Murder In Sin City
By W.G. Davis
()
About this ebook
When the Salem Witch Trial era demon, Backward Jack shows up in Utica New York in the mid-1970s, two little girls come up missing and Sheriff Justos "John" Cohalla thinks that he has a serial killer on his hands. But soon realizes that what he has is more than just a killer, he has a nightmare.
Finally, in early 2002 Jack possesses a young truck driver named Carlos Zuluaga.
Jack's intentions are to just kill more innocent victims.
But what he doesn’t know, is that Carlos already has his own list of victims in mind. It’s a race against time for Utica’s Police Captain Tanya Robertson, F.B.I. Special Agents Jason Batchelor, and Aniya Brown to stop Jack before he strikes again.
Some call him a vigilante, others call him a murderer.
The F.B.I. correctly calls him, Backward Jack!
Read more from W.G. Davis
Just After Midnight The Darlie Routier Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bloodstained Justice The Darlie Routier Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Will You Kill For Me Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gambino Family History Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5World Showcase Cookbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unexplained Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vanlife Nightmare The Gabby Petito Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How I Made Money Trading on Robinhood Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nightmares Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Family Secrets Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Gotti The Fall of the Godfather Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Death of a Beauty Queen Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Murder in The Bayou Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEast Utica Our Loving Memories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Witching Trial of West Memphis Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Empty Cradle Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Adventures of The DRB Detective Agency Escape From Halloween Mansion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Haunting of Carson Mansion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Journey of Monomoy Girl Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHis Last Letter From War Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Adventures of The DRB Detective Agency Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Murder In Sin City
Related ebooks
The Awakening Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGeorgia Meets Her Groom Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Cruise Of The Dazzler: “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTemple of Eternity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSilverbirch Summer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJumpers Between Worlds Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLunar Vampire Chronicles: The Fall of James Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPeering into the Darkness: Josh Weston Chronicles, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJak's Story Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Never Say Die: Stories of the Zombie Apocalypse Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKing of the New World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom Ukraine To America: My Father Never Told Me - Vol 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTo Be Human Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMystery in Rocky Mountain National Park: A Mystery Adventure in the National Parks Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Shock Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5SKYE...in the Beginning (A Skye Wilder Paranormal Mystery Romance Book 1) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOakwood Island Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings3012: The Uprising Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuest for the Tablet Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChosen: Otherworld, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHeart Chants Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJessie Winchester Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSkywalker The Tablet of Ninurta Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Valley of the Eagles: A Novel of Adventure Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCarritos the Assassin : A Temporal Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRingmaster's Game Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJust a Notion Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLore and Lament Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOut in the Dark Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHell's Carnival Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Fantasy For You
The City of Dreaming Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tress of the Emerald Sea: Secret Projects, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Priory of the Orange Tree Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Pirate Lord: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Measure: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Immortal Longings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Empire: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don Quixote: [Complete & Illustrated] Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Underworld: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wizard's First Rule Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Phantom Tollbooth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Black Sun Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lord Of The Rings: One Volume Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nettle & Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Talisman: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Murder In Sin City
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Murder In Sin City - W.G. Davis
Prologue
From September to June 1692, nineteen men and women were brought to Gallows Hill and hung because they were convicted of Witchcraft, which was also called the Devil’s magic by the Puritans of Salem Massachusetts.
Throughout the years, the names of the condemned men and women have been documented.
Each case has been studied and the accusations surrounding their arrests and trials have even been brought to question.
In addition, by 1711, the General Court passed a bill reversing the judgment against the condemned.
Today’s history books will teach you about the innocent people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693.
However, what they fail to tell you is of the one condemned man named Jack Madison, also known to some as Backward Jack, who was murdered by the town Sheriff in June 1694.
Two years after the last Salem Witch trial execution took place. All the accused witches were finally pardoned and received their justice.
However, Jack never received the justice that was due to him.
Today Backward Jack walks the earth seeking his own justice.
