Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1878 — Sol Smith’s Curse. [ARTICLE]

Sol Smith’s Curse.

Sol Smith’s brother Lemuel,' a young actor, was killed in Augusta, Ga. His murderer, Flournoy, was acquitted by the jury on the plea that the killing might be classed as the result of a duel. After hearing the verdict, Sol Smith said to the homicide: Before God and man I charge you with murdering my brother ! The sleep of the innocent will never more be yours. You are a murderer, and will ever more carry the mark of homicide upon your brow. From thia time forth in this world you will never sleep again. Two years later Sol was accosted by an abject-looking wretch, who stood before him in an attitude of supplication. It was Wm. Flournoy. “Why do you follow me ?” said Sol. “Becausel want you to shoot me—right here.” “ No, it is not for me to punish you,” was the reply. “It is not punishment I ask you to inflict—that I haye received already, in full measure ; it is vengeance I ask you to take, for your brother’s murder upon his murderer. I endeavored to persuade myself I committed the deed in self-defence, but know better now. I am a murderer. You said I would never sleep more, and 1 never have. I have closed my eyes at night as usual, have steeped my senses in brandy until unconsciousness came, but that blessed sleep you drove away has never returned to me for one moment. My life is a burden to me. Take it Let me die by your hand, and then I may feel your brother may forgive me. I will die to-night! ”he said impressively, as Sol turned away and toft him. The next morning Flournoy’s body was found jat his country place. It was riddled by bullets and scalped. An Indian war had just broken out, and he had been the first victim.— Sunny South.