The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-03-30

and made his way down the street.
''Thets Bob Ransom," said the sher-
if, in a low tone with significant nod
of his head.
'And what is hep" I asked; zone of
your lawyers and merchantsP"
oh. no; jest planter, like most of
u.s."
Anything remarkable?"
"Yas; bet yer life thar is; he's a
Yankee, yer know"
Never heard of him." I replied,
briskly. But why is a Yankee re-
markable?"
Yer don'tquite ketch on" answered
Sheriff Jack. ''Thet Yankee thar has
killed six niggers."
Did he blow them up with dyna-
miteP" asked, laughing, for 1 did not
believe the tale.
The sheriff looked at me with a
frown.
''Mebbe yer calls sich as that er jok-
in matter" he said.
hastened to assure him that he was
mistaken and begged him to tell me
all about it.
Yer see.' said he, this young fel-
ler Ransom has killed six niggers that
Lord only knows"
HAS he been tried?"
Tried fur what?" inquired the
sheriff.
For murder"
mo, and amt er 'gwine ter be-"
HAS he been arrested?"
Arrested fur whatPn
"Do you mean to tell me-" l said,
"that the authorities have made nc
effort to bring him to justice?"
''Thet's bran new way of putting
it" replied Sheriff jack "but thet's
about the sizeof it"
Twas silent full minute. Then |
spoke up: did Ransom kill those
men because they attacked him, or in
fight, or how?"
He jes' hunted 'em down one by
one an killed EN- ;,
Mr.. Jack" exclaimed, II cannot
understand such a state of affairs.
Why don't you arrest the man?"
The sheriff eyes grew misty and he
wiped away something like tear.
'Cunnel," he whispered, hoarsely,
I'D resign fust. Besides, 1 have nc
call to act. The grand jury has found
no indictment. Thar's no warrant
out. 1 never saw Ransom fire shot
| We Just know in reason thet he done
the job, but that's all. We amt go
no pint-blank evidence an we dom
want none"
1T will hurt the county"
'Not by durn sight. 1t will hell
it."
Then Sheriff Jack told me all abou
the sad business.
Robert Ransom had come to Buck
shot county with his young wife from
the north and had made his home on
| plantation.
The Ransoms in quiet way made
understood from the first that the,
were going to carry out their owl
peculiar ideas. They hired larg
number of negroes and treated then
just as they would have treated s.
many whites. They paid them goo,
wages monthly in cash, loaned then
money, worked them eight hours
day and gave them frequent holidays
The young people were so pleasan
and attractive, so honest in their view
and so full of good-fellowship tina
their neighbors were very friendl
with them. Occasionally the olde
citizens warned them that they wer
making a mistake and that thei
negroes would give them trouble.
But the Ransoms laughed at all this
They said that kindness was bound t
win, and they believed that putin
the negroes on a footing with th
whites would stimulate them to d
better work and make them MOI
faithful.
1t was suggested one day to Ransor
that it was a risk to leave his viii
alone on the plantation when he wer
! to town.
The young man laughed the idea t
scorn.
My policy makes US safe" he saiC
MY negroes are bound to me by tt
ties of gratitude and friendship. The
would die in our defense"
One day in the summer Ransom ha
to go to town on business. Just b
fore he started his wife. a pretty, agi
little thing, put her arm around h
neck and begged him to return earl
BLESS my life! l believe you al
afraid said Ransom.
II feel nervous" answered his wifi
| 81 don't know what is the matter wi
| me, but l am strangely depresse
All the house-servants are going off
camp-meeting and l shall be alon
Now, try to get home before dar
please"
Ransom promised and kissed h
d and then handed her small pistol.
e If anybody bothers you point th
at him" he said, iestingly.
Il will do more" " she answered. 9
I ON in do IF 10 I will TN
it against myself"
Her husband kissed her again, to
her that she was a little fool and ro
off to town.
1t was Saturday and busy day.
spite of his best efforts Ransom fou
that he was late in getting home.
At last the planter was on the ro
and he flew at the top of his speed.
Nine o'clock-10 caught him befc
= he reached the plantation.
Before taking his horse to the stal
he thought he would speak to his wi
IS; whose white dress he saw on
cS cs piazza.
I'd He walked right up to her and {
y y did not move, as she sat there in a
tn rocking-chair.
is What did her silence mean?
ID ID Ransom saw a dark stain on
d. white dress and seized his wife by
u u arm.
n She was dead-shot through
breast-and in one hand she still h
the pistol with which she had tai
her young life!
The wretched man found that
ms house had been robbed and the fc
,e- prints near it showed that strC
on gang of negroes had visited it dur
his absence. 1t needed no one to
him why his wife had killed hers