PART ONE
Backward Jack
The Beginning of The Legend
They Call Him Backward Jack
Mary Madison was a tired woman.
It was August of 1686 and she’d just arrived in the new world with her son Jack.
Her husband Abraham, unfortunately, died on the journey across the vast ocean from England.
He was sixty-one and already in bad health when they set out on the voyage.
The perilous transatlantic crossing usually took at least six weeks, but this trip lasted well over two months.
Just two weeks into the voyage he started to get sick and run a fever.
Then just nine days later Abraham fell asleep and never woke back up.
There was no way to keep the body on the ship for the remainder of the crossing, so they held a somber service and dropped his body overboard.
Abraham was not the only passenger to pass away during the voyage.
In total seven men and three women died during the journey.
She didn’t know what the future held for her and her son, but he knew one thing, it was going to be a journey well worth taking.
Many of the people in those days left England for the new world to start fresh and build a new life for them.
However, that was not the case for the Madison family.
At the time of their journey, Jack was just seventeen years old.
However, he had the mentality of a six-year-old.
Nobody was sure as to what the cause was of Jack’s learning disability.
Some say that he would eventually just catch up while others held out no hope for the young man.
The other children just called him Backward Jack because he was so different from all the others.
Jack’s father Abraham told his son to ignore those children.
That life was not all about being book smart.
Nevertheless, even Abraham knew that a boy could only take just so much teasing.
That thought came into existence in the second week of March 1686.
It was a cloudy day, and everyone knew that rain would soon be falling.
The townspeople of Hampton were happy to see the rain come early this year.
The previous two years have been very dry, and the crops have suffered for it. Outside you could hear the wind as it passed through the trees and the distinct smell of rain was in the air.
Jack had finished his chores for the day and thought it best that he goes for a walk before dinner.
As Jack walked along the edge of Shingly Road that ran along the edge of the Oxford Forest, he heard some voices in the distance.
He thought that maybe he had just imagined them, but then he heard them again.
This time it seemed as though the voices were getting closer.
Up ahead there was a bend in the road and for a moment, Jack caught a glimpse of the two young boys walking his way.
Jack quickly ran off the side of the road and his in the brush along the tree line.
As the two boys walked past Jack neither of them noticed him lying face down in the high brush.
Jack just lay there trying to be as quiet as he possibly could.
He knew that if the boys heard him, they would find him for sure.
Moreover, that meant the tormenting words and maybe even a few punches to his head.
Even though Jack was much larger than the other boys his age, he still didn’t try and defend himself against their physical attacks.
As the boys passed Jack, he knew that he had recognized the one boy's voice.
That’s him, Jack thought to himself.
The previous day, as Joshua Cummins was walking home from school, he had seen Jack walking through town.
Jack didn’t attend any school as a child.
Some say that he was just too dumb to teach, so Mary took it upon herself to homeschool the boy.
However, after many years of trying, Jack could just barely write his own name.
Even then, he would write the letters and his name backward.
Therefore, Mary figured that the best education for her son would be to learn the art of farming and tending to the animals.
However, it was common for poor children to be homeschooled at all.
Usually, poor children wouldn’t go to school at all and would start working by the time they were six or seven.
It was more common for children from more affluent families (such as those of merchants), both boys and girls, would go to what was known as a petty school
from early childhood for basic education in reading and writing.
Girls didn’t attend the same type of grammar school as boys, but some private girls’ schools were set up.
Naturally, these focused on more lady-like pursuits like music and modern languages.
Many of the poorer people believed that this didn’t prepare them for the life of farming which was very common in that area of England.
Joshua’s parents were merchants and had a beautiful home on the better side of town.
Joshua was an only child and he received anything that he would ever want.
He always thought that he was better than the other kids in town were. In addition, when he would see Jack, he would torment the poor boy.
HEY, BACKWARD JACK, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? I BET IT’S NOT TO SCHOOL!
Joshua yelled as Jack walked along the road heading out of town.
