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SOUTHERN
RECORDER.
y cU aNTLAND & ORMJ3.
SHE
M1LLEDGKVILLE, GEORGIA, MOND./y. ;:'*ENLNG, MARCH 12, 1827.
No. C, op VOL. VIII.
rPTIiR Rkc 0 * 1
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r.ETIEP
FROM TIIE NASHVIM.E XVHIO.
bE a UCIIA M l”3 CON F ESS ION.
)\c liavi rend the long promised pub-
| iw;l0n( which bus recently made its ap-
,; allC V in Kentucky, entitled the
!’ £ on fe$sio n of Jeroboam O. Beauchamp,
■Jo was executed <tt Frankfort Ay. on
l\e llh of July, 1826, for the murder of
CJ Solomon P Sharp." It is un octavo
namphiel of about 130 pages, written
widi great plainness and simplicity,
in a n energetic, but loose, incurred
stile, displaying some knowledge ol
min kind, great coolness, perseverance
mi,1 decision of character, and no small
obliquity of moral principle, united with
m,un honorable and elevated sentiments
aud feelings. It is an unblushing avow
al of the most cool, deliberate, and un-
beuding s)stem of revenge and of blood-
thirsty violence. Not an admission of
guili, not a compunctious visiting of con
science, is to be discovered throughout
all its details of crime. The statements
of facts are minute and plausible, and ul
though coming from a condemned felon,
whose character and avowed conduct
entitle him to little credit, although a-
beunding with adventures almost too ro
mantic for real life, they cannot be read
without interest, and scarcely, we ima
gine, without an inclination of the mind
to regard them as true. Considering
the circumstances tinder which it must
have been written, this pamphlet dis
plays in its author no inferior intellect,
but the. sentiments it expresses ami the
crimes it boldly avows, roust excite the
abhorrence and call forth the indignation
of every virtuous mind. As this work
has been but little read in Tennessee,
ami as the transactions to which it re
lutes hare excited very general interest,
tve have fell it to be our duty, as cater
ers lor the pubiic taste, to devote a few
columns to an account of its contents and
some extracts from its pages.
The. author begins with stating that
he is condemned to die, and then pro
ceeds with respect to the character of
his narrative :
“ l shall abandon all studied style. I
shall only in laconic language record
facts, i do not regard to die. My fair
has moved all who stood allied to me, by
either ties of kindred or friendship, m< re
than it has me. I am satisfied. 1 die,
for pursuing, what the dictates of my
clearest and most deliberate judgmeii’
had determined it was at least justifiable
!o me to do, if not my duty to do, and
for which no guilt,y pmng of conscience
has ever yet reproved me, or the cer
tain prospect of death made me fee!
the least regret; and if my death teaches
a respect for the laws of my country,
my example will be not less serviceable,
m teaching a respect for those Jaws ol
honor, to revenge the violation and out
rage of which l so freely die.”
The sentiments and feelings here a-
Towed are repeatedly expressed through
out the work, and, no doubt, actuated
foe writer in the commission of the hor-
act of assassination, in which he
seems to exult Hnd glory. He gives a
brief narrative of the prominent event 5
°1 his early life, his education at school.
Jus professional studies, his first know-
ledqe of Col. Sharp, and his persevering
ond ultimately successful efforts to be
come acquainted with Miss Cook, his
future wile, the source of hi- crimes and
Ihe chief cause of his untimely eud. He
says,
“ Mingling with my acquaintances ol
foe bar at Glasgow, and those attending
tee courts there from Bowlioggrecn, 1
’'as attracted by a general burst of ge
nerous indignation amongst them, to
''arils Col Solomon P. Sharp, of the
bar, Ir m Bow linaareen, for the seduc
tion ot Miss Ann Cook of that place. I
was acquainted with Cel Sharp person-
? y> r,u, t somewhat intimately too, lor
e,n g greatly delighted with his elo
quence, nnd designing to study the law
niycelf. I h ;1( l sought his acquaintance,
and had expressed enme thought of en-
Jjavoring to plare myself in u situation
.'ore l could study under htB direction
Should have mentioned to him m)
!V but for this vmy story about Miss
. ■ Note, l Wf)S no t po'ainally ac
qaamted with Miss Cook. I knew how
lV.Vi' 6 ^" r ‘ l hunilv by character, and
speak often in high and enthusiastic
terms of Miss Ann Cook for intelligence,
flic. And the more especially, when
the execration of Col. Sharp for her se
duction, was in the high tone, to which
it was first carried amongst them. But
there was a young gentleman from Bow
linggreen, at that time a room-mate and
bosom friend of mine, who had been in
timately acquainted with Miss Cook,
and much devoted to her.”
