The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-03
AVENGED BY HIS GHOST.
THE STORY OF A REMARKABLE
MURDER IN TENNESSEE

The River Cave Up the Dead and
Added to the Testimony of the
Specter-Tried and Acquitted, the
Murderer Forty Years Afterward
Confessed on Els Deathbed.
From the ST Louis Globe Democrat
HUNTINGDON, TENN, Dec. 2O.-In 1881
William Gamble and Lebanon Mercer lived
near the Tennessee river the one below AID
the other above the old town of Reynolds
burg, the county seat at that time of
Humphrey county. Gamble was indebted
to Mercer in the sum of $l47 by note, and
was unable to pay the same upon maturity.
He gave Mercer a note for about 5000 on a
man named Whiteman, who lived in the
neghborhood, as collateral. with the under
standing that it would be paid
upon presentation, and whom paid
Mercer was to return to Gamble
the difference. Whiteman could not pay
on demand, and Mercer reported the fact to
Gamble, who demanded the return of the
note. as 1t was largely in excess of the
amount due. Mercer declined to give up
this security. whereupon they agreed to
meet the naxt day at Whiteman's aud ar
preston that he could get Whitsman to pay
at least portion. Whiteman like Mercer,
lived on the river, and the latter went to
the place agreed upsn in a "dugout."
Gamble lived a mile or two from the river,
and ent on horseback. They failed to set
tie the matter. Mercer refused to give up
the note, aud they separated in anger.
The next day MERGERS skiG was found
adrift In the river, and the conclusion was
reached that he had been drowned. As he
was -vealthy man for that section, and
&c how own to have had several hundred
burnFs on his person, liberal reward was
3aered for the recovery OF his body. The
river was dragged and a cannon procured
and fred up and down the stream for miles,
but without avail.
Three years elapsed. The widow Of the
drowned man had remarked, his estate had
been wound up, and the matter forgotten .
One evening young wan named Htndman,
who had been living in the state and vicin-
ity for only a few months, having removed
from Northern Ohio, was walking through
the meadow toward home, after the days
work was done. He was suddenly joined
by q stranger who appeared 30 abruptly,
coming, as Hindman expressed it, "out of
the ground that he was greatly alarmed.
You do not know met" said the stran-
ger.
"No," said Hindman, "but suppose you
are one Of my neighbors."
mo, l cannot say that am, or ever have
been your neighbor. Look at me we'll. Look
at my clothes. che texture and fit. See this
mud on my pants and coat9 See this slit in
nv boot legF'
Hiadman was now thoroughly alarmed,
and mechanically more than critically made
the examination as he was babe. When it
was completed they resumed their walk and
the stranger said:
my name Is, or was, Lebanon Mercer.
Three years age | was muir 1ered by Will
lam Gamble, and my body buried In a
slough near the river. He killed me be-
cause l would OF give him up the note on
Whiteman. He called me to the bank of
the river by telling me that he had Dor
rowed the money from nelghbor that he
met Immediately after we parted"
The stranger then described the place
where he was buried, and gave the names
of parties whose testimony would probably
convict. Among them peddler named
Penticost and man named Burfeld, who
had received one of the bills taken from his
person. Having finished, the apparition
disappeared as suddenly as it had come,
and Hindman tainted from 81 eer fright
When he recovered aud made bis way to