What’s the matter backward, can’t talk now? Maybe you finally lost all your brains!
he continued to yell.
Jack just lowered his head and continued the walk home.
He knew that Joshua would soon turn off the dirt road and cut through the woods and across the old cemetery to get to his house.
All Jack had to do was to ignore him for the next quarter mile or so.
Then Jack felt the thud when the first rock hit the back of his shirt. Then he felt the pain as the next rock slammed into the back of his head.
Jack turned and took a quick glimpse at Joshua who was now collecting stones on the side of the road to throw at Jack.
Jack knew that all he had to do was make it to the next bend in the road and he would be almost home and to the one place where he felt truly safe.
Moreover, at that bend was where Joshua would turn off the road and follow the path into the woods.
One by one, Jack felt the rocks as they hit his back.
One of the flying projectiles managed to hit him against the back of his knee causing him to lose his balance.
I must keep going. Jack thought to himself.
Jack quickened his pace and soon he was too far ahead of Joshua for his stones to reach their intended target.
Jack just kept walking as the stones bounced off the road behind him and rolled into the brush along the sides.
It was then that Jack heard the final shout from Joshua. Your mum is a feeble peasant woman who has relations with a pig!
Jack didn’t care that the town’s children poked fun at him, but when it came to his mother, he wouldn’t tolerate it.
Jack looked at his mother as a Saint.
She was the one person in the world who he thought truly understood him.
He wouldn’t just stand by quietly as someone talked bad about his mother.
When Jack turned back around Joshua had already left the road and was heading down the path towards the cemetery.
Jack quickly sprinted through the woods to cut him off.
The faster Jack ran through the woods the angrier he became.
With each branch that hit Jack, he would envision the rocks as they pounded into his back.
It was not long before Jack could make out the image of Joshua as he walked along the oath.
Jack could see his face and noticed that he appeared to be smiling to himself.
How could he be smiling after what he said about my mum? Jack thought to himself as he felt the anger boil up within him.
Jack managed to get about a couple hundred yards further up the trail without Joshua seeing him.
He dropped down behind a fallen tree and waited for his prey to arrive.
As Jack lay there, he managed to find a tree branch that had recently fallen from one of the enormous trees in the forest.
Jack tightly gripped the branch as he imagined what he had in store for Joshua Cummins.
As Joshua walked along the trail, he thought he saw some movement out of the corner of his left eye.
It must just be an animal, he thought to himself.
Joshua had walked this trail many times over the years.
He’s seen everything from small deer to a few stray dogs along the path, so any movement didn’t cause him any real concern.
Joshua managed to walk about fifty more feet down the trail when suddenly Jack jumped to his feet and blocked the trail.
Hey, Backward Ja...
was all that he could say before the tree limb came crashing into the side of his head.
Joshua fell to the ground in agony as Jack jumped on top of him and started punching him in the face.
Everything around Joshua went completely black as Jack took a hold of his ears and slammed his head repeatedly into the hard ground of the trail.
Nobody was around to witness the beating that Joshua received from Jack that day.
There were no witnesses to the brutal murder.
But, most importantly, there were no witnesses to hear the incoherent chants that Jack made, as he slammed Joshua’s head into the solid ground.
After about twenty minutes of nonstop beating, Jack just let go of the head of Joshua Cummins.
He just sat there at the dead boy’s feet crying.
Not out of sadness but out of pure relief.
When Jack lifted his head and looked at the limp body that was blocking the dirt path he started to laugh.
His laughter filled the forest, and one would think that Jack had just heard some extremely funny joke.
Jack was laughing because, in his final moments of life, Joshua Cummins urinated on himself.
Jack for once, was able to laugh at someone else’s shortcomings rather than his own.
Three days later Abraham and Mary went into town and heard that a young lad by the name of Joshua Cummins had come up missing from the area.