This acquaintance, it seems, stimulat
ed Beauchamp not only to detest Col.
Sharp, but also to admire and almost
love Miss Cook, whom, as yet, he had
never seen. She came however soon
after to live with her mother in the
neighborhood of bis father’s residence,
a secluded part of the country, with a
view to retire from the world nnd avoid
the society of all. lie determined to
become acquainted with her, visited her
house, nnd notwithstanding an evident
desire on her part to avoid him, perse
vered in his efforts to see and converse
with her, until at leugth he made her an
offer of his hand.
“ She refused it, but with such a burst
of feeling as would have rendered her
persisting in that refusal ten times more
painful. But she (old me there was an
insuperable objection within her own
bosom to marriage, but that her heart
did not find that objection in me. In
this, she long persisted, but would ne
ver tell me what that fatal barrier to tro
happiness was. At length, I resolved
to take no denial, but to know the secret
objection. She then told me, with a
firmness which spoke that it was the
voice of fate, that the hand which should
receive hers would have to revenge the
injury a villain had done her. She said
her heart could never cease to ache, till
Col. Sharp should die through her in
strumentality ; that he had blighted all
tier happiness ; and while he lived, she
would feel unworthy of my love. But,
she said, she would kiss the hand, and
adore the person who would revenge
her ; but that no one else, save raysell,
should do it.
“ No conditions, nor any earthly pro
position she coold have made me, could
have filled me with so much delight.—
Whenever I had contemplated a mar
riage with her, I had always esteemed
the death of Col. Sharp a necessary con
sequence. I never for a moment could
feel, that 1 could suffer a villain to live,
who had been Jhe seducer of one I pres
sed to tny bosom as a wife. And to
hear her thus require, what I had so
much calculated on and desired, was pe
culiarly pleasing to me indeed. These
feelings 1 expressed to her, and told her
it had been my firm purpose to take
Col. Sharp’s life, if 1 married her.—
She then consented to become my wife,
and in my ardor 1 determined to fight
Col. Sharp before our marriage.”
Ije accordingly went to Frankfort,
where Col. Sharp then was, and arrived
•here about the commencement of the
session of the legislature ip 1821. He
sought Col. Sharp and took him to a re
mote spot, on the bank of the Kentucky
river. Here he told him, that he had
come, deputed by the injured Miss Cook,
to lake his life. Sharp fell on his knees
and begged for mercy, said be could not
tight any man who appeared as the
hampion of Miss Cock. Beauchamp
produced a large Spanish knife and a
dirk, offered Sharp his choice, and pro
posed a fair fight. Sharp declined the
offer.
“ He then stepped hack a step, and I
thought from the turn of his eve was
preparing to run. I sprang forward
and caught him by the breast of his coat,
and said, now you d d villain you
shall die. He then fell on his knee-
and said, my life is in your hands, my
friend I beg my life, spare it for mer
cy’s sake. I let go his coat and slapped
him in the face, so hard as to tilt him
back on his hands. 1 then said, get up
you coward, and go till 1 meet you in
the street to-morrow ; and as he rose, I
gave him a kick } now, said I, go arm
yourself for to-morrow—1 shall horse
whip you in the streets, and repeat it
daily, till you fight me a duel. He then
began to beg again ; called me his dear
friend, in every sentence ; told me how
miserable he was for his conduct ; said
bis whole estate was at our coipmand,
any thing we chose to require at bis
hands, if 1 would let him live, for hi
wife and child’s sake, and then advanc
ed again, to kneel to me. I told him to
stand off, you villain, or I will take your
life for the insult of offering me your
estate. He said he did not mean to in
sult me, but any thing under heaven he
would do, which I would require, if 1
would spare his life. I told him it was
unnecessary to multiply words, for he
xvould have to kill me or I would him
so that he had better at once consent
to fight me ; and that I would give him
my advantage he chose, as to the man
ner of fighting ; blit fight he must, or
die. Why, said he, mv dear friend, it
you were to taka a dirk, and 1 had n
sword, I would never have raised it a-
gainst you. He then nffecied to weep
and said, rny friend, if John Cook hail
beaten me to death, with a stick, and 1
had bad a sword, 1 would never have
i . - ■* wjr tutuduer, aim
tad heard the gentlemen of the bar o' ...... - r- . -
H acquaintance from Bowlinggrecn, j raised it against him. Very good, sgid
l, Col. Sharp, you are about such a
whining coward as I was told you, were.
