Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-04


would go to a nearby field where HI
was sure to find a covey Of birds ant
would bring back enough to serve OF
toast for supper. He left his CUES
sitting on the porch and started off II
the direction of the field.
Falls Into Trap.
Mrs. Sorrells, elegantly attired fol
the occasion, came out upon the
porch to entertain Burleson while hea
husband was away. She lost no time
in inviting him into the parlor tc
view some pictures and other works
OF art that adorned the walls Of that
room. AS she and Burleson talked, he
ladmiring the pictures as the woman
pointed them out, explaining the mer.
its Of each one, Burleson expressed ad-
miration for the pictures. He OBJ
served that Mrs. Sorrells appeared
Ito be strangely affectionate. She
seemed to be very attentive, and hel
fluffy hair would sometimes get be-
tween Burleson's face and the pictures
= which he had been invited to view
The woman's manner soon indicated
that it was the purpose Of Mrs. Sor-
rells to impress upon Burleson that she
was the picture for him to admire
Her familiarity continued until Burle-
son, not suspecting any purpose to en-
trap him, found himself admiring the
woman, and the scene Of affection thai
followed became mutual. Within an
hour Sorrells, who had really not left
the premises, but was watching
through window, entered the room to
find Burleson and Mrs. Sorrells In q
compromising position. Sorrells, with
apparent rage, leveled his gun on
Burleson, threatening to blow his
brains out. Burleson pleaded for mer-
cy. Sorrells told him that 1t was not
a case deserving Of mercy and that
for his effort to despoil his home he
should be shot down like a dog. Sor-
rells was not disposed to accept any
such excuse as that his wife had been
Irresponsible for the condition which he
had discovered. He told Burleson that
he must either submit to being shot
down or agree to make amends In
cash, knowing that Burleson had a
large sum Of money on deposit in the
bank Of Spruce Pine. The terms were
briefly discussed. Sorrells was not
willing to accept $500 or $1,000 for the
reason that he knew that Burleson had
more in the bank. He simply sized
up the mans deposit and demanded
the whole Of 1t. Burleson realized
that he was cornered, and that to make
public such a scandal, even II he
should escape with his life, would
bring him into bad repute with his
family and ruin his prospects as a
candidate for the state senatorship In
his district.
| Submitted to Demands.
He quickly determined that the best
thing to do considering all the cir
cumstances, was to submit to Sorrells
demands, for he knew that Sorrells
was desperate, and that not to COM
ply meant his certain death. Sorrells
had everything on his side. He could
Ihave killed Burleson, then been ac-
quilted on the evidence Of his wife
who would have been the only wit
ness. Burleson realized that he was
completely cornered. Two thousands
dollars was the price which Sorrells
demanded for silence. Burleson
agreed to the terms as the only alter
native and he and Sorrells left I'M
mediately for Spruce Pine, where
Burlesons money was on deposit. They
made the trip alone over the mountain
road, with Burleson in front and Sor-
rells close behind him, with his shot
gun ready for use in the event Burle-
son should make any attempt to es-
CAPE. It was q case Of life or death
and Burleson calmly submitted to the
terms Of the desperate man In whose
power he was. The men entered the
bank calmly, no one at Spruce Pine
lsuspecting that there had been any
trouble, 1t being supposed that Sorrells
had his gun with him for the reason
that the two men had gone hunting
together. Burleson wrote his cheek
for $4,000 in Sorrells' favor, and Sor-
rells had the cash counted out to him
by the bank teller in the presence ol
Burleson. The bank officials suspect
ed nothing unusual in the transaction
thinking that Burleson and Sorrells
had made sCme deal Of legitimate
nature.
| Becomes Noted Scandal.
This concluded the first chapter OF
what was destined to become noted
scandal. Burleson returned to his
home and maintained silence about the
transaction. Sorrells returned to his
home a few miles away with the $4,000
in pocket, and with an evident air OF
triumph that his scheme had worked
successfully and that he had Burleson
in a position that he did not dare give
the secret away.
Because of the general popularity OF
Burleson he had every assurance tha'
he was to be elected to the state senate
lin the November election, which was
then less than a month ahead. In this
he was not disappointed, for he won
by a decisive majority, being held IN
high esteem, as he was, by the people
Of western North Carolina, who kne"
him well and admired his ability and
the qualities which had brought MIN
success in business. He was anxious
TO give Sorrells his just dues for the
perfidy which the latter had perpetrat-
ed upon him, but felt that he could not
afford as a candidate for office noi
as a man of family to make public a
scandal into which he had been LED
by the cunning of a woman, whose
perfidy had not previously had cause
to suspect. Weeks went by, and Burle-
son still nursed his secret. Sorrelis
was naturally apprehensive Of an evil
day. and he was afraid Of Burleson ano
his friends, realizing that II at any
time Burleson should give the affail
publicity, the $4,000 wrung from him
might not prove such boon after all