Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-12-23
One day, in converting with Major
Burke on the subject, he explained:

One day, in conversing with Major
Bnrko ON the subject, he explained:
''In my time have inspected tho
hands OF at least a score of strangers.
Their strength lies mostly in the wrist
and fingers. Before graduating as pro.
fessionals they practice on dummies.
and resort to certain gymnastics to
strengthen the parts have named. This
man now among us is certainly profess
sional. If arrested you will find his
thnm6 flattcncd on the ball. II were
detective l should go about looking Mt
thumbs. In most instances the victim
leaves scratches or cuts on the hands of
the assassin, which would further help
to identity him in case of suspicion"
| From that time on l instinctively
glanced at the hands of every native with
whom | came in contact, but without
tho slightest hope of making any discov-
cry of value. Five weeks after the muir.
der OF the clerk the stranger was heard
from again. This time his victim was a
sergeant Of infantry, and he met his
death on the highway between the town
aud the camp. 1t was about Q o'clock
in the evening when he started for camp,
and it was known tina. he was consid-
crably under the influence of liquor. He
was almost giant in size and strength,
and it was reasonable to conclude that
he had made something of struggle,
| even though half drunk and taken un.
awares. Indeed, when the surgeon came
to look him over blood was found in his
finger nails to prove that he had acerated
the hands Of his murderer. This was a
point to so on, but was not even consid-
cred by the authorities. They followed
the course previously pursued aud made
several hundred arrests.
On the third day after the sergeant's
death | had n bit OF chain work to do on
piece of land two miles east of the town,
and my helper was native who had
served in the department for year. He
was middle aged man, very slender,
and his weight was not above 120 pounds.
| lie had driited into the town at the close
of the war, and it was said of him that
he came from the north and had been
faithful to the English during the struy-
| gle. When not acting as helper in the
field he had the care of some horses be-
longing to the department. The only
name that he was known was Peter.
When sent him word that wanted him
he returned reply that he was ill, but
half an hour later he put III his appear
ancc and explained that he was feeling
better. We had reached the field and
had fairly begun when my attention was
attracted to his hands. The backs of
both were scratched and lacerated, though
the wounds were half healed.
at WAS the monkey Mt the stables who
did it, sahib," he cxplainc |, rs he held
up his hands for inspection. al was
teasing him aud he got revenge. l will
sell him if can find buyer"
| l knew lie had Il monkey Mt the stables,
and his explanation was perfectly salts
factory. The matter was forgotten in
moment, and it would never have oc.
CURED to Inc again but for what fol-
lowed. 1t was n scorching hot day, and
after an hours wor; we sought the shade
to rest. As Wa, lighting my pipe for
n smoke Peer observed that he was very
thirsty and would visit spring he knew
of aboat II quarter of a mite away. The
| field on which we were working had
once been cleared, but was now pretty
well grown over with bushes aud small
trees. He disappeared at my back, and
| gave him no further thought for many
minutes. had out my book and was
| making some field notes when all of n
sudden it struck me that Peter had pc.
culiar look rs he explained how he had
! received the wounds on his hands. |
remembered that his face hardened and
that there was Il cruel glitter in his ewes.
Things of this sort never strike one al
the moment, but are vivid when recalled.
When | remembered his looks | won
dcred that he had not killed the monkey
for attacking him, and 1 reflected that
the man must have hot temper when
aroused. l do no. suppose l devoted
over five minutes to this train of
thought. AS time passed by | forgot
my surroundings while busy with the
pencil. Peter. had been gone about
thirty minutes, Us l afterward figured
up, when l was suddenly clutched by
the throat. was leaning back against
tree hardly larger than man's arm,
aud was reclining to the left. My ewes
caught no glimpse of anything, nor had
my ears detected the slightest sound to
put me on my guard.
the first sensation was exactly like
that of falling. remember roaring in
my cars and fireworks dancing before
my eyes, and l was perfectly conscious
chat my throat was in the clutch of
human fingers. What saved me was the
tree and the position in which 1 sat. | |
did not realize that struggled to break
the clutch, but did put forth mighty
effort. My right shoulder and arm were
lever against the strangers right
wrist. and rs heaved l broke his clutch
and leaped to my feet. 1t was Peter, as |
you have suspected. He had only gone
few rods away aud then turned and
crept back on me like a serpent. His
rout was through bushes and vines, but
when came to go over it 1 could not
find that he had broken twig. Nv
springing up threw him down, but be |
was on bis feet like cat, and with a CRY