But, sir, it will only give fae the more
prolonged pleasure in killing you. For
if I don't beat you iu the streets daily,
till i make you fight me, or till l beat
you to death, one or the other I will cer-
tnioly do. So now go sleep upon that,
till I meet yon to-morrow in the streets.”
Next morning, Beauchamp says he
bought a horsewhip with which he in
tended to assail Col. Sharp, hut could
not moot him, nDtl was, on inqnirv, in
formed that he had left town for Bow-
linggreen. Beauchamp accordingly pro
ceeded to Bowlinggrecn, but Sharp had
not been there, nor was he able to find
him, notwithstanding his constant efforts,
for a considerable time. At length Miss
Cook wrote him a letter, in order to al
lure him to her retreat. He promised
to come, but failed. The intention was,
for her to kill him with her own hand,
and the pamphlet says, “ I had learned
her to fire my pistols : she had practic
ed with them till she could place a ball,
with an accuracy, which, were it uni
versally equalled by our modern duel
lists, would render the practice of duel
ling much more filial, than it is frequent
ly seen to be of late.” At length Beau
champ, finding it impracticable to take
the life of Sharp so early as he wished,
married Miss Cook, resolved to accom
plish his object as soon after as possiblp.
He wrote Sharp several letters with fic
titious signatures, begging him to come to
Bowlinggreen to attend to some impor
tant land spits, and received answers,
but not so decisive as he wished. A'
length he heard that Sharp and his fami
ly had circulated a report that the child
of Miss Cook was a mulatto. This de
termined him to delay vengeance no
longer. He selected the night preced
ingthe session of the Legislature, in the
hope that political motives would be as
signed for the murder, and that he and
his private wrongs would be lost sight
of amidst the public controversies of op
posing parties. He gave out that he
was going to Missouri, and made his ar
rangements accordingly. He however
procured a process to be issued against
hicn in order to interfere with his pre
tended plaiw, and was advised to be ab
sent from home to prevent its service
upon him. He (heu mentioned having
some business at Frankfort, and said he
xvoulJ avail himself of the opportunity
to go and attend to it. Accordingly, be
says,
“ I arrived in Frankfort about half
an hour in the night, on Suuday night.
For many miles during the day I had rid
den through excessive smoke, and had
thereby gotten a violent head ache. 1
tied a spotted silk bandanna handker
chief around ray head. When 1 got to
town I di J not take it off till I got lodg
ings. At the Mansion-House I hailed ;
when a youDg gentleman (Mr. Taylor)
came to take my saddle-bags, he said he
feared the chance to accommodate me
would be bad. He said they were so
crowded, every bed they had would be
occupied, and be feared he would have
to put me upon the floor in the dining
room, where he feared I xvould be dis
turbed by others. 1 told him 1 xvus
somexvhat unwell, and would not like to
be broke from iny rest. He then re
commended me to Capt. Weiseger’a ta
vern.
At Weiseger’s I walked into the bar
room, and asked for ray horse to be ta
ken. Sucre, the bar keeper, replied
it will be impossible for us to take youi
horse, sir, we could receive you, but
not your horse. I asked him if there
were any private boarding-house where
1 could get in ? Ho said Mr. Scott, at
the Penitentiary, would take me in.—
He then proposed to send my horse to
a livery stable if I chose. However,
said he, Mr. Scott has a good stable,
und 1 would recommend you to him.—
After I had been at Mr. Scott’s some lit
tle time, I walked out to see my horse
fed, as 1 had, on giving him to the ser
vant, forbidden him to feed him till I
should go with him to see it done. Af
ter supper I was conducted to a bed
room, above stairs, and took out a hook,
observing to Mr. Scott, 1 believed I
would read awhile.
