The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 36

r7 vicui. rotiitfwiMsri tii isocmt. Henderson. August IX 15. TV TIT' CH INTEREST hai lately been r'nwd in the efw of Mlcajah I 1 an! WUey Harpe, two t-rtaee.

who were perhaps the most stro- oui robbers and murderer who have ever bwa known la the annals of Kentucky and TtanrM. This intereat has been revived by the alleged appearance of the ghoat of Mlcajah Harse, at the place In the western border of Webster County, known aa Head." This place, a am all settlement tn a remote and atlll sparsely poawlated regloa. take) fta name from taw drcwaastaaoa that it waa bare that Mlcajah Harpe. commonly known a Big Harp, was overtaken by a poaao and killed. Large reward for the rapture the Harpe.

dead or alive, bad been offered by eacb of the etatee of Kentucky and Tennessee, and toe poes that captured and killed Ml -a Jan Harpe cut off bis bead wish th intention of offering It aa conclusive evidence la claim ma; tba reward. But the weather being very warm. It was considered that the severed bead could not ba preserved for a sufficient length of time, and they, therefore, proceeded to otherwise dispose of It. They stripped the bole stem of a young poplar tree of Its top- snoat branches and trimmed It to a sharp (olnt. On this they firmly impaled the bead of Harpe.

It remained there for many years, until dlaiatagrated by tba elements: and even wtthla a recent period some remnants of the akwll were discernible. 'The tree baa fallaa. bat the stamp remains, and marks the scene of the) tragedy. Fur many year th minor of tba appearance at this spot of tba ghost at Mlcajah Harpe bad. at intervals, baas current, but attracted little attention.

Recently, however, a party of ladles and gentlemen returning at nigh tf all from a picnic paased near tba spot, and to their horror and dismay they saw the ghost of Harpe gliding around and around tba historic stump. It was seen distinctly by more than SO persona, many of whom were cf mature age and of eoot and unimaginative temperament. Tba testimony of these witnesses, they being competent observers and of unimpeachable veradry, eould not be doubted: at least to the extent that they firmly believed la tba reality of tba apparition. Saw th Ghost. The writer of this article' has bean, and Is.

an ardent atudent of the mora recant processes and development of psychological research. After Interviewing several of theee witnesses be became Impressed with the belief that a vary favorable opportunity waa offered to test th truth of certain postulates of the new psychology. But first ha deemed it expedient to ascertain if possible by personal observation the reality of th appearance of the phantom. Accordingly In the dusk of evening ba repaired to th spot, and ated himself upon the stump of the haunted tree. After waiting eome time the ghost appeared sure anough.

It seemed slowly to evolve Itself out of nothingness, becoming risible, not by. any extraneous light, but by a sort of phosphorescent Illumination inherent In Itself. It Increased In distinctness until vary Una and lineament of form and feature were clearly defined. It was the Image) of a rery large and powerful men -large bead, broad face, eyes large and wide apart, low but broad forehead, tin head uncovered except by a great mass of matted red hair, which corresponded with it thick and heavy beard. Whatever might have been th natural expression of It countenance it waa Impossible to tsU.

because It face was distorted and twisted Into line Indicative of Indescribable horror and agony. Th phantom slowly walked, or rather floated, several time around th stump-whereon th writer of this article was seated, and finally atopped directly facing him. It eras 'gazed directly Into eyes of th observer, with a steady, vacant stare, wholly devoid of Intelligence or vitality. Its faca-maintained without a quiver of mobility the sam expression In ansa agony and horror. ENTRY BLANK.

59 3 Now waa the tlma for the prellmirary teat. If tba conclusions of tba new psy-cnooay were valid, this ptastom tad a measaca to deliver. The hantom wsuld be found to be wholly vdl of or vitality. It wouid bo entirely Ignorant of the message It bad to eirver, as much ao aa tba phonograph la ignorant cf the words It speaks or ngs. The rrseiraje would be delivered only on demand, and purely mechanically, aa is the sneaaige of the phonograph.

