The Elbert County tribune., 1903-10-15

still again save .he heavy breathing OF
the victim.
The innkeeper arose to his feet,
moved cautiously TO 1he bedside. and
let few feeble rays from a dark lam
tern fall upon the sleeping form that
there might be no failure In the stroke.
and the knife do its perfect work. The
struggling rays of the light fell upon
the hard face OF the fisherman. and he
suddenly opened his eyes. caught the
gleam OF the bright blade as 1t flashed
above him. and sharp. quick cry at
tested the completeness OF his terror.
The cry. however. was quickly silenced,
for the murderous steel was driven TO
the heart, and with few convulsiye
sasps he cxp.red.
His pockets and bundle which he
had carried were quickly emptied OF
whatever they contained OF value the
body was wrapped In the bloody bed
clothes. and buried in the yard. and the
stains in the room carefully washed
away. In the morning lie expressed
great surprise and Indignation at the
travellers sudden disappearance, accus-
ing him not only of escaping without
the payment of his bill. but also with
having stolen the bedclothes. and even
enacted the fhrcc OF a pursuit. His
wife, however was not without her sus-
picions. and when the booty was
brought out little by little. she had
no doubt her fears were well founded.
and if her sudden death by poison had
not prevented she might have made the
crime public.
The sum secured from the person and
effects OF the murdered man was over
$500 in gold and rich and rare jewclry
worth from $500 to 5000 more.
1t was about ten years after his mis-
hap oh the coast when Colonel Kenyon
returned 10 England On one occasion.
as he was travelling through the north
ern part of the country, and night com
Ing on. he was compelled TO seek ac-
commodations at country inn.
He was waited upon by Il pleasant.
talkative girl. about sixteen years of
age, who was dressed with more neat
ness than usually characterized females
of her class.
While being served, .he Colonel no
ticed peculiar charm she wore about
her neck. and, on obtaining her permis-
Slpli ~ IT, ht WAS sAIuth WIN
the greatest astonlshment Mt the dis
covery that it was one of the Jewels
of which he had been robbed ten years
before, and still had his engraved
monogram upon II.
His first impulse was to seize It, de-
clare the crime, and demand of whom
she had obtained the stolen property;
but he controlled himself and began
to joke her about the trinket, saying he
supposed 1t must have been presented
by lover. This she denied. but he
appeared unwilling to accept her de
nial. and finally asked who gave 1t TO
her. If not her lover. She replied that
II was presented TO her by her father,
many years ago.
Colonel Kenyon expressed himself sat
isied and dropped the subject; in fact,
however. he was far from being salts
fled, and as soon as the meal was over
he made his way to the nearest magis-
tratc. and placed the matter in the
hands of the authorities.
Early the next morning the Sheriff
made his appearance. and father and
daughter We're both placed under ar
rest A search of the premises brought
to light several articles of jewelry
which the Colonel identified beyond a
shadow of doubt.
The iDnkeeper was then examined,
and at first denied all knowledge of the
goods, or that he ever gave his dangh
ter the charm which had first attracted
Colonel Kenyon's attention; but when
he learned how fully everything had
been identified, he became greatly
frightened. and finally confessed the
crime. with all the details given above.
and the remains of the victim We're
found as originally buried. The man
lie had murdered was proved to have
been the robbcr of Colonel Kenyon. |
who was escaping with his booty when |
rctrlbutive justice overlook him in the |
manner described.
At his trial the accused reiterated his |
previous confession. and was convicted |
and duly executed. A large portion |
of the property was secured by Colonel |
Kenyon. who settled $50 upon the Or
phaned daughter of the criminal-New |
York Weekly.