Year: 1871

about ii O'Clock last night dark alley IN
certain part of the city gave unmistakable
signs of foul play. A gentleman, well
known la this community for his sympathy
and honesty of dealing. happened to pass
along the above alley, and Thought LIE ssw
three disguised persons trying to conceal
themselves behind some lumber piled up
near dilapidated building. Cautiously
nearing the spot where the mea bad been
seen standing, he remained about tweIEy
minutes, when he again observed the three
persons emerge stealthily from their
place of eoncealment. At first,
they moved slowly as if engaged in some
dark and dreadful deed that would bring
death should they be discovered. Being
satisfied that no one was present for the Dur
pose of watching their movements, they be-
came less cautious. Low murmurs were
then heard by our freud, the pn-port Of
which told of an act so horrible and damn
ing as would freeze the blood of humanity;
for their voices however low were heard IN
the stiffness of the midnight hour telling
of a murder that had been committed by
themselves only an hour or so before
and the plan by which to dispose Of the
victims ifeless body, and thereby prevent
discovery. To accomplish this, they had, it
seems, disguised themselves, and after
placing the body in coffin, brought It
safely, without detection, within the gloom
of the alleys darkness. How to get it cut,
however, was the trouble, and after much
discussion and some opposition on the part
of one, they determined to conceal the coffin
and its contents under the rubbish of the
old building; and, while two went to get q
hack, the other was to guard it. Having de-
termined upon this, they commenced telling
the most interesting parts Of their respec-
tive experience during the night, the most
pleasant yet hazardous of which had been
the burglary of a certain house on -
street, where he had been fortunate in get
ting away with big pile of scads.


Imagine our friends feelings. Far inad-
equate is human pen or editors pencil,
genius-dipped or pointed though each be,
to portray the terrible emotions that swayed
his breast with fiercest FIRE of agony; for,
continuing in his own careless style
of conversation. the midnight assss-
sin spoke of its being good joke
and how surprised the old fellow (referring
to our friend d. would be when upon re-
turning home to miss his money and find
his son dead; the chloroform did the work
in injun style-suapped lis strings in quick
time and closed the breathing quill before
he'd time to fiutter. He came mighty near
TO waking afore Tim and Mac got through
the money job, but we saw him stiff as
'.frozen hog before we leff.' ID. heard no
more-poor man, soul indeed was wrung
with deepest agony, and reeliDg under
the weight of the terrible blow that had
fallen so Unexpectedly and mercilessly upon
alx ont r1ofQ a
aruse, staggered, and fell Qnto mud hole)-
A Iong, protracted moan drawn forth invol-
UNFAIRLY, so acute was his pain, being heard
by the murderers, caused them to make .
hurried departure from their dark retreat.
The sound of their footfalls seemed to echo
as whisperings of death along the otherwise
silent gloom of the alley, striking deep
into the soul of the wretched man.
True his house was not more than two
hundred yards distant and yet he could not
move. A strange feeling was creeping over
him, winding itself through his frame and
binding in immovable dread his every FIBRE.
Listening now be thought he heard the rap
of policeman's mace, the sound Of which
fioated as trains Of welcome joy to
his ears which only a few minutes
before had been maddened with the
echoes of the retreating footsteps.
Summoning all his courage and strength,
for wen nigh exhausted was he both In bedy
and mind at the scene not far away and the
recital of the dreadful deed, he called aloud
for help and shouted murderl The police
man whose rap he had heard, soon made
his way through the mud up the dark alley
to- the lonely spot, from svhenee the OF re-
pe.ated appeals for help and shouts Of mur-
der proceeded. Seeing D. in this condition,
be assured him he was safe and in
good hands; and ID. sufficiently recovered
t6 tell what had taken place only a few
minutes ago. BY this time small boy had
also arrived with q laatern, by the aid Of
which the officer and D. proceeded to the
building for the purpose. of making an ex-
animation. One end Of the coffin was
seen under the rubbish, and in order to


more efectually ferret out the mysterious
deed, the officer was left in charge Of the
o,ffin where it lay, and D. started to
summon other assistance, and also TO
hasten home, where the dread reality
of his sons death would be too truly con-
1 6-med. Running at rapid pace, he had
1 almost reached the end of the alley, when
| the three disguised men, with cooked pistols
! presented, stepped out before him. A re-
port was heard, and d. fell, not shOs, but
into mud hole. Finding he was not shot,
he opened his eyes, but only to meet the de-
! mon gaze of the murderers, at


sight of whom ne lost ali
Consciousness aud knew nothing
4 of what subsequently, occurred, until run,


ming a half hour or more he fou nd himself
in lis own home lying on bed ana sur


rounded by his family The first person De


recognized was bis supposed murdered son,


who told hinl how il all happened-the oie
4 man had been drinking q little-tne tnre'


assassins were three young men masque


rading with colin. and the policeman wa


into the Joke. ~


The Law Court.


The January term Of the Law Court com
ls noes tomorrow, with about 300 cases o