The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-11-15

sion upon name kept clean before
those who have known it for genera
tions. Elk Hill, the scene of the tragic
deed and the former home of the Har-
risons, is in an agricultural section of
fertile soil and stately mansions, pop
ulated by people distinguished during
more than a century for such culture
and refinement, hospitality and gentle
breeding as would keep it secure from
the shadow or touch of cl.me. Erected
upon commanding prominence, the
residence is circled by the river which
fade away with the brightness of d
silyery sheen in the eastward sweep of
forty miles to Richmond.
Some three years back, it is said, two
brothers of pleasant mien and courtly
bearing, came from the West, Judge
A. P. Chamberlain an aged bachelor;
and DR.. A. w. Chamberlain a younger
brother about sixty years of age and
married. The two brothers purchased
Elk Hill in common. Disagreement so
estranging arose between the two that
Judge Chamberlain moved away and
secured nearby quarters. 1t is know
that DR.. Chamberlain owed his elder
brother disputed sum of about eigh-
teen hundred dollars. Mrs. Chamber
lain, wife of the DR.. was home on
a visit to the West, leaving the DR.. the
only occupant of the home. By an APP
pointnent the Judge made visit one
evening 10 his brother with the view, it
is stated, of compromised settlement
of the debt and the DR.. SAYS he holds
the signed receipt, from his dead broth
er, for the full amount paid that fatefu
night in adjustment. Family domestics
saw Judge Chamberlain IN the home
that evening and chat was the last
time he was seen alive. Aware of fric-
ton that had reached the court involv-
ing the two brothers, neighbors re-
garded the disappearanc of Judge
Chamberlain from his place in their
midst with questioning suspicious. The
Dr.. spoke lightly Of the absence, ex-
planning that his brother, a very old
man, had gone West to "see his GIL"
Under the eye of scrutiny suspicious
grew to belief SO grave that the Dr.
was arrested and incarcerated in the
court house jail nine miles down the
river.
A close investigation of the Elk Hill
surroundings resulted in undenable
proof of most fiendish revolving MUIR
der. Judge Chamberlain had not only
been murdered but the body had been
docapited, dismembercG and savagely
mutilated, with the dissected parts
sU'lk in the earth at different places,
some of them in old out houses. The
sichenirg enormiJies of such gastily
discoveries so angered ard excited the
people that DR.. Chamberlain was order
cd from the county prision for safer
custody in the Henrico Jail at Rich
mOnd, where he strictly denies any
Knowledge of Iris terrible deed ard as
scrts that some one through the "
shaded WINDOW, must have seen the
money paid and hen perpe.ra cd The
deed for The help it would yield, A gold
watch, known TO be one lat was Worn
by Judge Chamberlain, was for ~ con-
cealcd in an upper room of the E.; Hill
house.
This well remembered place ind"cl
an indulgence Of a barkW ard DEPRESSION
OF more than half century.
At the close of the memorable winter
of 1865, thoroughly cIuipped body of
Federal cavalry raided this part o. W
ginia and for several 'aVs wee in imp
just above the Elk Hill estate, il
fl Litless effort to break up and m Z
useless the old James River Can't
then of such vital importance to the
Confederacy. freighting supplies from
the mountsin region to the army of Lee
on the lines between Richmond ed
Petersburg.
AT an early hoo one mo- Aing is
writer. with three Gs ready end dal "
troopers as ever backed horse or fao-
ed a foe. rode through the hostile lines
to the Elk Hill home, then occupied Lv
the Harrison family. Just as we wee
walking in to break fast there was a
Federal yell and a oaval y charge upon
the house from he low slopes along The
canal. We we"e quick in the saddle
G1d d4sling for escape down the steer
road. followed by roop of fifty or
more, the foremost shooting from tucir
horses at full speed. We could hca~
the sing of the bullets and see pu.T :
dust dashed by the dipping mimic sis;
bnt they accomplished nothing more
serious than very greatly a2celerating
the speed of the departing guests. Of
that four this one alone lives today and
how vIvidly it all comes back in Ibis
hour from the mist of more than fifty
two years. A full account written o.
the venture would not be wanting in in
terest-
RELIJN.