If tba message should be fully delivered the phantom would fade away for- ever, bat If th message were wnry partlal- ly delivered th phantom would fade away temporarily, but would return again, from tin to time, and would persist until the Should be fully delivered. The woald. be delivered by th was ef articulate language not really by articulate languagebut only by the sensation of spoke word tepreeeed. without th Instrumentality of actual sound wavee. apoa th aadltory nerve.

The observer could at any time, by th sin exercise of hie will power, arrest the delivery of th message, and thus prevent th final extinction of the phantom. Th observer sitting on th tamp that in, th writer ef this article gaaed directly Into the vacant rye of th phantom, and said: "Who are youT" No answer. "What are yea doing hrT No answer. After miflcteat questioning to demonstrate the total lack ef percipssnce or Intelligence In th phantom, th observe! said: "Deliver your meaeige. Instantly a distinct, but metallic and tenuous role, as tf coming fi am a great distance pronounced th word "StigalL" "Stop," said th observer, for be did not wmh th full message to be delivered, and th cinnsa quant final extinction of, th phantom.

because he desired to apply other teat after certain necessary Information had been obtained. TTpoa the utterance by the observer of the word "Btop." the phantom, a had been expected, for the time being faded away. The Tfflf Account. Th full and detailed narrative of th wife of Wiley Harpe, who had accompanied the Harpe throughout their whole career and which was given ba wilting by her. after th execution of her husband, to a gentleman who had befriended her, was aceoaaiola.

This account, minute eve to the reproduction of words ef oonvwraatioa and which was verified by th laie Judge Underwood, whoee cariosity led him to an exhaustive Investigation of the subject matter, supplied all necessary data. It appear that Mlcajah and Wiley Harp were brothers and native of North Carolina. Th former was known aa "Big Harp and the latter aa 1Jttl Harpe. They came of a worthy family aad had the benefit of such education aa th country district ajflcrded, but from earliest manhood they exhibited a total lack of every human quality. They war utterly vicious.

They aoon became outlaws and robbers and la the execution of their depredations 1 seemed to have ao more regard for human life than beasts of prey-- Associated with one Moses 'Btlgall. they roamed th country, robbing and murdering, bat so great were their wariness and cunning that far a long time they eluded apprehension. Finally, after robbing a bank of several dollars, they determined to emi grate to Kentucky. Stlgau. with his wife and young daughter, was to go first and prospect for a He waa Intrusted wesawawas I icsmrc ISC mm 1905.

(DJ ffl OdCsC27DDGD tf fJQSeg TOCO H33E) (DOS 0K)(J3QI1I) OTr '03 TUB (imR(lM THE EKQUIBEK, CIKCINNa -UNDAY, AUGUST iia A A a Kb I Cristas I A .4 ft! I I if I 'l with most of th money secured by the robbery, aad wbea he had located be waa to hide It la a secure place aad await the coming af the Harpea. He chsss a place a th watei of Highland Creak, about 20 miles from th present city of Hendarson. The country was then almost a wllderneba, ther being only three or four cabins between! the ewe he built aad the Ohio River. PTom snms naesplslard eawaa It was more than a year before the Harpea were abas to follow 8tigall. Then they started, traveling la a covered wagon drawn by two harass.

Big Harpe taking with him two women whom he called hia wives, aad Uttl Harpe an woman who waa really his wife. Each of the woman had one young child. After passing through Cumberland Gap bit Kentucky, as they camped one night on what Is still known as the Wilderness road, they were overtaken by a young gentleman named nk-ford. who was on horseback. accompanied by a colored servant riding a mule, and bad considerable money about his person to pay for some wild land that he bad purchased in the vicinity of Danville, Ky.

Became Their Quest. Th genne man was belated, and It waa yet several miles to a roadside Inn where be bad Intended to lodge. When he rode up to th camp of th Harpea found them sheltered beneath a portable tent that they carried with them, and ha accepted their proffered hospitality to remain with tbem during the night. Of course It waa the object of the Harpea to rob the stranger, but they were for a long time hindered by the vigilance of the colored servant. Finally after Mr.

