Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-02-04
F0IIED HIS SLAYERS.
A PAckMAN's MARROW ESCAPE FROM
BEING MURDERED.

'h"k HtotS "t Earty Lire IN Spersety
Settled New Mexlco--Father and Son
and Their Wives All Took n Hand In
Planning the Death of Travellers.
Campbell Hardy, jeweler from Bos-
ton, when in his apartments at the hotel,
related some Of the experiences he had
when IN New Mexico ten years ago. Mr..
Hardy made the money that gave him .
start in life when packman. He tfav-
eled through all the western states, but
the most exciting time he had, he says,
was in New Mexico
Zone day, when much fatigued and
hungry, ! stopped for dinner at what ap-
peared 10 be a pioneers cabin, 4" he began.
The house was miles from any other
habitation. had about $500 worth of
stock and II 200 in money. When | en-.
tered the house found the occupants to
be man Of about go. his 2j-year-old son
and two women. The appearance of the
old man caused me to mistrust him, and
heartily wished had not visited the
place two minutes after entered it.
"Of course the men and women want
ed 10 see what had for sale. and the
women purchased about 81 worth of
goods. The old man, whose name was
Moody, was particular to ask me whom
| had last seen, and To learn whether or
not had any friends in the country.
Afterward found out he wished to learn
If would be missed if no made away
with me.
IN 4 STRANGE HOUSE.
"Just before | sat down TO dinner
happened to look ont of the window, and
| saw his son go into the barn with a
shotgun in his hand. His stealthy man
ner put me- ON my guard, and took good
care that my gun WAS within reaching
distance. cannot say | enjoyed the
meal. | quickly swallowed cup OF
coffee, took II few mouthfuls of bread
and slipped what could into my pocket.
Then prepared TO leave.
. But You must see the blooded stock
have before you CO. said Moody.
Probably can trade one Of the animals
for a 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 sharp lookout
from behind. The old man was much
enraged at my not falling into the trap,
and just as ! stepped out Of view | saw
him enter the barn. ] determined TO
watch, and went into a grove little
farther down the road. and stood where
] could see what was going ON at the
barn. saw Moody and his son come
out, each armed with a rifle.
They walked into the woods not far
from where | was hid. evidently mean
ing 10 head me off farther down the
road. am certain they meant to lay in
ambush for me and shoot me down as
passed But made up my mind to fool
them, and, instead Of going the way
intended, went in the opposite direction,
passing the house in the woods so the
women would not see me. kept close
| to the road. and when about half mile
from Moody's saw two trappers walk
ing in my direction.
They looked like honest fellows. aud
| | contided my suspicious o. them. The
first comment one of the men made was,
i always believed that old wretch was n
murderer, As was not in search OF
adventure declined to return to Moody's
house, and in the trappers presence de-
manded an explanation.
SUMMARY PUNISHMENT.
"All askea was their protection for
n mile or two. For an old silver watch
they consented 10 accompany me, and
we started. did not suspect Moody or
his son were within mile of me, but
when | suddenly walked out from lit
tie clump Of trees bullet went whizzing
past me and lodged in the trunk of a
hickory. jumped back into thicket
Of underbrush aud was almost scared to
death. | got out my revolver, however,
and prepared to defend myself.
Il lay there about FIVE minutes. Sud-
denly there was another loud report. not
far from me The shot was Immediately
followed by another, and then |. heard
one Of the trappers, who had taken up
positions near me as soon as the first
shot was fired. say, 4 think they are
done for
MY trapper friends called me from
my hiding place, and lying behind a
fallen tree were the bodies of Moody and
his SON The old man was shot through
Ahg WITH WIS over THO
log for me, and the sons back was brol-
en-, he having started To run away after
his father was killed. The bullet passed
through his stomach. Both men were
dead when we reached them. We then
returned to the house. but finding it
empty looked into the barn, and there
found the two women in big cellar un-
der the building digging grave-my
grave.
We found no less than twenty skele-
tons in the place. That old wretch and
his son had killed every stranger who
had visited that part of the country for
years. There was no end of excitement
when the news of the CHASTITY finds in
the den went abroad, and before | left
the country the two women were strung
up to n tree. Moody's remains and those
of his son were also hung up as warn
Ing ON tree near the side of the road
The old pioneers in that part of the coun-
try can tell YOU much more thrilling
story about Moody's den than have
Chicago Herald.
Incomes of Poets
Swinburne and Morris each make /
81 DGO uaar bx fkafv x.,a~iss Frk,.