Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-02-26
OF
JUSTICE
az EDWARD DoB5oN.

turned in, where the horse stopped.
where the scutfie occurred, where one
got out and went through my mans
clothes, where they threw his body,
and where they continued their jour-
ney. We then returned home, when
/ cleansed Chris's wounds and dressed
his head, cautioning him to remain as
silent as the Sphinx about the assault.
promised to do what could for him
On the morrow.
early on Sunday morning, clear,
crisp day, I began the search for in
eliminating clews. The trail was as
fresh as though it had been just made.
While half way to the village met an
old acquaintance, who facetiously COM
mented upon my being out so early
told him the story Of the assault, which
brought from him the remark that he,
too, had noticed the trail left by the
wide runners of the sleigh. We COM
pared notes and reached the conclusion
| that the two assailants were no less
than the son of nearby village hotel
! proprietor and the son of a local hos
! telry keeper. They were on a pro-
| tracted, vicious skylark and, it seemed,
stopped at doing nothing that would
supply them the wherewithal to keep
it up. My friend, who was ID a sleigh,
agreed to join me in 4 hunt for evi-
| dence against them. So, taking a
seat by his side. the horses head was
turned toward the village.
'The first place we visited was q
resort we knew the men frequented.
We were well known to the proprietor.
My friend remarked in a casual way
that the two men, mentioning them
by name, appeared to be having a
great time lately. The fellow replied
affirmatively, and volunteered the in.
formation that they had dropped in on
him last night and carried on some
what. After an exchange Of pleasant
ries. which would leave no other i'm.
preston than that We had only ar
ordinary interest in the actions Of the
men who had become our quarry, We
left the place and proceeded to another
resort some distance off, which we
knew to be, more or less, their head
quarters. Entering, the usual friendly
greetings were exchanged with the
proprietor and the others there. Abid
ing the opportunity, I got mine host
with whom 1 was well acquainted
; aside, and laughingly remarked tha
that was a great game, to mention
names, Wilson and Clark, had played
!, last night. He started quickly, thel
smiled and significantly said, so yo,
: We're in it, too, eh:' I replied, Yes,
but I did not inform him just how
was in it. I then said that the stole1
cane was highly priced keepsak
) from the victims father, and gave III,
: nearer the impression that I woula
like TO return it to the owner, who,
had found, was farmland. Say
/ said. in confidential tone, 'wha
: did Clark do with the poor fellow
hat and cane?' The man hesitated
$ moment, then he replied, CLARK brok
e the stick in pieces and burned it wit
t the hat in that stove yonder. I say
e him do it just before he and Wilso
left here last night Cautioning th
S man to secrecy, my friend and I 500
b started Tor home, and on the wa
q thlther ve decided on a plan of az
L tion
5. We told Chris the result of ou
|, sleuth1ng trip, and persuaded him t
It accompany US to the Squire and swea
It out warrant charging Wilson an
II clark with highway robbery and wit
assault with intent to kill, hoping tina
1t by making the charge as strong =
if possible, we would secure the punisl
le ment OF the accused men. We did n.
N forget that their friends were all-poy
IL erful 'roondabouts. They were a