So soon as he left me, I accoutred my
self for the deed I was meditating to ac
complish. 1 had provided me with an
ild ragged sijrtout coat 1 , which I had pro
cured long before, and which no hunqan
being could have proved was ever in iny
possession. I had provided me a large
butcher's knife, several months before,
i he point of which my w ife had poison
ed, which no one could ever have prov
ed I had ever owned or bad iu my pos
session.
When travelling in Tennessee, 1 had
passed a clearing, w here a negro had left
his wool hat upon a stick. 1 took the
hat, and splitting the end of the stick
left a silver dollar in the place of the
hat. I put on u mask of black silk
vhich gave mo, at five steps distance, in
the clearest moonlight, the exact ap
pearance of a negro, so well had my wife
constructed and fitted it to my face. 1
put on two pair of yarn sock*, to pre
serve my feet in running, and to avoid
my being pursued by the direction in
which i might be heard f-pquing in $.e
dark, if I had worn my shoes. Besides,
in this way my trac.lt could not possibly
be identified any where. But I took my
shoes, mv coat, and iny hat, and hid them
down near the river, where I could run
nnd get them after the deed should he
done. I had learned from a source,
which the offer of life xvould scarcely
wring from me, xvhere Colonel Sharp’-
house xvas. It was the easiest thing in
the world to point it out, so that u stran
ger could not mistake it. He had sim
ply to be told, it xvas the nearest to the
State House, and almost right across the
street from it.
f crept out of Mr. Scott’s house so
easily, that although the family xvere alt
up and pausing about the house, none of
them heard me ; neither would they
have heard me if they had been in 4 the
very pasv*^, through which I had to
pass. 1 had found out Colonel Sharp’s
house long before the 10 o’cjock bell
mg. He xvas not there xvhen I first
went. I expected he had gone to meet
bis acquaintances, the members from
Green river, at the Mansiop-house. 1
sauntered up there, and could view the
rooms from a distance, through the doors
and windowg. I did not now wear m,
mask, lest tbe patrol might notice me as
a negro, and I would have to fight them,
or expose that I xvas a white man mask
ed. I savy Col. Sharp at the Mansion-
house. I hud habituated my mind to
philosophize and reason upon the sub
ject of killing Colonel Sharp, till 1
bought I could kill him with as much
i raoquility of feeling, as I could whip a
servant that I thought deservetl a whip
ping; but when my eye crossed his form,
all the fqries of hatred seemed combin
ed in me, so much did my blood boil for
vengeance. I was almost so far bereft
of my reason at seeing him, as to put ou
my mask and dash right into the room,
and stab him down in the crowd. I de
termined to assassinate him on his re-
'urn home, so soon as he left (he tavern.
But while I had walked a little way
from the viexv of him, he disappeared
from the room I had left him in, and 1
supposed he had gone home. 1 hasten
ed to his house, but he was not there.—
I feared I might miss him, and meantime
be would get to bed before I could s«e
him, ifl went back to the tavern, to hunt
lor him- Wherefore I determined to
watch his house till he should com?
home. I could now, as I lurked about
around the house, see all that was go
ing on in it, and could see what rooms
were occupied aud what were not, as
xvell as if I had lived about the house.
I intended to attack Col. Sharp before
he should get into his house, if 1 could
ascertain him as he came home. I wish
ed Col. Sharp to know me before I kil
led him. 1 intended to call to him from
a little distance, in a loxv voice, aud re
quest him to come to me, as he was a-
bout to enter his house. Luring him to
me thus in the street alone, I intended,
so soon as I got hold of him, to whisper
to him who I was, and immediately des
patch him. But while 1 was viewing
the back part of the house, so as to know
well its situation should 1 fail any way
to get hold of Col. Sharp before he went
to bed, he entered bis house aud was in
his chamher before I saw him. Afier a
moment’s reflection, l resolved to wait
till all light was extinguished about thp
house, and all persons asleep, and then
call the Colonel up. I was afraid Dr.
Sharp would also have to be killed.—
For I knew so soon as Vtis brother should
oe killed, he xvould turn his thoughts
immediately to me. But white 1 was ly
ing meditating in the public square,
concealed, whether to knock at the door
of Col. Sharp’s chamber or at a secret
door, in a dark alley, xvhich opened into
a room immediately communicating with
the chamber, Mr, Bacon came for Dr.
Sharp to go home with him. This I es
teemed a very fortunate thing, for 1 djd
not wish to kill him.”