Lank-ford actually, and the Harpea apparently bad fallen asleep. Big Harpe whispered to tdttle Harpe: Tou pretend you hear a noise and go out and unfasten and drive off the mule, and then come back and tell the nigger that his mule Is loose, aad then go with him to help find It, and when you have got him far enough away you know what to do." I In thla way Uttle Harpe got the servant out of bearing and killed him. When he returned Big; Harpe took na ax from th wagoa aad beat out Mr. Lankford brains. They took his money, stripped him of his clothes, threw them together with his saddlebags In th wagon; loosed and drove ff his horse, concealed hi naked body la the brushwood and then retired to sleep as calmly aa though they bad only killed a raccoon far breakfast.

Whan morning cam the Harpea pursued their way, and th next heard ox tnam they Kreuxmann rt il 131 264. Common Pleaa Court, being an action compensation for the property appropriated by said Ordinance No. 300. In a 7' were camped on the headwaters of Green River about a mile from Stanford. In Lincoln County, Xy.

The day after the Harpea left this camp the news of the robbery and murder of Lankford and bis servant reached Stanford. The Harpea were, from some cause, suspected, and Captain Bellinger, a man noted for reckless courage, gathered a few men. pursued snd csptursd them aad took tbem back to Stanford. The clothes and money of Lankford were found their wagoa. and they were confined tn Jail at Danville te await 'trial.

Soon after the two Harpea broke Jail. and. leaving their women and children, escaped. The women were released and made their way to the cabin ef Btlgall. He built for them cabin about eight miles from Henderson, and ther they remained.

Joined a Band of Thlewes. The Harpes fled to Mississippi and Joined the band of robbers organized by the notorious Mason. There they remained for about a year, and then, believing that the active aearch for tbem had subsided, they determined to return to Kentucky, get the money deposited with StlgalL and remove their women and children to their new habitation. The first heard of them while upon this Journey was when they reached Adair County. Kentucky.

There, while proceeding along a forest road, they overtook a little boy, some 10 years old. the son of Colonel Trabue. The boy bad on hla shoulder a pillow case filled with meal, which the Harpes probably needed. They caught the boy. took hla meal, and when the poor Uttle fellow began to cry Big Harpe struck him on the head with hla huge, maul-like flat and broke his neck.

He then pitched the body Into the creek, not 200 yards from where It turned th wheel of th milL Th Harpea, who were superbly mounted, pursued their way, and before they reached Green River It is known that they murdered a little girl, a man named Dooley, and also a man named Stump, but the particulars of these murders have not been recorded. TJpoa reaching Green River the Harpea, who seemed to be well supplied with money, discarded their rough garments and clothed themselves la suits ef fine broadcloth, aad for further dlagulse they sssiimed to be Methodist preachers on aa evangel! tlq tour. They actually officiated at several religious meetings before they reached th cabin where their woman resided. When they arrived there they seat for Btlgall, Stlgall came, hut seamed to be In terrible distress of mind. told them that a man A of fh mnd Und(( and I abutting West Eighth street, between ex- I irling wt.T east of Wells street and Mc- I Pheron avenue, except such lots and lands at to 2-.

f-iJ A': In named Love had become intimate with his wife: that they had found and atolen the hidden treasure, and that be believed that they were about to elope. This was abso lutely false, except that a Mr. Love, horse: trader, had made the acquaintance of the Stlgalls, and during hia Journey! ngs to and fro, at their Invitation, had occasionally stopped at their cabin and spent the night. TTornad Against the Hsjrpeab The objeot of Btlgall waa to Indue th Harpea to murder his wife and child, who had become a burden to him, and then to raise a poase and pursue the Harpes and kill them, aad thus to secure for himself the whole of the treasure that bad been Intrusted to him. and likewise to rid himself of th Harpea, who.

be feared, might some time give him trouble or Inform against him. Accordingly, the next day, carry in the morning, he appeared at the cabin of the Harpea, and told them that he had discovered that his wife had secreted the money in his cabin, and pretended to tell 'them where It could be found; also, that Mr. Love would pass the ensuing night at bla cabin, when, as he believed, the plan of elopement would be matured- Of course, all of these statements were utterly false, except that he had learned that Mr. Love would, at th Urn mentioned, visit him and accept hla proffered hospitality for the night. The Harpes.

