The Portland daily press., 1894-06-12
4 HORSE DETECTIVE.

In the winter Of 1886 / was stopping for
awhile with planter friend whose exten
sive cotton fields stretched along the west
bank of the Boque Chitto, where that
stream, after traversing Pike county, in
the state of Mississippi, crosses the state
line into the parish of Washington, La.
The plantation lay wholly in the former
state, but it's southern limit was formed
by the highway that led westward from
the Pearl river to the Mississippi. This
road lay directly on the boundary of the
two states.
One morning business made it neces-
sary for me to ride to Franklinton, the
county town of Washington parish, and
the weather being unusually fine my
friend proposed to accompany me there,
We had reached the state line road along
which our route lay for little way, when
on approaching thicket on the northern
side of the path our horses suddenly SHE'D
to the right, and evidencing great alarm
refused to pass the spot
Dismounting and throwing the rein of
my bride over the pummel of my friends
saddle, entered the thicket to discover
the cause Of their unusual excitement.
perceived in the dust of the road the
appearance of something heavy having
been dragged through it in the direction
of the bank of the bayou, and following
this track into the dark shadow of the
clump was Mortified at the sight that met
my eyes.
Before me lay the body of large, well
dressed man, who had been most inhuman-
ly murdered, for beside a pistol shot
through the head the throat was cut from
!, 81 Nd
fine linen shirt bosom were slashed and
dabbled with gouts of blood from wide
knife wounds in the breast and side.
The man had but just been murdered,
for OF lifting one of the arms in my hasty
examination observed that it was yet
purple and scarcely cold. Beside the body
| lay pair of leathern saddlebags, which
had been rifled.
MY exclamation of horror attracted the
notice of my friend, and hitching the ami
| mails he was soon at my side. He imme
diately recognized the man as Esquire
Hendricks, lawyer Of standing in one of
the neighboring counties.
| While occupied in the examination of
the body and the surrounding locality,
| violent snorting was heard close at hand,
and my friend, leaving me for an instant,
returned, leading by the broken bride a
noble and greatly excited animal, which
he said was the horse of the murdered
man.
He was a beautiful thoroughbred bay,
known to every one in that portion of the
country and noted for his remarkable in
telligepce.
The horse, on being led to the spot, ex-
hibited the utmost excitement, and trem-
bling in every limb almost fell to the
ground with terror. AS he stood thus,
with his fore feet braced forward, his long
neck and head stretched toward the man
gled remains Of his master, his name
standing almost on end and his eyes glar-
ing wildly, I thought he presented the
most perfect and sublime picture of terror
had ever looked upon. For moment
the faithful creature stood thus gazing
upon the fearful sight and then gradually
approached the body, and after smelling
it, as if to remove all lingering doubts Of
the identity he reached forward to one Of
the outstretched hands, as it lay, palm up
on the grassy ground, and licking it like
an affectionate spaniel evinced attach
ment and grief in language stronger
than words could ever have done.
OF course this painful discovery put an
end to our journey to Franklinton for that
day, and gathering up the scattered prop
erty of the murdered man and leading the
excited horse we returned to my friend s
plantation, calling on the way upon the
neighbors and imparting the startling in
telligence to them.
A cold blooded murder like this was a
circumstance that had not agitated the
community for a long time, and it created
no small degree of excitement
| Turin O. the inyasfj0atiinp that followed
it transpired that the lawyer was at the
time of his DEATH in possession of sum
of money, which he had collected for a
client, and on the morning of the murder
was taking it to the bank at Franklinton
to deposit. This money was missing, to-
gether with his gold watch. No doubt, Of
course, remained that the deed was perpe
trated by highwayman But notwith
standing several suspicious persons were
arrested nothing was established against
them, and they were discharged.
: At length several weeks had passed
away, and although the community were
, continually on the qui vive for the detec
, ton of the villain the excitement in 6
. great degree had subsidized.
The month of March arrived, and be
! gan to turn my thoughts northward, anG
} in anticipation of the homeward journey
had disposed of my horse. In conse
Quence of this, ] was for some time in
debted to the courtesy of my friend for the
use of the animal which had belonged te
the murdered lawyer.
One day during the spring session of the
circuit court Of the county happened t.
visit the town, and stopping opposite the
courthouse to speak with my attorney my
horse, being well known as having beer
the property Of Hendricks, naturally at
tracted considerable attention. All at once
the horse sprang to one side with sucl
= force as almost to throw me from the sad
die, and snorting loudly seemed suddenl!
to be filled with terror.
e AS soon as I could recover my seat
l looked about the crowd for the cause O
this extraordinary conduct. AT this mo