Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-07
THE RIV AIS.
A Story of the Times of Aaron Burr and
Alexander Hamilton.
BY JERE CLEMENS.

his self sacrificing friendship for his
unfortunate brotherin-law, that would
at any time have commanded the
warmest sympathies Of Colonel Burr
particularly when he believed that he
had been wrongfully and maliciously
accused of a crime for which there is
no atonement but death. 1t was past
four o'clock when he retired to rest,
and before seven he was on his way
to the city. His first care was to ex-
anime the house where Franz Klink
had been killed. The blood had not
been washed up, and everything re-
mained as it was on the night Of the
murder. On the floor there was a
large spot Of grease, which seemed to
have been made by the falling of tai
tow candle, and this so far corrobor-
ated Durand's story. He next walked
to the house to which Durand had
been decoyed, noting the time 1t re-
quired to go from one to the other. 1t
was a low ale shop, and the proprie-
tor manifested considerable surprise at
the appearance of a guest so much
better than any who were in the habit
of crossing his door-sill. Colonel
Burr's chief object was to look at the
house, to see the man, and form some
estimate of his character. A few
adroit remarks removed his distrust,
and when the man supposed that he
was entirely absorbed in the contem-
plation OF the merits of the ale he was
slipping after the manner of a connois-
seur in the article, Colonel Burr turn
ed to him suddenly, and said,-
What about this murder, Of which
people have been talking so much the
past week."
The man turned deadly pale, and
stammered out, Il don't know any
thing about it, What made you think
did,"
Nothing; only 1 heard that it was
done about here"
mo, sir, it was not. 1t was two
squares and a half from this"
well, 1 heard differently. 1 heard,
too, that one John Roberts was arrest
ed as the murderer. Do you know
him?"
No; and he was not the man. 1t
was a fellow by the name of Durand,
who is said to have been Tory in
the Revolution"
Indeed! Then l think 1 know him.
Was he low man, with broad should
ers, a tremendous chest, and bright
black eyes?"
That's the very fellow"
Did he visit your house often?"
Never but once, and that was the
night he done the murder-or is said
to have done it,"
II think you said you were not &C.
quainted with Roberts"
This time the eye of Colonel Burr
was turned upon him with one of
those piercing looks no guilty man
ever met without quailing. The cheek
Of the wretch turned purple, then ashy
pale, then purple again. In a tone in
which apprehension predominated over
assumed indignation, he hesitatingly
replied, mo, sir. That Is, am not to
say acquainted with him. 1 know him
when l see him, and he has may be
sometimes taken a n'ns of ale in my
house. But what H. that to you? and
what do you mean by questioning me
so closely?"
"Oh, nothing" replied Colonel Burr,
who had learned all he expected; "only
l am a lawyer, and may be employed
in the case"
So saying, he threw silver coin on
the counter, and walked away before
the astonished proprietor could ask
another question.
His steps were now directed to the
sheriffs office, where he examined the
club which Durand admitted he had
carried on the night of the murder.
1t was very bloody, but none Of the
dead mans hair was sticking to 1t.
nor was there any evidence, except
the blood, of its having been so fatally
used The bloody hunting knife was
also there, and he recognized it as the
same Durand had worn in 1879. The
scabbard was missing. On inquiry,
he ascertained the important fact that
it was not upon Durands person at
the time of the arrest, nor could 1t be
found in the house after the most
careful search. From the watchman
he learned that, when Roberts first
came to him, he stated that Franz
Klink had been robbed and murdered
Colonel Burr made no comment upon
the singular fact that he should have
known a robbery and murder had been
committed, when, according to his own
statement, he had not been in the
house, had heard no cry, and was only
alarmed by an unusual sound. He
gathered nothing else of Importance
and returned to his office to digest the
information he had acquired and tC
devise the means of obtaining more