“ When I had waited long enough, as
l supposed, for those who had been a-
xvakoued by Bacon’s comiog for Dr.
Sharp, I prepared to complete my pur
pose. ! resolved to knock in the alley
for fear those ip Bass’s room, which as
xvell as Col. Sharp’s door opened upon
the porch, might not have fallen asleep.
Besides, I knew 1 could easily lure Col.
Sharp quickly to me at the back door,
by feignipg myself Covington, as Col.
Sharp and tbe Covingtons were ex
tremely intimate. And if I could only
lure him back into that alley, I would
have an opportunity to let him know as
he fell, by whose hand he received the
stroke, for this { wished him exceeding
ly to know, and I would have risked a
great deal to let him know who I was.—
l put on my mask with this design, that
if a candle should be lit before Colonel
Sharp approached me, I would keep it
on, and as he approached 1 would knock
the cantHe out with one hand and stab
him with the other. But if he ap
proached me without a fight, i intend
ed to draw my xyvwsk as he approached,
from over my face. For it was so con
structed and fastened on as to be entire
ly drawp away from the face, or rep)ac
ed over it again. There was no moon
licht, hut the stars gave light enough
wherewithal to discern the face of an ac
quaintance on coming near him nnd
.clpaeljr noticing his (ace—1 drew my
lagger and proceeded to the door—I
knocked three times, loud and quick !—
Colonel Sharp said, »• Who's there ?”—
“ Covington,” I replied. Quickly Col.
Sharp's foot was heard upon the floor,—
I saxv under the door, he approached
without a light ! 1 drew my nfa-k from
my face, and immediately Ool. Sharp o-
,iened the door, I advanced into the
room and with my left hand I grasped
lti« right wrist, as with an iron hand.—
Tlje violence of the grasp made Colonel
Sharp spring back, nod trying to disen
gage his wrist; he said, “ what Coving
ton is this ?” I replied, “ John A. Co
vington, sir.” '* l don’t know you.”
-aid Col. Sharp, ‘t l knew John W.
Covington “ My name” said I, “ is
John A. Covington,”—and about the
time I said that, Mrs. Sharp, whom I had
seen appear in the partition door as l
entered the outer door, disappeared.—
She had become alarmed I imagine, by
the little scuffle Col. Snarp made wh* n
lie sprang back to get his wrist loose
from my grasp. Seeing her disappear,
I said to Colonel Sharp in a tone as
though I was deeply mortified at his
not knowing me : “ And did you not
know me sure enough ?” “ Not with
your handkerchief about your face,”
said Col. Sharp. For the hankerchii f
with which I had cpnfined my tna«k up
on my forehead was still round my fore
head. I then replied in a soft conciliat
ing persuasive tone of voice, “ Come to
the light Colonel and you will know
me,” and pulling him by the arm, he
came readily to the door. (stepped with
one foot back upon the first step out at
the door, and still hohting his wrist with
my left hand, stripped my hat and hand
kerchief frog) my forehead and head
and looked right up in Col. Sharp’s face.
Ha knexv me the mqre readily 1 imagine,
by mv long bushy curley suit of hair.—
He sprang back and exclaimed in the
deepest tone of astonishment, dismay,
and horror and despair I ever heard,
“ Great God !And as he said that,
he fill on his knees, after failing to jerk
loose his wrist from my grasp. As he
fell on his knees I let go his wrist ami
grasped him by the throat, and dashing
him against the facing of tbe door, 1
choaked him against it to keep him from
hallowing, and muttered in his face,
“ die you villain,” and as I said that, I
plunged the dagger to his heart; letting
him go at the moment I stabbed him, he
prung up from his knees and endeavor
e«l to throw his arms round my neck,
saying, “ pray Mr. Beauchamp,” but as
he said that, I struck him in the face
xvith my left hand, and knocked him his
full length into the room. By this tim
l saxv the light approaching, and dashed
a little way off and put on my mask—I
then came and squatted in the alley
near the door, to hear if he should speak.
His wife talked to him, but he could not
answer her.
