The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-01-20
THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER.
BY HARRY BALDWIN.

! In the autumn of 1871 | was trav-
cling in West Virginia. Ny business
was that If selling tobacco and ci-
gars, and, as the State was but mea-
gerly supplied with railroads, car
ried my goods in a light covered
wagon drawn by pair of horses.
For several days | had been stop
ping at a hotel, in the little town ol
Walton, on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. | had supplied all the
dealers there, and for many miles
argund about, and one evening L
informed the landlord that | should
be leaving him the next morning.
He expressed regret at my de-
parture, and that evidently sincere,
as | was worth several dollars day
to him, and inquired in what way
proposed to Journey.
10 the South, following the river
road" | replied.
The river road That will take
you to Hawkins county, and thro'
that very piece of timber" said the
landlord.
What piece Of timber?" asked /,
startled at the singular remark.
why, it isn't possible you don't
know the timber about thirty miles
down the river road, In Hawkins
county, where SO many murders
have been committed n
Murders y | exclaimed.
"Yes, murders Seven since jan
uary.
Have the murderers been appre-
hended p | anxiously inquired.
mo ono has been arrested, and. so
far as know, no one even suspect
ed,' said the inn keeper, land Pc
culiar feature of the case is, that
none of the seven murdered men
have shown any signs of violence,
and the means employed TO dispatch
them remain deep mystery"
What was the motive of the as
sassin ?''
Robbery" replied the landlord.
"All the effects of the victims, even
TO their clothing, were invariably
carried away. l don't wish to alarm
you, but you ought to know that six
out of the seven were men selling
goods like yourself, or peddlers with
packs. The county has offered ST.
600 for the production, dead or alive,
4, of any one of the murderers, but
thus far without results. So, young
man, if You follow my advice, you
will not enter Hawkins county by
the river road"
/ thanked the landlord for his in
formation and advice / was much
alarmed, for l had with me goods of
considerable value, certain to excite
the cupidity of the evil disposed :
but considering that | was young,
active, well armed. and in the pos
session of some knowledge of the
world, / decided In minute that l
would take the river road and try
the selling qualities of my wares
among the small merchants, liquor
dealers, and tavern dealers of Hawk
ins county.
Early the following morning /
mounted my wagon, waived my
hand at the landlord and the little
knot of idlers on the porch of the
hotel, and droye briskly down the
river road.
l travelled all day, making but
three stops, one for dinner at a farm
house, and two to sell tobacco and
pipes at cross road stores, and Just at
evening reached a small but neat
public house within sight of the belt
of timber where the seven mysleri-
Gus murders had been committed
within the year.
1t was not without misgivings that
| entered the house and invited the
landlord, stolid looking individual
of the Pennsylvania Dutch type, to
Join me in n visit TO the bar A
half hours sojourn there. while my
supper of salt pork, black coffee
and corn dodgers was in prepara-
ton, put the innkeper and myself
on terms of "a y confidence.
l learned nothing new about the
murders, except that for two months
none had been committed, and that
the belief was current that the VII
lains had withdrawn from that sec
ton.
At supper / met little blue eyed
pleasant-faced man, peddler Of
jewelry, vino travelled on foot and
carried pack. He had arrived at
the inn while l was at the bar. The
hostler had told him of the murders
in the timber, and as his course, like
mine, lay to the south along the riv-
er, he was in a great alarm. amount
ing to positive terror, at the pros
pect.
II shall turn back in the morn
ing" said the little man.
Nonsense" replied /, reassuring-
ly.
"But to 60 through that timber is
suicide, simply suicide, and there is
no other road. they tell me-" protest
ed the peddler.
"Pshaw the murderers have de-
camped long ago. go through the |
timber in the morning, and you can
ride with me if you will"
Thank you." replied the little
peddler, "but l shall start back in
the morning"
Before bedtime, however, thanks
to my conversation and cigars, the
peddler recovered in a measure. at
least, from his CONSERVATION, and it
was agreed that he should go for
ward and occupy place beside me
on my wagon until the county seat,
seventeen miles distant, was reach /
ed.
In the morning, with the peddler's
pack safely locked up with my own
goods, and the peddler himself seat
ed on the wagon beside me. engaged
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