as to his most prudent course, but arranged his affairs for leaving the country. At length, receiving a letter from a friend in Tennessee, notifying him of Murrell's escape from prison, removed all doubts as to the wisdom of continuing longer in the Purchase. Meanwhile, he had been by no means inattentive to the manœuvres of Vess and his family, at whose house he had taken care never to eat since the supposed attempt at poisoning him. He had, however, on several occasions witnessed the same disposition made of the coffee that had been provided for him as on the evening he had supped with Mr. Saunders. He had moreover heard repeated private conversations between Vess and his wife, in which they expressed fears that they were suspected.

Having now satisfied himself that Vess was the individual alluded to by Aker, as having received a bribe to take his life; for which purpose, and to conceal his suspicions of him and Clanton, he had continued at his house as if nothing had occurred, but always making it convenient to be absent at meal-times, he made known his intention of leaving the country. All his preparations had been narrowly scanned by Clanton and Vess, who manifested much anxiety on the occasion. About this time Clanton became suddenly very much dissatisfied with the manner in which Mr. Stewart had managed his business during his visit to Tennessee, full four months before; and for which, at that time, he had expressed himself under many obligations; and in testimony thereof, as before stated, had presented him with a lot of ground in his new townsite; and moreover, in proof of his confidence, pro

posed receiving him as a partner in a mercantile establishment.

What at this late period gives birth to so important a discovery? Clanton had the same access to his books and money-drawer, and as good an opportunity to detect mismanagement, the first day or week after his return from Tennessee, as at any time during the succeeding four months. Whence, then, this new light that now so mysteriously breaks upon the conduct of Mr. Stewart? He had not before taken up arms against bandits and villains; had not "brought to light the hidden things of dishonesty," nor exposed to just infamy and disgrace the hireling hordes of incendiaries and robbers.

Clanton's dissatisfaction with his conduct, however, it is here worthy of remark, was not made known to Mr. Stewart openly and in person, but was stealthily circulated with a view to his prejudice; nor was any specific charge made that was capable of being met till after he left the Purchase. He knew that the character of Mr. S. stood too fair to be publicly attacked with any hope of success; and an investigation (for reasons that will subsequently appear) was what he little desired.

These reports having at length come to the ears of Mr. Stewart, he called on Clanton, and relinquishing his right to the lot with which a short time before he had presented him, and cautioning him against prematurity in his remarks upon his character, requested him, whenever he preferred exceptions to it, to publish them to the world. A short time after, having arranged his business and appointed Saunders his agent, Mr. S.

set out for Lexington, Kentucky, where it was his intention to prepare and publish John A. Murrell's confessions. On his way thither he passed through Madison county, Tennessee, where he spent several days with his old acquaintances. At this latter place, already much discouraged by reports of slander and the threats of destruction that everywhere beset his path, added to the intelligence of Murrell's recent escape from prison, he was wellnigh brought to the conclusion to terminate his journey. But, seeing the responsibility that rested upon him to the public, whom he saw the hapless victims of a most fatal delusion in connexion with his own almost hopeless doom, he determined to prosecute his undertaking, resolved, if his life should be the sacrifice (and he saw but too much reason to fear it would be), to offer it up freely on the altar of his threatened country. Shortly after Mr. S. left the Purchase, Clanton and his co-agents of the Murrell confederacy, growing bold at the opportunity, set on foot a report that he had stolen a quantity of goods from Clanton and eloped, intending thereby to destroy his character, and shake the confidence of the public in the exposition it was believed he was about to make of Murrell's conspiracy and plans. But, when the intelligence reached Mr. S., so far from changing his purpose, he determined to hasten his publication, which, at first, he had intended to delay till after the trial of Murrell; but his escape from prison before his trial had made it his duty to commence the publication, as it removed all the difficulties of his pending trial. Mr. Stewart left his friends in Tennessee and proceeded on his journey, intending to

take water at Randolph, and go up the river to some point in Kentucky, and thence to Lexington. The same day that Mr. S. started from Madison county, Tennessee, Parson Henning received intelligence of John A. Murrell's arrest at Florence, Alabama, and despatched his son after Mr. S. to inform him of Murrell's recapture. Mr. S. received the intelligence before he reached Randolph, having stopped on the way on business, which enabled Mr. Henning to overtake him. He being the only evidence in that part of the state, he returned to await the trial of Murrell. From this period till Murrell's trial, in July, Mr. S. found it necessary to keep himself, as much as possible, concealed; as, foiled hitherto in their attempts on his life and character, the friends and confederates of the clan became now more industrious in their efforts, since the intelligence of Murrell's recapture had made their only hope of success to depend on the most speedy destruction of the one or the other.

The following letter, found in possession of John A. Murrell by the sheriff at Florence after his recapture, of which we give an exact copy, and which was read in evidence against him, will furnish a key to Clanton's hitherto mysterious conduct, and shed some light upon other subjects which before have not been sufficiently accounted for.

Copy of John A. Murrell's Letter.

"This day personally appeared before us &c Jahu Barney-James Tucker Thomas Dark Joseph Dark Wm Loyd &c who being sworn in due form of law, did depose and say, that they were present and saw

Stewart of Yellow Busha in the evening of the first day of February last, in company with John Murrell. at the

house of Jahu Barney, over the Mississippi River and that him the said Stewart, informed us, that he was in pursuit of John Murrell, for stealing two negro men from Preacher Henning and his son Richard, in Madison County, near Denmark, and that he had told Murrell his name was Hues, and he wished us to call him Hues in Murrell's hearing-we also recollect, to have heard him, the said Stewart say distinctly, that he was to get five hundred dollars for finding said negroes, & causing Murrell to be convicted for stealing them.-But he did not say, who was to give him this reward-But he held the obligation of several rich men for that amount &cc.

The above is a copy given to me, by one who heard him say it, in the presence of you all You will therefore please to send me the names of all, that will testify these facts in writing-also send me the names of all and every man that will certify these witnesses to be men of truth &cc.

J †† MURRELL

But above all things, arrest him the said witness, for passing the six twenty dollar bills-You will have to goout in Yellow Busha, in Yellow Busha County, near the centre, for him, and undoubtedly, this matter will be worth your attention-for if it be one two, or three hundred dollars, the gentleman to whom he passed 100 it can present it before a magistrate and take a judgment for the amount; and his little provision store acc's &cc. is worth that much money,, "I shall conclude with a claim on you for your strictest attention" My distressed wife, will probably call on you, and if she does, you may answer all her requests, without reserve. MURRELL.

Yours &cc

Dear wife, I am in tolerable health, and I hope this will find you all well; I am of opinion, that the busi