“ Before 1 thought they could possibly
have gotten word to the Doctor, be came
running in. So soon ns lio entered tbe
room, he exclaimed, “Great God! Beau
champ lias done this ! I always expected
it!” The town xvas noxv alarmed, and tlje
people began to crowd tbe house very
fast. I still lurked about the house to
bear what would be said, and 1 wished
some one to see me, not in the light of the
ciindle, so that they xvould takp me for a
uegro, with my black mask on. At length,
Wflllu I »v«» «n.luat bii i*£» i\j |joc|r in r\t a
window, Mrs, Sharp came right upon mp
from without the house behind me, and
cried opt to the company to run there,
saying, she saw the murderer. But by
tbe time they got out of the house, I wus
out of the lot—I stopped to listen if any
one pursued me, nnd I saxv the Jot full of
people running down ufter me, whereup
on I dashed off again and wept and got
my coat and hat and shoes, which I had
bid, dpwn neqr the river. I then went a
considerable way further down the river,
and took the old hat und cont, in which I
had done the murder, nnd tying them in
a bundle, with a rock,sunk them in the ri
ver. I also buried the knife near the ri
ver hank, und then dressing in my proper
clothes, and putting on lpy shoes, I came
back into the town—) passed near (Jol.
Sharp’s bouse to hear what xvus saying,
hut nil was now whisper nnd silence. But
I had heard, and indeed seen, that Col.
Sharp had died without speaking before I
left the house, wtiich was my greatest
anxiety. I then went to my room, creep
ing up stairs as softly as a cat, so that I
could not bear my own feet touch the
floor, having slipped ofT my shoes at the
door. I then lit my candle and burnt tny
mask, and washed my hands, which were
dirty, from burying theJtnife in the ground.
I then laid doxyn wfih a certain calculati
on of being arrested tbe next morning, so
soon as Dr. Sharp should have inquiry
made, nnd find I was in the town. But
such were the huppy feelings which per
vaded me, and the perfect resignation
xvhich 1 felt to the xvili of llcavep, having
accomplished my long settled purpose,
that in five minutes after I laid down, I fell
fast asleep, and slept soundly, till the stir
ring of the family xvnked mo the next
morning. I then listened, ns a matter of
course, for Mr. Scott to come to examine
me, so soon as he should go to Colonel.
Sharp’s and hear of Dr. Sharp’s excla
mation, that it was Beauchamp. For
wlteu Sfott had lit me to bed, tbe over
night, 1 said to him, I .wonder if old uncle
Beauchamp of Washington, wns in toxvn?
He said he did not know, and asked me if
Col. Bcattclmmp was an uncle of mine !—
1 said lie was. Mr. Scott said he wns ve
ry well acquainted xvith Col. Beauchamp,
& asked if my ttatnc wns also Beauchamp?
1 told him it was. Next morning I heard
the news of Col. Sharp’s death told by
Mr. Scott, and listened for his return to
see me. For tlmt name Scott, now began
tq give me some uneasiness, ns I had
heard Col. Sltqrp married a .Miss Scott,
S ind I feared this might be a relation, as in
act he wns. 1 listened for bis return, so
soon ns he should go to Col. Sharp’s nnd
heqr^lqit Beauchamp was suspected; and
sure enough, before I was done dressing,
| heard Mr. Scott cotqe stamping up
stairs to my room. He opened rny door,
grid said, good morning Mr. Beauchamp.
I returned the salutation with a very plea
sant politeness, hut Mr. Scott nbruptly
said, don’t you think some man went to
Sharp’s last night and killed him. I pu$
on a lace of great astonishment, nnd repli
ed, “ great God, is it possible! what, “Col.
Sharp?” “ Yes,” Raid ho, “Col. Sharp is
Hoad.” I then stood a moment, as though
in mute- nRionishiiient, and then said,
“ how did it Itnpiten sir ? in fight ?” Mr.
Soott said “ no; some stranger called
Col. Sharp to Ids door, nnd junt stabbed
him dead.” And thereupon lie turned a-
bout to go out of the room, but I said,
“ stay sir, for God's sake tell me some
thing about this horrid affair.” Said lie
“ I can tell you nothing in the world about
it sir, further than that Colonel Shnrp
xvas called to his door, from his bed, nnd
stabbed down dead upon the floor.” And
with tlmt ho left the room. I did not like
his abrupt manner, ns he entered the room,
but my manner, I saw, quite removed, for
the moment, bis suspicions. Icnmedown
stairs, and being invited by Mrs. Scott in
to thedinjng room, she told me of the hor
rid murder. I told her, Mr. Scott had
told me of it, and asked Iter “ifthere
were no suspicions entertained, of who
could have been the assassin ?” She said
none that she knevy of. And after Rome
little lip-tlier conversation, 1 started to do
my business in the Register’s office.