The town’s people put together search parties and spent weeks on end searching the local woods and surrounding hillsides for the child.
Then after almost a month, they knew that all hope was lost.
They concluded that no child could survive the elements of the late winter.
Even though it had hardly snowed that year and the days were warmer than normal, the nights dipped down below freezing temperatures.
The town’s people decided to hold a special church service for the young man that May, even though they never found the child’s body.
On the morning of the service, Abraham was in the barn milking one of his cows when Jack walked in.
Good morning son,
Abraham said to Jack.
Good morning father,
was his reply.
Abraham noticed that his son was avoiding making eye contact with him as he worked around the barn doing his chores.
Is everything okay Jack?
Abraham asked.
Jack just went on working as if he didn’t hear his father speaking.
Jack. Is everything ok bay?
his father said again with a louder tone in his voice.
Jack just turned to his father.
As he stood there and stared into his father’s eyes, he began sobbing.
What’s the problem son?
Abraham asked as he walked over and put his arm around Jack.
Father, I did something bad,
was all Jack could say through his sobs.
Abraham had never seen this side of his son before. Jack was always one to hide his emotions.
Even when his favorite dog died after being kicked in the head by the neighbor's horse Jack refused to cry.
Come on let's get inside with your mum and talk about this,
Abraham told Jack as they walked to the house.
As the three sat on the front porch of their home Jack just sat there and rocked back and forth and mumbled to himself, I did something really bad,
repeatedly.
It’s okay sweetie. You can tell us what happened,
Mary assured her son.
No, you’re going to be mad at me,
he replied.
Abraham, why don’t you go outside and fetch us some firewood so that I can start dinner soon?
Mary said as she glanced over at her husband.
He knew that Mary had a way to talk to the boy.
Therefore, he left the two of them on the porch alone as he walked out to the woodpile behind the barn to gather some firewood.
Now tell me, son, what’s wrong,
Mary said as soon as Abraham was out of sight.
I hurt Joshua,
he said through his sobs.
What do you mean you hurt Joshua?
she asked with a tone of concern in her voice.
He was poking fun at me and calling me Backward Jack. I just got really mad, and I hit him.
Mary couldn’t say a word as her son explained how he had killed the young boy be dragging him into the woods and beating him with a tree branch.
When Jack finished, she asked him, And where’s Joshua now?
I buried him in the old cemetery on the edge of town,
he replied.
The Oxford town cemetery was about a quarter mile from Madison’s home. Mary knew that she needed to see where the child’s body was located so she asked Jack to take her to where he buried him.
Whatever you do son, don’t say a word of this to anyone. Do you understand me?
she asked as she held his face in her hands and she stared into his eyes.
Yes ma’am, but what about father, can I tell him?
he asked.
NO! Don’t tell anyone, especially your father. This is to remain a secret between you and me. Do you understand?
Yes ma’am,
he replied as he wiped the tears from his cheeks.
As Abraham was returning to the house with an armful of firewood, Mary and Jack rushed past him as they headed to the barn to retrieve their horses for the short ride to the cemetery.
We’ll be back soon. Just get the fire going and put on a kettle of water. I won’t be too long.
Abraham was not able to respond before the two were in the barn and out of sight.
As Abraham dropped the firewood on the floor next to the fireplace, he could hear the galloping of the horses as Mary and Jack rode off into the woods.
As the two arrived at the cemetery, Mary and Jack climbed down from their horses and tied them to a small tree on the edge of the cemetery.
Now show me where you buried him at,
Mary softly asked Jack.
Over here,
Jack replied as he walked along the wooden crosses that were placed at each grave as a headstone.
Mary knew that Jack was not able to read so she was confused as to what he was searching for.
Right here momma,
he said as he stood in front of the newly placed cross.
Mary stood next to her son, looked down at the cross, and read the inscription that was on the wood.
I buried him right here momma,
Jack said as he stood there in the middle of the cemetery.
