Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-01-06


"On leaving the court, Watson was
conducted between four officers to the
van. Just as he was stepping in, and
when the policemen were endeavoring to
keep back the crowd that pressed round,
the prisoner suddenly snapped his hand
cuffs in some ine4plicable manner, and
knocking down the constables who threw
themselves upon him, broke through the
bystanders and fed down the street. The
whole affair took place as it seemed In
second. One minute, and Watson, rigor-
ously guarded, was quietly walking into
the van in the midst of the officers; the
next, and he was free, tearing down the
street with the police and the populace
at his heels. He was seen to dodge down
a back alley, known as Shut Lane, and
followed by the crowd of several hun
dreds. At the end of Shut Lane he dis
appeared round a corner, and, strange to
say, has not been seen again. There can be
no doubt that he will be recaptured;
but his present escape and disappearance
are most mysterious. We understand
that the fellow possesses singular strength
and agility; but none the less, it will be
a standing disgrace to our police authoTi-
ties that a prisoner should thus, in broad
daylight, and in the midst of crowded
thoroughfare effect his escape from
the very hands of justice. A reward of
one hundred pounds has been offered for
his comprehension. Watson is about
five feet nine inches in height, strongly
built, and when he escaped was dressed
in a gray fustian suit, with a red scarf
and soft hat. He may further be dis
by scar across his chin, and
by having an arrow tatooed On the back
of his left hand"
This was about the extent of the infor-
nation contained in the paragraph, and
my readers will agree with me that the
news was sufficiently exciting to occupy
my thoughts to the complete exclusion
of the unpleasant experience l had just
passed through. AS L lay back in my
seat to muse upon what had read, my
thoughts began after awhile to wander
and my head to nod, according to their
wont at midnight, and before long fell
asleep. How lcug l slept cannot tell
probably for a few minutes only-but in
tho-e few moments [ underwent a most
discomforting dream. [ dreamt that
Chippy Watson stood over me, mallet in
hand, and that my travelling companion
was holding his arm, to avert the threat
ened blow. She struggled in vain, and
the mallet fell-yet with a strangely
light touch-upon my arm. With
start, l awoke, and then saw the girl of
my dream bending toward me with
q scrap of paper in her hand.
But her face, how terribly was it
Instead of the dainty pink
flush [ had last seen, there was CHASTITY
whiteness in her checks, and her eyes
seemed starting from her head with
fine fn
silence, she passed me the
paper, on which were written the fol-
lowing words:
"Some one is underneath the seat, and
mas just touched me. "
Was it the dream which filled me with
;he thought that this was an idle alarm?
cannot tell but this much l know, that
n an instant tire flashed across my mind
with overwhelming force the thought of
he escaped wife murderer.
Returning my companions silence-sig-
nal by a gesture of acquiescence, wrote
lpon the paper:
'It is probably only a dog. Shall 1
ook under the seat?"
Her answer was short an d 20 the
point:
"No; do not look. 1t was hand"
Here, then, was a sufficient dilemma;
out by comparison with what had passed
before between my fellow passenger and
myself, it was a dilemma that l felt al
most disposed to welcome. The male
lex in my person was about to assume its
'ightful position of protector to its
weaker, if wouldbe independent COM
oanion. Sweet was my revenge; and yet,
he revenge scarcely promised to be
wholly pleasurable.
My first action was to remove any sus- !
,icion that there might be in the mind
If the mysterious third occupant of our
carriage, through the presumably acct
lental action of having touched the
ady's dress. Giving vent to an audible !
avn. as though l had just awakened
rom sleep, remarked, in a tone of cool |
You really must excuse me for adj !
lress ing you again, madam, but will you
permit me to smoke, to enliven this te- /
lious journey?"
AS spoke, 1 accompanied my words /
~ meaning glance, and was favored
With the reply:
Certainly, if you wish it; cannot
prevent you"
Thereupon 1 produced my pipe and |
obacco pouch and proceeded slowly to
i'll the former, as I thought out the plan /
If action. On reference to my watch | |
aw that the trBn would stop in another |
en- minutes. Clearly, the only thing to !
10 was to wait till we reached Black |
ey, and there get assistance to find out !
Who our unknown TRAVELLING Communion