The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-05
FOIIlED HIS SLAYER93.
A PACKnA%'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM
BEING MURDERED.

A PACKHAN'S NARROW ESCAPE FROM
BEING MURDERED.
Thrilling sto-y of Ear3y Life in SparselS
Settled New SIexico-E@ther and Son
and Their wives All Tool Hand IN
Planning the Death of Travellers.
Campbell Hardy. jeweler from Bos-
ton, when IN his ataTtrhert5 1t the hotel;
related some Of the experiences he had
when il New Mexico ten years ago. Mr..
Hardy made the money that gave him
start IL life when packn2n- He trav-
eled through oil tho western states, bat
ihe most exciting time he had. he say3,
WAS IL New Mexico.
cone day, when much fatigued and
hungry, stopped for dinner at what az
rcarel to be pioneers cabin, he began.
The house was miles from any other
habitation. l had about $500 worth Of
stock ana s. 200 IN money. When I en-
tered the house / found the occupants ii
be a Iaau Of about 60, his 2J-year- old son
and tg-0 women. The appearance Of the
old man caused lne to mistrust him, and
| heartily wished I had not visited the
place two minutes after / entered it.
''Of course The men and women want
cd to see what I had for sale, and the
women purchased about s. worth of
goods Tn oil man, whose name was
Moody, was particular 10 ask Inc whom
| had last seen, and to learn whether OF
not had any friends il the country
Afterwarl l found out he wished to learn
if I would be missed if he made away
with me.
II A STRANGE HOUSE.
Just before [ sat down to dinner l
happened to lock out Of the window, and
| saw his son 70 into thc BAN with
shotgun in his hand HIS stealthy mai
ner put me on my guard, and took good
care that my gun was within reaching
distance. [ cannot say | enjoyed the
meal. I quickly swallowed a cup Of
coffee, took few mouthfuls of bread
and slipped what l could into my pocket.
Then prepared 10 leave.
But YOU must see the blOOded stock
l have before you 60 said Moody.
Probably can trade one Of the animals
1or silver watch
But ! knew if ever Went into that
barn ] would never come out Of it alive,
so | made some weak excuse and started
down the road, keeping q sharp lookout
from byhiu1. The Old man WIS much
e1lragesl q. my not falling into tne rap,
and jus, as I stepped oat Of view ] saw
him enter the barn. l determined 10
watch, and went into 2 grove q little
- J l / /
could see what was going on 81 the
barn. I saw Moody and lis son come
out, each armed with 4 rife.
''They walked into the woods not far
from where | was hid, evidently mean
ing to head ne off farther down the
ro&i an certain tnty meant to lay IL
ambush for me and shoot Inc down IS !
passed But | made lip ny mind to fool
| them, Gud, instead Of going the WY
intended. went in the opposite direction,
| passing the house IN the woods SO tbs
women would not see 1pc. kept close
to ,-3e road, and when about half Z mile
from Moc3ys ! saw two trapper5 walk
| ing IN MY direction.
They looked ike honest fellows, and
| ! cOnfded my suspicious to them. The
| first comment one Of the men made WIS.
I always believed that OLD wretch was 4
! murderer :, was not III search Of
adventure declined 10 return to Moo&y's
| house, anI in TIE trSppers presence Le-
| manCe0 an explanation.
sUA3-ARy PUElSHMEET.
"Al ! asked was their protection for
u}:1e Or 80. To- 80 Ga silver watch
they consented to accompany me, and
we started. did not suspect Moody or
! his so1 were within a mile Of me. but
when ! srl1Gc!2ly walked out from a lit
| tie clunp Of trees 4 b,lilet went whizzing
past lne and lodged iii tho trunk Of q
hickory. Iia.upot back into a thic!set
| Of ul4Gerbr,ish and was almost scared to
death. got out Iny revolver, however,
and prepared to defend myself.
- lag tnc-2 about five minutes. Sud
| denly there was another loG1 report, not
| far from Lac. The sAoJ n-;js Immediately
| followed by another, ana then | heard
one o. the trapp2.s, who had taken up
positions near ne as soon as the first
shot was fired, say, 1 think they are
| done fox
MY trapper friends callcl ne from
my hiding place, and lying behind a
fallen tree were t;le bodies Of Moody and
his son. The OLD 2nan was shot through
the temple when lie was looking over the
log for me, ani the sons back was broh-
>.n, he having started to run away after
| his father was killed. The bullet passed
through his stomach Both men were
5nul when We reached them. We then
..,&:l>1 to the boUse, but finding it