Year: 1879




IS MicsO!as for january


THE FATAL HORSESHOE NAIL.


On the evening of june 20, 1887, a
Peddler on horseback stopped at the
smithy of one John Steele, on the out
skirts of the town of Tickhill, near DON
caster, England. Several persons were
in the smithy at the time, besides the
blacksmith and his son Richard. The
peddler asked Steele to shoe his horse
as quickly as he could, as he wished to
reach Doncaster early, and get a bed at
his old place; for next day being
Statues" or fair, number of visitors
would be looking for accommodation.


While the smith was attending to the
peddler's horse, another stranger ar
rived, also on horseback, and likewise
desiring the smith service, as.his horse
had cast a. shoe.


The two strangers and the loungers
got into conversation, and the peddler
finally opened mahogany case which
was suspended by strap from his shoul-
der and exhibited his wares, which con-
sisted of rings, gold and silver chains,
watches, and so forth. On the last
comers hearing that the peddler was
goirg to Doncaster he offered to accom-
pany him, as he was going in the same
direction, adding that he was a stran-
ger the peddler might take him to some
house where he could get accommodation
The peddler replied that he was going
to "The Travellers Rest" on the out
skirts of Doncaster, as it was a good
house and he knew the landlord.


When the smith removed the shoe
from the horse of the last-comer, he ex-
amined it closely, remarking that it
had been made in Holderness, pointing
out the fact that the nail was peculiarly
made, having half split in the head,
and saying that was Holderness fancy.
"Pll keep this nail," the smith said,
and he drove it as wedge into the
handle of small hammer, where it
passed through the head.


The peddler sent for a fagon of
ale, and they stood drinking and talk
ing for some time. When the black
smith joked the peddler about being in
such hurry when he came in, he
laughed and said:


90, that's all right. Pve made up
my mind to sleep in the big clubhouse,
where have slept before; it's comfort
able, and you take any body you like in
there, you know" the peddler added,
with wink.


When the two men were ready to de-
part the peddler took large wallet
from the valise on his saddle bow and
paid the smith. The peddler seemed to
make rather ostentatious exhibition of
his wallet, which was crammed with
bank notes and gold.


The two men rode off together, and
the smith cleared his place and closed
for the night.


In due time the peddler and his new
friend reached the /" Travellers Rest" +"
and told the landlord they would sleep
in the out-building in the rear in which
there were several beds. The landlord
said there was good accommodation
there, and promised to make them COM
Portable. The peddler retired first, and
the stranger remained behind to have
supper and linger over his ale. At eleven
o'clock he went to the out-building, and
five minutes later the landlord observed
the lightput out


Next morning neither the peddler nor
his friend appeared, and the landlord
went to the out-building to arouse them.
He found the door open, and on enter
ing the room discovered the peddler in
his shirt, lying on the floor at the far
end in pool of blood. His head was
battered in, and near him was lying q
hammer with blood and hair on the
head. He was dead and cold.


When the alarm was given it was
found that the man who had accom-,
panied the peddler and occupied the
same room with him was missing, and
suspicion at once fell on him as the
murderer. The authorities were notified,
and officers went in pursuit of the sup.
posed assassin before the day was an
hour older. They tracked him to Comm.
bro, but lost trace of him Just outside
that town, on the road to Sheffield. The
keen eyes of the officers, however, caught
sight of horse, among the brambles,
in the valley to the left of the road, and
there the man was captured. He was
terribly frightened-so much so as to bt
unable to articulate for some time
Strapped to his saddle-bow wasa valise
and on opening it heavy-flled wallet
identified as the peddler's, was found


Before the Coroner the prisoner, wht
said his name was Henry Scott, told {
most astonishing story. He said tina
when he went to the clubhouse the ped
dler had already gone to his bed, which
was high, old-fashioned' tent-bed, will


L II
posite end of the room. This bed hac
curtains also, as the raom was large ant
draughty. He placed his clothes on
chair and flung his valise, or holsters
on bit of carpet at the side of the bed
When he put out the light he observes
that the moon was shining full into tn
room. he lay awake for some time, an
presently heard footsteps in the room
The next moment the curtain of his be
was gently drawn, and he saw fac
looking down upon him. He lay quit
still, though greatly alarmed. The fac
disappeared, and retreating steps wei
heard. He arose on his elbow an
peered through the curtain. He di
tinctly saw two men at the further en-
of the room, near the peddler's bed. The
passed round the foot of it and disa
peared at the other side. That momel
he heard scream and saw the face
the peddler protrude from the curtain
There was scuffle and a suppressed or
and the next moment the peddl
bounded from the bed and ran, screar
ing murderp toward Scott's be
holding his valise at arms length. tt
two men followed the fugitive, al
Scott, horrifedand fear-stricken, sli
ped from his bed on the other side III
hid himself in a closet. He heard t
groans and blows, and the sound of ]
treating footsteps, then all was sti