Are sure of that son?
She asked.
Yes, ma’am I’m sure,
he said
How can you be absolutely sure?
asked Mary.
Because the dirt was all still fresh when I brought him here, so I just dug the hole and dropped him inside. I covered it back up so that nobody could see what I had done,
he replied.
Mary just took in a deep breath, turned to her son, and said, Jack, you’re to never speak of this ever! Do you understand me?
Jack just stood there with a blank look on his face as if he were trying to comprehend what he had just heard.
Do you understand?
Mary asked with a deep tone on in her voice.
Yes, ma’am I understand. But am I going to get in trouble now?
he asked as he dropped his gaze to the ground.
As long as nobody finds out about this you’ll not get in trouble, I promise,
Mary told Jack as the two-walked back to the horses.
When the two arrived back at the house Mary told Jack to feed the horses then put them in the field and to get cleaned up for dinner.
She reminded him not to speak of word of what happened to his father.
Jack agreed and led the horses to the back of the barn.
When Mary walked into the house, she saw Abraham who was sitting at the table and carving out what appeared to be a wooden spoon from a piece of wood.
When Mary walked in Abraham put the piece of wood on the table and brushed the small shavings of wood into his hand.
As he dropped the wood shavings into the fireplace, he asked Mary what was bothering Jack.
It was nothing. He was just having a hard time with one of the kids yesterday and he said some words that were inappropriate,
she told him.
Do you need me to have a word with him?
Abraham asked.
No, I took care of it. I’m sure that it was just a one-time incident, and it won’t happen again.
For the rest of the evening, Jack was quiet and hardly spoke a word.
Finally, his mother told him, Why don’t you head on up to bed. You got school tomorrow.
Okay, ma’am,
Jack replied as he quickly stood and left the room.
I don’t know What’s going to come of that boy once we’re dead and gone Mary?
Abraham said as he placed his feet up on a stool in front of his chair.
And what do you mean by that?
she asked.
Well, you know that he can’t take care of himself. And there’s no way that he could tend to the farm all by himself once I’m gone.
Mary knew that this was the perfect time to say what she’d been thinking ever since she learned what Jack had done.
She took a deep breath and said, Then why don’t we leave the farm and try our best in the New England colonies that you have been talking about so much lately.
Abraham just looked at Mary with a look of confusion on his face.
Are you serious?
he asked.
Well yes of course I am. I hear that there are all kinds of opportunities for a young strong man like Jack over there. Maybe he could be a blacksmith or even a carpenter.
Abraham was curious as to where Mary would have heard such things about the New England colonies.
Then he figured that it must have been from that circle of women that she associates with at church every Sunday Morning.
Luckily, for Mary, Abraham never asked her where she’d found her information, as she was just making up facts to convince Abraham that they should leave England.
Mary’s heart raced as she sat there waiting for Abraham’s reply.
She knew that Abraham had mentioned a couple times that he would like to leave England and the life of a farmer and try his hand in the New England colonies.
He would tell Mary that many years earlier a man named Thomas Weston would finance the journey for some of the poorer families to go to the New England colonies.
Unfortunately, there was no one that Abraham knew that could help him financially.
Well, Richard down the lane has wanted to buy my horses and cattle for some time now. I suppose that if we sell off everything then it would give us more than enough money to start a new in the colonies,
he told Mary.
Even though there was not a ship leaving for the New England colonies for another two months by the next afternoon Mary had already made provisions to sell off most of the family’s belongings.
The land didn’t belong to them; it was the King of England’s, so all that they could sell was the physical items on the farm.
Over the next seven weeks, Mary prayed that no one would find the body of the young man, and they could just quietly leave England.
The Gruesome Discovery
Everything was quiet as Martha Morris entered the small cemetery to visit the grave of her beloved husband Jeremiah.
It was the second week of June, and the weather was beautiful.
The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky.