fearing detection and arrest, were anxious depart with their women and children and return to Mississippi, and their prepar-tlons were completed. And ao It waa then arranged between them and Stigall that they ahould atop after nightfall at Btlgall'a cabin, which was situated directly on their way; that they should secure the money, all of which tig-all agreed that they ahould bare for their treublei that they ahould kill Stlgall's family and Mr. Love and then continue on their ways that Btlgall would absent himself, and, la the meantime, so contrive that the crime would be fastened upon three rough men, strangers In the neighborhood, who were camping out and hunting; tn th vicinity. Th Harpes. induced by th prospect, of obtaining all th money, carried out their part of th program.

They arrived at Stlgall's cabin at about Is o'clock at night, broke to aad brained Mr. Lore with aa ax before fa couid leave his feed! burst Into taa next room and killed Mrs, Btlgall and her child mad) a thorough search ef the caaaa for th mousy, which, not being ther of course, they ul4 not find It. In their exasperation they set fire to th iam. no. A h- I.

a. Bauer. Also the fol lowing strip of land IS fee1 in width. T4 feet on each aide of the fol owing described i. c.r.,in, mt rvotnt in the south line to to of 1 4 mm 2t ass.

'Cibin. and now. suspecting the designs of 6tlgall, they hastened away at utmost pted. To elude pursuit they abandoned their Intended route and turned westward toward Union ounty. Before they had proceeded far they 'ran onto the cump at two Messrs.

Hudgens and uua. who were returning home from the Lick with bags of salt. They murdered thee men and hastened away. Meanwhile, early In the day. SMil had gone to Henderson 'snd had spent the afternoon and night carousing with boon companion Next morning, while returning toward hla cabin, aa be had expected, he waa informed by persons he met on the way of the tragedy of the preceding He feigned to be shocked and dla-tressed.

and gathering a number of resolute men. ameng whom were John Leeper. Jamea Silas Magby. started with them In pursuit of the Harpea, whom he accused of the crime. The pursuers, under the leadership of John Leeper.

who wss skilled in woodcraft, had no difficulty la following the trail, and overtook the Harpes near Pond River. As they reached the vicinity, about a quarter of a mile from the camp, they came upon Little Harpe, conversing with one Moses Smith, whom he evidently mistook for a spy. Little Harpe bad blown a shrill whistle upon hia charger, a smsll tube used to measure the powder when loading. Tbla was a lsgnal to Big Harpe, who cam to th spot, and wss In ths act of snooting Smith Just as ths pursuers approached from th opposite direction. Th pursuers.

not recognising Smith, hastily fired. They missed the Harpes. but wounded Smith. Instantly LltUe Harpe darted into the thicket and escaped. Big Harpe was mouated ea a swift grsy mare that bad belonged to the murdered Love.

He wheeled his horse and made off at a gallop before the pursuers could reload. He abandoned the camp and sped away to the southward. The pursuers, who had been delayed tn succoring Smith and taking poaaesslon of the camp and the women, soon started on the chase. Big Harpe, whose gray mare was swift and of great endurance, kept well In the lead for several miles; but James Tompkins, who rode a bay mare of thoroughbred Virginia stock, soon caught sight of Harpe, and gained on him until they came to a deep branch of fond River. Harpe struck the branch at a point where the bank was too steep for him to descend, and be waa compelled to turn back and ride around the top of a large fallen tree In order to reach a place where the descent was practicable.

Here Tompkins overtook him. Both reined up and Tompkins called on Harpe to eurrender. aald Harpe. and dashed away among the trees before Tbompklna eould draw a bead. Xlssad His Aim.

