Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-02-05
FOILED HIS SLAYERS.
A PAcKMAA'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM
BEING MURDERED.

and Their Wives All Took a Hand in
Planning the Death of Travellers.
Campbell Hardy. jeweler from Bos-
ton, when in his apartments at the hotel.
related some of the experiences he had
when in New Mexico ten years ago. Mr..
Hardy made the money that gave him a
start in life when packman. He trav-
eled through all the western states, but
the most exciting time he had, he says,
was in New Mexico.
lone day, when much fatigued and
hungry, l stopped for dinner at what ap-
peared to be pioneers cabin, he began.
1.-The house was miles from any other
habitation. had about $500 worth of
stock and 81 200 in money. When en-
tered the house found the occupants to
be man of about 60, his 25-year-old son
and two women. The appearance of the
old man caused me to mistrust him. and
| heartily wished l had not visited the
place two minutes after 1 entered it.
''Of course the men and women want
ed to see what l had for sale, and the
women purchased about s. worth of
goods. The old man, whose name was
Moody, was particular to ask me whom
had last seen, and to learn whether or
not had any friends in the country.
Afterward 1 found out he wished to learn
if would be missed if he made away
with me.
IN STRANGE HOUSE.
"Just before l sat down to dinner l
happened to look out of the window, and
saw his son go into the barn with
shotgun in his hand. His stealthy man
ner put me ON my guard, and l took good
care that my gun was within reaching
distance. L cannot say enjoyed the
meal. 1 quickly swallowed cup of
coffee, took a few mouthfuls of bread
and slipped what could into my pocket.
Then l prepared to leave.
".But you must see the blooded stock
L have before you CO. said Moody.
Probably can trade one of the animals
for silver watch
But l knew if l ever went into that
barn | would never come out of it alive,
so made some weak excuse and started
down the road, keeping a sharp lookout
from behind. The old man was much
enraged at my not falling into the trap,
and just as 1 stepped out of view l saw
him enter the barn. | determined 10
watch, and went into a grove little
farther down the road, and l stood where
l could see what was going on at the
barn. / saw Moody and his son come
out, each armed with rifle.
''They walked into the woods not far
from where was hid, evidently mean
ing to head me off farther down the
road. am certain they meant to lay in
ambush for me and shoot me down as
passed. But made up my mind to fool
them, and, instead of going the way |
intended, went in the opposite direction,
passing the house in the woods so the |
women would not see me. kept close
to the road, and when about half mile |
from Moody's 1 saw two trappers walk
ing in my direction.
''They looked like honest fellows, and |
l confded my suspicious to them. The |
first comment one of the men made was,
4 always believed that old wretch was |
murderer As was not in search of |
adventure declined to return to Moody's |
house, and in the trappers' presence de-
manded an explanation.
SUMMARY PUNISHMENT.
ssAll asked -rras tir0ir protection for
a mile or two. For an old silver watch
they consented to accompany me, and
we started I did not suspect Moody OF
his son were within mile of me, but
when l suddenly walked out from lit
tie clump of trees bullet went whizzing
past me and lodged in the trunk of
hickory. l Jumped back into thicket
of underbrush and was almost scared to
death. got out my revolver, however,
and prepared to defend myself.
81 lay there about five minutes. Sud
denly there was another loud report, not
far from me. The shot was Immediately
by another, and then l heard
one of the trappers, who had taken up
positions near me as soon as the first
shot was fired, say, 4 think they are
done for
my trapper friends called me from
my hiding place, and lying behind
fallen tree were the bodies of Moody and
his son. The old man was shot through
the temple when he was looking over the
log for me, and the sons back was brok-
en-, he having started to run away after
his father was killed. The bullet passed
through his stomach. Both men were
dead when we reached them. We then
to the house, but finding it
empty looked into the barn, and there
found the two women in big cellar un-
der the building digging grave-my
grave.
1--WE found no less than twenty skele-
5ons in the place. TlS old wretch and
MS son had killed every stranger who
lad visited that part of the country for
years. There was no end IF excitement
when the news of the CHASTITY finds in
he den went abroad. and before I left
he country the two women were strung
lp to tree. Moody's remains and those
If his son were also hung up as warn
ng on tree near the side of the road.
The old pioneers in that part of the couD-
ry can tell you a much more thrilling
tory about Moody's den than have. ~
chicago Herald.