anybody
that is any account"
'This long nccdlo-like concern, that
is rusty now, came hero long before
my timc, and tho record of it is lost.
But IL was the instrument used by u
young follow, in tho years away back.
TO kill hS aunt with. Tho aunt was
wealthy and elderly; he was poor
and young. So ho just chloroformed
her ono night, aud being sort OF
medical student. showed that quietly
through her heart, nearly hiding the
outward end beneath the skin aud coat
ing it over with tlesh-colored paste
that rendered detection well-nigh i'm
possible. Discovery followed, and ho
lied, first 10 Texas and then over the
Rio Grande. 4st-
Here's another old relic. this ugly
tho stiffness Of u beautiful moonlight
night in the early springtime was sud-
denly broken in the vicinity of tho
French market by the loud report Of
firearms. Tho police dashed up To tho
spot TO find dead Italian. two live
ones, and the wooping wife OF the de-
ceased. None vi thoul were armed,
only tho dead man; ho wore u long
sharp knife. They placed the two men
undur urrnst, but the wifu declared
their innocence claiming that both
were particular friends of hor husband.
No conviction followed. but ono ui the
Italians shortly after Disappeared.
and WAS nuvor heard OF again. Tho
morning after the murder that blun-
dcr buss was picked up in the guitcr.
IL had done the work of tho night be-
fore.
''fhis slung-shot as big rs mans
clenched fist still has blood on il Of
somcboiy's cracked skull. IL WAS
found ON barracks street one morning
lying in pool OF blood that ran out Of
someone. NJ one ever knew who the
unfortunate was or what became Of
him or who had used this nurdorous
instrument. '
''rhis long, broad butchor-knife,
with its edge dulIcd and nickod from
striking against the ribs Of tho murder
er's victim, is covered now with bloody
rust, but was keen and pointed and
had sheen ono bright Sunday morn
ing in the past. IL WAS put to cruel
use-lhu slaughter of u man who was
running from his fierce pursuer. 1t
lies there on top Of other knives, hato.
full to touch and TO the sight. 1t will
be removed some day, perhaps, and all
traces uf it lost.
"This little thing is single-barrel
Remington. but it severely wounded
one man. and then the shooter COM
mitted suicide with 1t. The sword-camo
attached 10 il is the weapon that ho
lirst attempted TO use, but his friend
took that away from him.
'.iicrc is tho slung-shot that Joe
Martin almost beat the life out OF Mr..
Stafford with; this the revolver that he
shot Corp. Duffy with. and these the
skelcton keys and chloroform after
ward found 10 the room.
Hero is bundle of axes that were
used by the negro Alexander in cutting
his wife to pieces Oh the Stanton PLAN
taliuu, ABOUT nine miles below Algiers.
Alter llc had iiuished his work oil cut
,lns her up Us he would cord OF
wood, M threw her into ditch and
walked uff
This ugly looking slung-shot. made
OF lhrcn huavt bolt nuts tiu.t W. .svlncr,
was t..Ken i. .Um tac negro Noel Born.
ard, VINO W iii covered lying in wail
in another man hut,e. II would split
II persons skull open at one blow.
Here is u shelf loaded down with
lire arms gathered up in one house
after the cnacting Of Il terrible tragedy.
They wore iuund III the different rooms
during the search for the one that had
been used in tho perpetration of tho
decd. 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
never wash Oft, for it is part of the rust
that has corrodcd the long sharp
pointed blade. 1t is kept in red
scabbard, and locked up in the little
sale in ths property clerks room.
-''ln the same pigeon-hole. and lying
by its side. is straight-bladed knife,
still comparatively bright and new
looking. There area few dark blotchcs
ON it. but its scahbard has preserved it
well. 1t is the Eloi knife that commit
ted the murder for which he hanged a
year ago.
That fiat-iron has a story, TOO, and,
it it could talk, would divUlge the par
liculars of murder, The mystery of
which has never been unveiled. /
very beautiful young girl was found
one bright morning lying in her bed
dead. Her skull was crushed in, and
the tiat-iron lay near by.
This piece of split board is a recent
receipt. 1t was used no long"r ago
than June 80 by O negro woman. said
to bo ono Mary Wilson. She struck
her supposed husband. Ike Wilson.
over the head with it, fracturing his,
skull, and he died the second day ut
the Charity hospital.
This narrow-blasied concern, was
sharp once upon uiiihe, but it is dull
now. it was used to cut wumau's
tnngne of. Yes, this ol.t room is full
OF tales of crime, and no Que can toll
what sort of an instrument a murderer
will usc."
Some day before long the regular
two-ycar sale will occur, and the room
will be somewhat cleaned up. and tie
clearing will not hurt il in any way.
The style. got up, and character of
customers who usually attend property
clerk auction sales are curious MKT
ure of the different grades and classes
of mankiud, and are worth view to
tho casual Observer.-NeW Orleans
Times Democrat