Between her eighteen-year-old son and herself, they were able to get all the chores around the family’s small farm done early and now she planned to spend the remainder of her day here in the cemetery with her memories.
As she walked among the small wooden crosses she caught the glimpse of a family of a man, woman and teen-aged son standing around another gravesite on the opposite side of the cemetery.
When she finally reached the small wooden cross that marked the final resting place of her husband Jeremiah, she immediately knew that something was wrong.
The soil that covered Jeremiah's grave was disturbed.
It looked as if someone or something was digging up the grave of her husband.
She’d heard stories of men who would dig up the graves of the dead and steal any valuables that they could find.
However, they were poor and Jeremiah the family had no valuables at all.
She thought to herself that the holes seemed a little bit too small if someone was trying to dig up any remains.
She immediately thought that the culprit must be some kind of animal.
Maybe an opossum as they were in the area.
Then she remembered the problem that they had with Gophers the previous year.
How they dug up her garden and for almost three weeks they waited outside in the dark to catch the culprits and rid them of her garden.
The last thing that she was considering now was grave robbers.
Martha dropped to her knees and started to inspect the small hole burrowed into the ground.
She looked around and thought that it was strange that only her Jeremiah’s grave that was disturbed.
As she looked closer, she could smell an awful smell that rose out of the hole.
Maybe the poor animal died down in there was her first thought.
She knew that she needed to get the decomposing animal carcass out of the hole so that she could get the gravesite back in order.
She surveyed the area around the cemetery and finally found what she was looking for.
She rose to her feet, walked to the edge of the cemetery, and retrieved a tree branch that was about three feet long.
She returned to the gravesite and once again dropped to her knees and started to poke inside of the hole.
She was able to get the stick down into the hole about eighteen inches when it hit something.
Her first fear was that she’d startle the animal that was in the hole, and it would make a dash to freedom and in the process bite her.
However, to her relief, the animal didn’t move.
Well, it must be dead,
she whispered to herself as she rolled up the sleeves of her shirt.
She looked down into the hole once more and was sure that this time she could see the animal lying there motionless.
She reached down inside of the opening.
This time she was considering that maybe it was a litter of newly born babies, the mother just abandoned them, and they died from starvation.
She felt around and found a solid form in the hole.
She didn’t feel any hair on it, which she thought as being strange if it were a gopher or an opossum.
She took a firm grip on the small body in her hand and slowly pulled it from its grave.
When her hand came up out of the hole, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
She let out a scream and the family that was visiting their loved one on the opposite side of the cemetery came running to her assistance.
When they arrived, they found Martha sitting on the ground crying and what appeared to be a human hand and forearm on the ground in front of her.
The father immediately told his son to run and get the Constable.
As the young man ran through the trees into the small town just down the road, the young woman led Martha away from Jeremiah's gravesite until Constable Fleming could arrive.
As the distraught woman sat beneath a nearby tree, all she could think was that, somehow, she’d pulled her dead husband's hand and arm up out of the grave.
Eventually, Constable Fleming arrived on horseback with the town’s Reverend, Mr. John Galli and Mr. Edward Hollingsworth, the town’s doctor, and the town’s undertaker.
After a brief discussion with Martha, the three men walked over to the gravesite and started to dig around in the soil.
After about an hour Constable Fleming came over to talk to her.
Well, the good news is, that you didn’t dig up Jeremiah,
he said.
She was relieved to hear that.
Then who is it?
she asked.
From what we can tell, it is a body of a young man. Probably been there a few months seeing it was buried on top of your husband’s grave,
the Constable replied.
Oh, Lord,
She whispered to herself.
We’re going to take the body back to town and Doctor Hollingsworth is going to see if he can tell us who it is,
the Constable said.
The Constable already believed that he knew who the young man was.
The size of the body and the timeframe makes him believe that it is the body of Joshua Cummins.
In addition, if it was, in fact, Joshua, then he had a murder on his hands to solve.
