The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-03


realize that the end was near. He
appeared to be man of some educa
ton and refinement. HIS high cheek
bones, his coarse features and male
blue eyes, however, were indicative
OF his wicked nature. The tisalv
drawn lines about his mouth showed
infexibility of will and iron nerve to
carry out whatever he undertook.
When l went forward to speak to
him l recognized Hopper as a man
who had been tried and convicted for
passing counterfeit money at New Or.
leans several months before. He had
been sent to the penitentiary at Baton
Rouge, but had escaped during a bat
tie at that point in which the prison
was partially destroyed. He made his
way across the Amite river into the
Confederacy where, by standing in
with the commanding Confederate Of
ficer at Vaudeville, he was enabled to
handle and ship out cotton.
l seated myself beside the wounded
man and took his hand, and never
will l forget the CHASTITY stare with
! which he regarded me as | endeav
ored to impress upon him the full
realization of his condition and the
duty incumbent upon him. My urgent
appeal had its effect Hopper admitted
that his mind was burdened with a
great crime, which he was willing to
confess. l had set him down as a
scoundrel, but was not quite prepared
to be brought face to face with one
whose heart was so inhuman as de-
liberately to plan to hang his own
brother.
"A few years ago." he said, '1, with
my younger brother, lived with our
widowed mother on q little farm in
northern Vermont. There lived near
us a most estimable young woman.
paid her some attention, and in time
fell madly in love with her. When
supposed had won her affections
asked her to marry me. She refused
and did not deny that she loved my
brother when l charged her with that
as being the reason for her refusing
me. She was not to blame. She had
made no promises. l had merely mis-
taken her sisterly regard and kind
ness to me for affection. I alone wa,
responsible for the error"
Here he paused for moment as i
to gather courage for what was to fol
low. Up to this time he had met m!
eyes frankly, but now he shifted BIZ
gaze, and continued:
when she told me she could no
marry me, and made no denial of he
regard for my brother, l was fillel
with unutterable rage. Calling her
heartless flirt, l seized my hat an
left her. was furious, desperate, AM
determined to be revenged. While m
heart was filled with rancor and M
mind with spiteful thoughts, l cor
fided my troubles to Malcolm Thon
son. He always was an evil counselor
but cunning one. He dissuaded m
from my plan for immediate revenge
and advised me to appear friendl
with my brother in order better t
cary out plot which he revealed t
me.
"Soon after this my brother al
j. nounced his engagement to MARI
Miss Heath, and l wished him we
with bitterness in my heart. Plan
were made for the marriage, and
seemed. to.etake an interest in ther
and to have forgiven my brother a.
his flancee my fancied wrongs. But
was only hiding my time.
when the time was ripe for exec
ting the plot we had arranged, l maj
aged to be at work with my brother
a field on our farm. On the previou
night Thomson and had placed tn
body of a man about my size in a ha.
stack, which stood near where v
were at work repairing fence. Thon
son had obtained the body from q pa,
per's burying ground on the Canada
side.
my brother left the field that da
lust before dark. remained for tb
, purpose of completing the worl
When the sun had set and 1t was darl
I punctured a1small vein in my arm
and with the blood besmeared the b
of the ak we had been using. l c,
! OF a lock Of my hair and scattered
} on the bloody blade, and then pitche
, the az into the grass. Reaching b
meath the body In the hay l deposite
! my pocketknife and bunch of key
> Then I set fire to the stack and hu
!. ried to Join Thomson, who was wal
. ing near by with q horse and bugg
( We drove rapidly away, and l SOC
was on my way to New Orlean
where Thomson was 70 join me in
!, few weeks.
1T was agreed that Thomson shou]
I first return to the village and stir U
;. suspicion, which would result in
search for me and the discovery
4 the burned body. Everything turne
r out thus far as we had planned. N
}. brother was accused and convicted.
ut was my purpose. when my riv
8 should be out Of my way, to retul
home and after a time renew my q
tentions to Miss Heath, but ! put
going from time to time. l could N
Y face nv old friends and netghbor
Through Thomson ! learned that n
!. brothers sentence was committed.
8 was thankful for that No one ev'
t w,ll know the remorse / have suffert
It for nv crime. MY name is Andy Ba
Q rows"
= Death came soon to Andy Barrow