The Case of Summerfield | Page 3

and the old man was
observed to fall at least one thousand feet upon the crags below. The train was stopped
for a few moments, but, fearful of a collision if any considerable length of time should be
lost in an unavailing search for the mangled remains, it soon moved on again, and
proceeded as swiftly as possible to the next station. There the miscreant Parker was
arrested, and conveyed to the office of the nearest justice of the peace for examination.
We understand that he refused to give any detailed account of the transaction, only that
"the deceased either fell or was thrown from the moving train."
The examination was postponed until the arrival of Parker's counsel, O'Connell &
Kilpatrick, of Grass Valley, and after they reached Cape Horn not a single word could be
extracted from the prisoner. It is said that the inquisition was a mere farce; there being no
witnesses present except one lady passenger, who, with commendable spirit, volunteered
to lay over one day, to give in her testimony. We also learn that, after the trial, the justice,
together with the prisoner and his counsel, were closeted in secret session for more than
two hours; at the expiration of which time the judge resumed his seat upon the bench, and
discharged the prisoner!
Now, we have no desire to do injustice toward any of the parties to this singular
transaction, much less to arm public sentiment against an innocent man. But we do affirm
that there is, there must be, some profound mystery at the bottom of this affair, and we
shall do our utmost to fathom the secret.
Yes, there is a secret and mystery connected with the disappearance of Summerfield, and
the sole object of this communication is to clear it up, and place myself right in the public
estimation. But, in order to do so, it becomes essentially necessary to relate all the
circumstances connected with my first and subsequent acquaintance with Summerfield.
To do this intelligibly, I shall have to go back twenty-two years.
It is well known amongst my intimate friends that I resided in the late Republic of Texas
for many years antecedent to my immigration to this State. During the year 1847, whilst
but a boy, and residing on the sea-beach some three or four miles from the city of
Galveston, Judge Wheeler, at that time Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, paid
us a visit, and brought with him a gentleman, whom he had known several years
previously on the Sabine River, in the eastern part of that State. This gentleman was
introduced to us by the name of Summerfield. At that time he was past the prime of life,
slightly gray, and inclined to corpulency. He was of medium height, and walked proudly
erect, as though conscious of superior mental attainments. His face was one of those
which, once seen, can never be forgotten. The forehead was broad, high, and protuberant.
It was, besides, deeply graven with wrinkles, and altogether was the most intellectual that
I had ever seen. It bore some resemblance to that of Sir Isaac Newton, but still more to
Humboldt or Webster. The eyes were large, deep-set, and lustrous with a light that
seemed kindled in their own depths. In color they were gray, and whilst in conversation
absolutely blazed with intellect. His mouth was large, but cut with all the precision of a

sculptor's chiseling. He was rather pale, but, when excited, his complexion lit up with a
sudden rush of ruddy flushes, that added something like beauty to his half-sad and
half-sardonic expression. A word and a glance told me at once, this is a most
extraordinary man.
Judge Wheeler knew but little of the antecedents of Summerfield. He was of Northern
birth, but of what State it is impossible to say definitely. Early in life he removed to the
frontier of Arkansas, and pursued for some years the avocation of village schoolmaster. It
was the suggestion of Judge Wheeler that induced him to read law. In six months' time he
had mastered Story's Equity, and gained an important suit, based upon one of its most
recondite principles. But his heart was not in the legal profession, and he made almost
constant sallies into the fields of science, literature and art. He was a natural
mathematician and was the most profound and original arithmetician in the Southwest.
He frequently computed the astronomical tables for the almanacs of New Orleans,
Pensacola and Mobile, and calculated eclipse, transit and observations with ease and
perfect accuracy. He was also deeply read in metaphysics, and wrote and published, in
the old Democratic Review for 1846, an article on the "Natural Proof of the Existence of
a Deity," that for beauty of language, depth