Five days later, Doctor Hollingsworth made his final determination about the body found in the cemetery.
He sent for Constable Fleming and Reverend Galli.
When the Constable arrived at Doctor Hollingsworth's home, Reverend Galli was already there.
When he knocked at the door of the house, Doctor Hollingsworth’s wife Millie answered the door and led him to the sitting room where they discussed what he had discovered.
From what the doctor could tell the body was, in fact, that of Joshua.
He also knew that Joshua’s murder location was not far from where they found his body, as there was not much-dried blood found on his clothing.
He did verify that the young man died from a solid hit to the back of his head.
It didn’t kill him instantly was his best guess.
He may have been alive for as much as thirty minutes after the first blow.
In addition, after the body was decomposing an opossum started to dig up the remains looking for a quick meal.
I’d say that he was attacked within a mile of the cemetery,
he told the two men sitting there with him.
Well, all we have out that way is two old farms and nothing else,
the Reverend replied.
The old Bradley farm is just north of the cemetery. However, the only ones still there’s old Henry and Francis. They must be in their mid-seventies,
the Constable added.
What about the other one?
Mr. Hollingsworth asked.
Well, that’s the Madison farm,
Reverend Galli replied.
Do you know them?
asked the Constable.
Well, Mary comes to church quite often with her husband Abraham. They have an older boy; I think his name is Jack. He doesn’t come much. But I’ve seen him many times when I went to visit the family,
the Reverend said.
Yes, I know the family also. The boy is a little off in the head. I’d guess that he’s somewhere in his late teenage years,
the doctor added.
I’ve only spoken to the young child a handful of times.
He has a very peculiar slur in his voice.
It is one that I’ve never heard before," the Reverend added.
Maybe we need to make a visit over at the Madison farm and see if they have any answers to what happened to Joshua,
Constable Fleming said.
The three men all mounted their horses and rode out to Madison’s farm on the edge of town.
Mary and Jack were in the garden next to the barn when Mary got a glimpse of the three men riding up the road in the distance.
Go inside boy quickly and stay there until I come get you,
she told Jack.
Martha quickly walked out to the road to meet the men as Jack ran to the back door of the house.
Good afternoon, ma’am,
the Constable said as they approached Mary.
Good afternoon, Constable. How can I help you, gentlemen, today?
she asked as she smiled and looked at each man.
We were just wondering if your husband is around,
the Constable asked.
No, you just missed him. He went over to Brickshire to visit his ailing sister Abigale.
Brickshire was about thirty miles to the west.
Just wondering as to why you didn’t go with him?
the Reverend asked.
I had a lot to get done around the farm and just couldn’t afford to go with him,
she replied.
This was not the truth.
She really didn’t go because she didn’t get along with Abraham’s sister.
In addition, she only lived in Foxwood, which was the next town over.
She expected him back home that evening.
However, what was true was that Abraham’s sister Abigale did in fact disliked Mary.
They haven’t spoken ever since Jack attacked her daughter when they were very young.
Abigale called Jack slow and a fool. And Mary had words with her.
Well ma’am, is your boy home?
Constable Fleming asked.
Mary could feel an overwhelming fear come over her body.
She quickly replied, No. Actually, he went with his father.
When do you expect them back?
the Reverend asked.
I’d guess in about five days,
she nervously replied.
Okay, ma’am, if they happen to come back sooner have your husband bring your boy to my house. I want to have a word with him,
the Constable said as he just sat on his horse staring down at the small woman.
I’ll let him know as soon as he gets here,
Mary replied.
The Constable just looked at his two companions and then he told her to have a good day and the three men rode off down the road.
Once the men got down the road the Reverend asked the Constable, So what do you think?
I’d say that she knows more than what we think,
Constable Fleming replied.
Why is that?
asked Doctor Hollingsworth.
Well, she made one big mistake,
the Constable said.