This xvas my business. In April pre
ceding I had sent the plots nnd certificates
of four surveys, together with the warrant
they were made ou, to tbe Register’s of
fice. They bad noxv, ns I supposed, lain
long enough for the patents to issue. I
had also with me another plot and certifi-r
cate, which I presented for registry in the
first place $ telling the Register the wnr-
pint was filefl. He looked and could find
no warrunt or survey in the office, in my
name. I saw therefore at once, Thomas
D. Beauchamp, by whom I sent my pa
pers, had not filed them in the offico.—.
And behold, here I xvas flut in Frankfort,
xvithout the least shadow of business!—
This frightened me very much, ns I knew
I should be arrested, from wlmt Dr. Sharp
said, on entering tho room where his bro
ther xvas dying. I thought if could go pfF
without being nrrested, Possibly they
might not send for me. And this I the
more hoped, if the diversion should he
created in fiiy favor, which I foresaw, and
intended should nrise, from suspicions of
Col. Sharp’s having been murdered from
political motives.
I knew there would be a great clamor
of this kind raised, and knowing how
weak and vain a man Dr. Sharp wns, I
had some hope he might he carried along
with the current. Whereupon, I hastened
to Mr. Scott’s, and ordered my horse, to
start home.
By this time, Mr. Scott had again re
turned to his house. I began immediate
ly lie entered the house, to ask him fur
ther questions about the murder. I saw
from Itis manner, very evidently, be had
his suspicions revived. I asked him if
Col. Sharp had had any recent quarrel
with any one, whence they could attach
suspicion to that person ? I}e said no—
he bad heard of no quarrel of Col. Sharp
with any one. Said he, •“ Mr. Beauchamp,
xvlint profession are you of? 1 think you
"'og lived in Simpson county.” Yes,
I told him, I livetj in Simpson county—•
My profession was that of n lawyer, or at
least, 1 had studied the law, but living in
the country, for the last 18 mouths, I had
not gone to the practice, but had continu
ed my reading in the country. “Well
sir,” said lie. “ are von n mnrrieil mjtn
sjr," said lie, “ are you a married man.”—
I replied, I was. “ Who did you marry
Mr. Beauchamp,” said he ; “ J married
AlissAnn Cook, 6jr,” I replied. And at
that, bis fnoo, litontr oe i, |£ turned even
blacker still. I had seen this l wa» e 'iuS
great point he was spilt to ascertain, but
still I forebore to enquire, why he asked -
me that question, and passed'off the con
versation as though it had been quite in e-
tiquette. Nor dpi I take the least notice
of his impolite inquiry, what my business
at Frankfort was, but answered' all Ids im
pertinent inquiries with a polite, cheerful
frankness anil truth, as though bis questi
ons Itari been a matter of course. Then
taking leave of bint, I set off from hia
house, when the sun wns about half an
hour Ipgb. When I spoke of tiding, he
asked me if I wns not going to stay to see
the House organized. I told hjm I should
like very much to do so, but that the en
suing Sunday I hnd appointed to start to
the Missouri, nnd therefore wns compel
led to hurry home—besides, I paid I had
some relations in Bloomfield, with whom
1 xvas under promise to stay all night, that
night, and therefore, I wished to set off
early enough to get there.”
He returned borne, (for we have not
room fo notice the occurrences on tbe
way,) nnd he gives the following account
of his arrival.
“ J got home within 15 minutes of the
exact time 1 told my wife T would get
home. She wns wulking down the grove,
upon the road I was to come, anxiously
expecting my arrival. So soon ns I saxv
her thus alone, 1 hoisted my flag of victoj
ry. She ran to meet me,and us 1 nlit from
tny horse I gnve her the ting, and s)ie fell
prostrate on her face before .me. She
then burst into tears and lifie.d her voice iq
gratitude to Heaven, that she was reveng
ed for all the misery a villain lmd brought
ou her family. Tb.en clasping her ai ms
about my knees, she called upon tbe spi
rits of her father, Imr brothers and lire sis
ter to bless me, and to intercede vvitji q