Just then Leeper cam up with his horse badly blown and hia gun unserviceable because the ramrod had got stuck in the barrel and he could not load. He exchanged horses and guns with Tcmpklns. and aoon the thoroughbred waa speeding after Harpe. After a chase of a mile Leeper overtook Harpe and fired at blm. but Harpe rode on.

and Leeper had atop to reload. i teeper was soon after Harpe again, aad aa be overtook him saw from his actions that Harpe waa badly wounded. Harpe turned and aimed at Leeper, but his gun nssed fire, and In a moment he fell heavily th ground. Leeper found that he had shot Harpe through the body, and he dragged him to a tree and braced him against at In a sitting posture. The rest th pursuers cam up.

and Harp begged for his life, but while they were consul t-In UgaU rushed up to Harpe, placed his gun against his breast and shot him Interest f4i per cent per annum; provided, that the owner of any property assessed may at hla cash within a I '4 4 vY S1 turowsb the Harpea naad waa taaa cut off and disposed ef as alte ueerrJMe. I.lttle 'Harpe fled to Ml-ie'fl ti re Ined Mason's brtgaBde. Klnal Hua'l deprsdationa became so heinous that the (kivenw of Misalstipul a rrearl of IS.Orm, mostly raised by sub-rlpia. far his rapture, dead or alive. I.I 'tie Harpe determined to secure the reward, and.

fln.lltuj '-no day Mason seated upon a Wiln his mom-y. slipped up beh n1 Mm. cu! off his head, and carried It tho; t.ltal of Mississippi. i I lie was about to receive the reea'1 shea a gentleman aho had recently leenN by the brigamLt rtcogntsvd Hari- i.n of the gang, whereupon he irit4 tried ami executed. I Stlgall, whoa reputation mum tr although he escaped all susp: in.

I in the tragedy at l.ls ears thereafter attemt.t-.ll -r aith Jcshau to abdut a lady named MaddoXt I'eta ilVi.t.-r I1. 1 a brother of Miss Mnd.lox piri- 'lira, overtook them and killed both Ths Ohost' Message. Ths writer of this artl. le 1 hT. th data he required and he jt I to make the final test.

Kor ami ral waited in vain for tba appe.iran the ghost: but at length, one gusty aaw the faint, im lplent light i torn aa It filiated around the 'i which he sat. Slowly, but v. II gathered ahae end consistent) l. definition of form and feature 1 tuple. Then It stopped, a before, atl 1 directly In front of the observer.

T. w'J had Inrreaaed in violence and tors the woods with a vehemence that Iim swayed the tall trees almost to Hr throw. But the windstorm did r. tt T-t the spectre In the least. It stod -r'! -I and rigid aa a marble statue.

T'- not surprise the observer, for tie a-j- Such substance as tba phantom -vst! was not compact of material at or particles of matter such as are re by the objective senses, but was r-j t. Of certain occult vlbratLan of fUt t.i--tils fluid denominated ether, that all the Interstellar spaces, and Is medium of tha transmission of aad heat. As the ghoet gaaed Into the eyes oi -r. ob server with Its vacant stars he cr. fh test by recounting ally and as vlvUlr as ha coull fin n.rc- ston, the several crimes of hl-h that Harpe had been guilty.

TL. i effect upon the apectre. It std gase, and with, the look cf able horror and despair thfit tea described. The observer then q'if-i''' I' In every conceivable form that l.e 1- vise as to the Incidents of the crimes of Harpe. Tlrere waa and no sign of Interest or stood throughout as dead and "painted ahlp upon a paint'! Finally the observer said: mesaag-e.

Instantly ths voice w. thin, distant, but distinct, and as th remote throb of the julin and these words were lnipri-e 1 auditory sensor! "Bilinll He deceived me He made me n.rl-r wife. robbed me He betray il' murdered The voice ceas iv i et sag had been fully delivered Tie vanished tike a raa flame whn Ungulshlng key is turned; It alii more; that telepathic la a bol vtt. 1 ANTI DAMPED 'JJ sriaur smc cue TW AMELIA TOILET CO, t. 0.

Bet 24. CisUeaail. Twew roervHS rots i 3 II labs) sets eats, ea. sear, sess vinea ttim mm -14 I sesse! nisy. et hl eensment in cash from snd after the I.