Year: 1877

Damon and Pythias Re

 -"Saved by

 aNeck.''

 A case outrivaling that of Damon and Pythias has just occurred in the state of Missouri, of which we have seen no full account. We have been fortunate in obtaining the facts from one who was interested somewhat in the matter, and subioin them: In Bloomfield, little town in tEe county of Stoddard, state of Missouri, lived two brothers, Poindexter and James Edmondson. Poindexter, the elder, was smart, intelligent young man of twenty-seven, who had for years cared for and protected his young brother James. The latter was of feeble mind but was remarkable for the affection dis played toward his older brother. The slightest wish of Poindexter was to James sacred command, and the affection was returned in an equal degree by the older brother. Last summer Poindexter had some trouble with man named William Shaw, and in a fight which ensued Ed mondson was struck on tbe head with brick by Shaw and seriously injured. He was confined to his room for con siderable length of time, and during his confinement very naturally gave expres- sion to such remarks as ''pll get even with him." "Ill fix Shaw for this," etc. These expressions were noticed and re- membered by many people who had called to see him, though nobody paid any great attention to them at that time. During the illness of Poindexter, James showed remarkable fits of violent anger toward Shaw, whenever he saw his brothers wound and long afterward, when the wound had healed, he would fly into violent fit of rage at the sight of the scar in his brothers head.

 SHAW MURDERED.

 One day last October Poindexter, while sitting with his brother, suddenly put his hand to his head, complaining that it ached terribly, and that he believed that Shaw had given him wound from which he would never entirely recover. James had his usual paroxysm, and Poindexter tried to soothe him, mentally finding fault with himself for so thoughtlessly speaking of this subject before his half crazed brother. The next day James disappeared and Shaw was cut to pieces with butcher knife, and quite dead in his room. Suspicion at once entered upon Piondexter Edmondson, because of the former trouble he had had with Shaw, and his threats during and since his illness. He was arrested and thrown into prison. For two days the most agonizing thoughts filled the mind of Piondexter in regard to the murder. The actions of his brother James, his disappearance and the murder following upon it, pointed in his mind to his brother James as the murder of Shaw. But he heroically kept his mouth sealed. On the third day James returned and confessed to his brother that he had murdered Shaw, and wanted to denounce himself at once, and take his place be- hind the bars with his brother. But Poindexter refused to allow it. In the most binding way and in the most sacred manner, he commanded his brother never to tell anybody the facts in the case, Used to obeying his brothers slightest wish, he readily. made the required promise.

 POINDEXTER SENTENCED TO DEATH.

 The trial of Poindexter came on, and the best attorneys that could be found were employed in the defense. They did all that could be done, yet they were convinced that Poindexter was keeping back from them some important truth about the matter. They urged upon him the necessity of confding every thing to his attorneys but he invariably replied that he had told all about the case that he could tell and all he knew The trial ended, and the jury brought iI verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, and the unfortunate man wa sentenced to be hanged on May P, 1877 The attorneys tried by every means tC get new trial, to have the suprem, court to review the decision of the lowel court, but in vain, and the young mar prepared for his almost unheard O sacrifice. As last resort an appeal wa made to Governor Phelps for inter ference but after every argument hat been exhausted the governor frml, refused to interfere with the findings O the court. The last hope was gone, ant Poindexter prepared for death.

 A TIMELY CONFESSION.

 The fatal day was drawing near, bu the interposing hand of Providence wa also near. A few days before the tim set for the judicial murder James Ed mondson was taken suddenly i'll a Bloomfield and laid upon his death-bed Then, knowing that his life was drawin at an end he confessed that he, and no his brother, had killed William Shaw Proper witnesses were called in and tn confession was taken down in writing Asa matter of course the people wer greatly excited. There were but fe' days intervening before the time set fo the execution. What was to be don must be done quickly. A public meeI ing was called, sum of money raise and young man sent with all possipl speed to lay the facts before Governo Phelps at Jefferson City. Bloomfield A considerable distance from the railroad