The Springfield herald., 1913-03-07

| Murrell was compelled to go away on
some call OF his nefarious work. Dur
ing that ride and on subsequent oc-
casions this colossal villain told In
part the story of life bristling with
crimes OF every sort with smack OF
Internal pride which Satan himself
could not have surpassed.
| Murrell's mother. a Tennessee
mountain woman, had, in spite OF an
honest father, trained her young son
as thief from early childhood.
While yet STRIPPING. he began to
steal horses. and in disposing of these
he fell in with various small predatory
gangs, who did not hesitate to mur-
der as well as rob Young Murrelrs
superior address and cunning made
him an adept in disposing of robber
loot. and he gradually became initiat-
ed into all the successive grades OF
crime.
He brought to the business great
craft and power of organization and
the ability to make use of the villainy
OF others.
He was arrested for horse-stealing
and was sentenced to the penitentiary
for three years. He was model pris-
oner and gave up his spare time to
assiduous reading. more especially to
the study of theology. law and the
rudiments of the healing art.
Stewart met the bandit chief, and as
they rode west Murrell told him that
they were on the way to one OF the
principal headquarters Of the clan
which was on. an island in a Missts-
sippi bayou. just across the river from
Memphis. Here he would meet some
OF the principal men and be sworn
into the band.
Murrell was exhilarated into fierce
hilarity. for this Napoleonic ruff1an
seems to have been inspired by gen.
banished all his native caution. He
had. in his craving for perfect con-
fdence. beguiled himself into the con-
viction that in Hues he had found the
very twin of his soul. He now outlined
to his companion something OF the
colossal scheme OF negro uprising,
over which his diabolical spirit had
brooded SO long.
This may seem too bold to you.
Hues. but that Is what glory in." he
said. "All the crimes l have ever
committed have been of the most dar-
ing. I've been successful in all OF 'em.
am confident 1 shall be victorious in
this matter. I'll have the pleasure
and honor of seeing and knowing that
by my management I have glutted the
earth with more human blood and de-
/ stroyed more property than any rob
Der who has ever lived in America or
the known world. look on the Amer
lean people as my common enemy
They have disgraced me"-thus he
| designated his short term OF impris-
onment-"and they can do no more.
MY life is nothin' to me. and 1t
shall be spent as their devoted enemy.
My clan is strong, brave. experienced
and rapidly increasing In numbers l
shouldn't be surprised II we number
ed 10000 at the time of the uprising.
And am strong In the high standing
of SO many of my chief councillors.
many, indeed. in honorable and hcra-
tive Offices. Should anything leak out
prematurely, those men would drive
away the fears of the people by ridi-
cule. turning 1t into a cock-and- bull
story.
We have considerable money in the
hands of our treasurers to complete
our purchases of arms and ammuni-
ton. to fit out the companies that are
/ hn 1yt
will manage to get possession of the
different arsenals and supplyourselves
from every source that may offer. The
negroes wouldn't want many arms till
they get 'em from the houses they de-
stroy, as a knife, club. a pick or an
ak will do to murder families at night,
when they are dazed with sleep and
terror at the light of their burning
homes"
Stewart tells us that he afterward
marveled that he refrained from
shooting Murrell then and there, for
he always kept one hand on a pocket
derringer. silver-mounted pair of
which had been given him the day be-
fore by this incarnate demon.
Perhaps the feeling that the one
| soft spot IN MurrelIs s nature was the
curious infatuation for himself re-
straned his itching hand.
They found themselves on the banks
Of the Mississippi, at that time storm
lashed. at dusk, but the rowboat on
which Murrell relied was gone. So
they applied for hospitality at the
house of planter named Champion
He locked askance at Murrell when
the latter requested the loan of a
skin on which to cross. Stewart at
once appraised him as an honest man
and not one of the many secret con-
federates of the robber gang. Cham
pion felt note slipped into his hand
as the twain parted from him next
morning. read warning In Stewards
eyes. saw a finger motioned to the
lips.
The island rendezvous was a sin
ister-looking place set In little river
bend that somewhat concealed 1t.
All day long small parties arrived at
the island. To these Adam Hues''
was introduced as new and trusted
recruit. until about SO were assembled,
few of whom would never have been
suspected of other than a reputable
l