And what was that?
the Reverend asked.
She never asked as to why we wanted to talk to her son. That tells me that she already knows why we need to speak to him,
the Constable replied.
That evening when Abraham returned home, he found his wife and son packing a traveling trunk with all their personal belongings.
What are you doing?
Abraham asked as he walked into the house.
Packing for the trip,
Mary replied through her heavy breathing.
We still have four days until the ship leaves. It is only a day’s ride to the docks. No need to be packing now,
Abraham replied.
I just figured that we could stop off and see my brother Emory and his family on the way to the ship. Besides, we don’t know when we will be able to see them again,
she said as she placed some of Abraham’s shirts into the trunk.
Okay then we will head out tomorrow afternoon,
he said with a smile.
I already collected all the money for the stuff we sold. In addition, what’s left I’m donating to the Johnston's in town. They’re still in need of a lot of things since they had the fire last fall at their house.
Okay sounds like we’re all set to leave then.
The next afternoon the family ate a hearty lunch of chicken and potatoes then loaded their personal belongings onto their carriage.
As the three rode down the road and out of town, all Mary could think about is that she hoped the family would make it to the ship before the Constable came looking for them.
Three days later the Madison’s were all loaded into the boat heading to the New England colonies.
Emory had agreed to take the family to the ship docks and help them load their trunks onto the ship.
In return, Abraham had agreed to give him the carriage and horse that they owned.
As the ship pulled away from the docks, Mary was still worried that the Constable would show up and yell for the ship to stop so that he could take young Jack into custody.
Her nerves finally settled once the ship made it out of the harbor and out to sea.
She could no longer see the land out in the distance, and she truly felt at peace.
The following day Constable Fleming and Reverend Gillis arrived once again to the Madison farm.
They knocked on the door, but nobody answered.
They looked around the rear of the house and at first thought that the family was just away from home and would soon come back home.
However, the Constable changed his thoughts when he opened the door to the barn and found it completely empty of all the livestock.
He knew that they were on the run, and he was determined to find them.
As the two men rode down the road, the small carriage of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston heading towards the Madison home approached them.
I’m sorry folks, the Madison’s aren’t home right now,
the Reverend said.
Yes, we know. We’re just heading up there to get some of the furnishings that Mary left for us,
Seth Johnstone replied.
Did they say where they were moving on to?
asked Constable Fleming.
Oh yes. They’re taking the journey across the pond to the New England colonies,
Libby Johnston answered.
The Constable knew that it was too late to catch up with the family to stop them.
The Reverend and the Constable rode off and headed to the home of Doctor Hollingsworth.
As the two men informed the doctor as to what happened he asked, So what are you going to do now?
The only option that we have now is to send a message aboard the next ship sailing out that we have a warrant for the arrest of the entire Madison Family,
Constable Fleming replied.
How long before the next ship sails out to the New England colonies?
Reverend Galli asked.
Six weeks if we’re lucky,
Replied the Constable.
The three men all knew that it would be a long shot to catch the Madison family before they went into hiding in the New England colonies.
The New England Colonies
Both Mary and Jack were sad at the passing of Abraham, but at the same time, they were overjoyed with their newfound homeland.
The ship docked in the small port village of Cape Ann.
By the time that Mary and Jack had arrived, the village had been in existence for over fifty years.
They had homes and a small village built.
It was a lot more than what Mary had expected to find.
As they waited for their travel trunk to be unloaded onto the dock, a middle-aged man was walking around and documenting the names of the passengers that had just left the ship.
When he approached Mary he smiled and asked, Welcome to Cape Ann madam. Is your husband around?
Unfortunately, he didn’t survive the journey
she replied, How can I help you?
How many are traveling in your party?
he asked politely.
there’s just the two of us, my son and myself.
Very well, and what might your names be? I need to document all the new arrivals for the village’s record,
he replied.
"We’re the Harrison’s from Brockport England. My