St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-03-20
HE WAS HooDooED,
And for This Reason He Com
mitted Murder.

And for This Reason He Com
mitted Murder.
"Ooopee-oop-oop, Ooopee-oop-oopw
The long, quavering sound wavered
lonesomely through the depths of
swamp and upland, falling with an in
descrlbably eerie sound upon the unac-
customed ear, says the Philadelphia
Times.
But as theIfamiliar sound fell upon the
flop ears of several swine nosiug about
in the mash and muck of the swamps
they started up with little grunts OF de-
lighted satisfaction and striking their
numberless trails were soon gathering
noiSily about the source of the strange
sound. This source was Peter, ana he
was calling the unruly flock from their
wallow after the familiar Southern back
woods fashion.
Peter was character about the
neighborhood. Black as the proverbiAl
ace of spades, and wide-mouthed, Ms
little, restless eyes, sunk deep under his
overhanging browS, had in them a red
dish CLEAN like that in those of the
creatures he took so much pride in tend
ing. His legs were short and curly,
curying outward after the manner OF
those old pot-hookS that are seen still in
the chimney places of old Southern
homes. Personally the negro was unat-
tractive; in fact, he was about the ug-
Hest specimen of his race TO be found in
his native state. But he was faithful to
his employers interests, hard working
and industrious, and favorite with his
mistress, all aged maiden lady.
When he had portioned out the corn
to the flock of eager pOrkers, Peter put
up the bars on the paddock, took last
look at the cattle nunching eontentedly
before he departed for the night for his
cabin, where he lived quite alone, with
only queer, lanky, yellow hound for
company. Arrived at his domicile,
Peter scraped the heaped-up ashes on
his hearth aside and extracted there
from much-begrimed ash-cake, hot
and savory, which he proceeded to de-
molish in busineSS-like manner.
Peter ate the heart of the cake with
relish, and the hound devoured the
crust with as much guSto.
Presently Peter got up, took from the
folds of his tumbled bunk a grlmy
hymn book, and, seating himself in his
cabin door, began to sing and pray,
chanting hymn after hymn in the mel
ancholy, monoronous manner peculiar
to his race. While he was thus en-
gagged the beautiful evening light faded
from the June sky and the moon, which
all the time had been riding high in the
heavens, poured forth food Of silyery
light.
Peter had ceased to pray and sat
crOuching his elbows upon his knees
and the thumbed hymn book between
his clasped hands.
Upon the big plantation all was 81
lence, the soft. scented silence of sum-
mer night, when suddenly the clear,
prolonged boot of an owl reached the
darky's ears.
"Who-o-ow The sound came from
the topmost branch of feathery cypress
tree that grew behind the cabin.
"Who-o-o-o" This time clearer and
more prolonged The third time it
reached the darky's ears he arose, re-
placed the hymn book. fastened his
cabin door securely and without back
ward glance took the path across the
field to his mistress mansion.
Peter went to the stable, where the
turbulent swine were now silent and
the other animals were still munching
their provender. He leaned his arms
across the stable bars. his blood-shot
eyes fixed as if i'll deep thought.
"Who-o-ow The thin eerie tones of
the owl calling from the cypress perch
reached the negro'S ears family once
more, and taking his arms from the bars
he walked leisurely toward his mistress
dwelling.
On his way thither he stopped a mo-
ment at the wood-pile, and selecting a
short, thick, knotty piece OF wood, crept
around the house and gained an entrance
by low window that yielded softly to
his pressure.
Half an hour later Peter emerged
from the house by the same way, and,
crossing the lawn, walked at brisk
pace down the road. his big, bare, sDlay
feet making ungainly tracks i'll the soft,
damp sand.
Six months later the county court
house was crowded with people to wit
ness the trial of Peter Bray for the MUIR
der OF his employer, an aged lady. The
deed was most brutal, being accom-
plished with a jagged lightwood knot.
Peter was told that he might tell his
own story. He ShambIed to his feet.
and with queer, intent expression on
his bloOdShOt eyes. said:
''Jedge, lse guilty er dat ar charge er
murder, but amt ter blame, TO God
| amt. was hoodooe6. The hoodoo
'oman give me blood to drink, and de
schreech-owl he say, Miss Prather amt
agwne ter live L wuz agwine on
bout my business when two niger
'oman called me and civ me drink o.
whisky an say. 'Did you hear the
Screech owl las night?' an den dey Civ
me some bread wild de witches blood in
ii, an tole me de owl say Miss Prather
was gwine ter die. Dat night | hear de
owl again. an he say, what de hoodoo
oman say? an de witches blood billed
in my veins. Fore God, jedge, dat blood
made me kill Miss Prather, an de owl
tole me to do it,"