The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-29


Mrs. Burns story were true, and II so
to apprehend the murderer.
By this time there was throng OF at
least seven persons, and these the dea-
CON authoritatively ordered into the
yard. Mrs Burns sister. who was their
household drudge, had in the mean
while caught up kitchen lamp and
conducted the bereaved woman into the
front parlor, as beftted an exhaordlna-
~ occasion. In themeanwhile the con-
stable had impaneled an impromptu
coroner's jury consisting Of the minis
ter, the doctor and the storekeeper.
Then, trembling, the good deacon led
these gentlemen into the barn where
the deed had been committed.
We want no mistakes here, - said
the constable slowly, with the air of a
man treading che edge Of strange
precipice and glancing with perturbed
shrewdness about the barn.
..God forbidp' answered the minister
devoutly. But the physician, who was
growing gray in the narrow occupation
OF helping children into the world and
the aged out Of it, inspected the body
eagerly. It was his first notable post
morteln opportunity. Indeed there was
no possible room for two theories as to
how Mr.. Burns had met his death. he
lay crossways in front Of the stalls
where the COWS were kept, between the
rolling doot and the empty hay wagon.
His head was gashed with three clear
cuts any one Of which ought to have
produced instant death.
sIt must have been a hatchet, /" said
the doctor slowly. The murderer stood
right In front Of him when he hit. See.'
With an imperturbability which struck
the other men as almost more than pro-
fessional the doctor swung an imaginary
weapon at the constable, and then,
bending quickly, he pointed out YER
tical gash across the forehead of the
corpse. This cut seemed to penetrate
the brain. .The man was if anything
taller than he. Mr.. Burns could not
have possibly been conscious after such
a blow.
ssBut he was!'' The men were star
tied by this abrupt intersection. a soft
voice, precise and measured as q metro
nome, gave the agitating contradiction.
Death always invests the chief
mourner with an unassailable dignity,
or, at least, it used to do so before the
modern craze for arresting the nearest
relative in default Of clew. Tall, slen-
der, with head bent forward, a yellow
silhouette against the black open door,
and, for the moment, chastened OF a
little native or acquired shrewishness,
the widow Of the dead man compelled
instant reverence. Weather beaten
heads bowed instinctively before the
embodiment Of violent bereavement.
The minister made delicate motion
as if to cover with hay the body from
the wonan's view AS he did so, his
hand struck hard object. He pulled 1t
ont. The men uttered exclamations OF
horror. Any woman might have tainted
at the sight Of the murderous weapon.
But Mrs. Burns had New England
nerves. She stolidly watched the con-
stable take the hatchet, inspect it gin
gerly, and then hand it over to the doc
tor. The edge Of the hatchet correspond
ed to the length of the cash, and dis
membered gray hair on the blade match
ed that of the victim. So far, the cir
cumstances Of the crime were as plain
as the barn floor. One could almost see
the fatal blows fall
..I don't think there is anything more
here 70 do The constable spoke slow
". eve can safely leave the body
where it is and lock the barn for the
night Bring the hatchet along, doctor,
and if you have no objections, Mrs.
Burns, will spend the night here with
my wife, and we will ask you few
questions before we go to bed.
The minister took the widows arm
with tenderness and led her into the
kitchen. Mrs. Burns then rehearsed the
facts quietly.
EFT was about o'clock-just an hou1
ago." she glanced at the moon faced
clock. "Thomas went ont about 8, to dc
some chores and lock up as usual.
thought heard a cry, and being un.
easy ran out. I found him where be
is now. His e, es were open, and heard
him say distinctly Williams. He tried
to speak further, but he passed away
without another word. That was all.
did not see or hear trace of any liv'
ing soul
.Let us see,'' said the clergyman,
with what he considered to be Judicial
suavity. "Who is there you connect
with the name of Williams
"Only George, - answered the widow
easily The men exchanged grave