Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-04


Cured within osr recollection. Samuel w.
S'andifer. young man Of respectable con-
nectlons suddenly disappeared on Thursday
evening OF the 2lst. uli. In a way SO mysie-
rious as 10 induce u general belief in the
seighbourhoud, that he was murdered. Sus-
pici0n immediately attached To his uncle Jes
Sc Standifer, and old and highly respectable
citizen, with whom there MAS known to be
misunderstanding 3. But what gave color
ing to The symposium that he was murdered,
and that his uncle was the prrpetratUr Of the
lonl deed, was that the next morning the
young mans horse, saddle and bride, we've
found at the old genienan's cotton gin, "a
bout two bundled yards from his dweil;ng.-
Upon inspection. the saddle aud bridi. were
found TO be stained with blood---the brnlle
re'ns contained several spots, and the saddle
was marked with large impression, AS il
made with bloody hand.
This discovery at once fixed the guilt upon
Tue nniurtunate uncle, and the whole neigh
bofhu0d were excited to an active inquiry III
| to the circumstances. Ii were needless tn
repeat the many idie reports which imme-
dIaiely took wing upn the occasion Search
was made Tor se,etal days for the murdered
man, but IN vain; he was not To BE- futnd.--.
Guilt nevertheless, was fixed upon the uncle,
anu he was forthwith arrested, with his twu
curry, when The following facts were disclosed
II VAS proved by the uncle that the young
man was seen by neighbour OF the first
responsibility, on the evening OF his Jepar-
tur-, Iidius UD the road winch leads by the
unCie's (; that after the young man had pas
sed his uncle's about two and half miles
the witness, between7 and D'oluck at night
| overlook him Oh fout, sfopped and cuns III sed
| win him for several minutes.
The witness suspecting from his conduct
that something was the matter, pressed usOn
nm disclosure when the young man, upon
enloining secrecy, stated that he was about to
| play trick. had abandoned his horse, saddle
! and Bride, iUr that purpose, and was then on
his way 10 some distant place where he would
never be heard fiom again: The witness
| descI bed his person, clolbmg, BE. aud was
positive astO the identity Of his person.
Two other Witnesses were examined on the
part of the uncle, by whom il appeared thai
Young man, corresponding precisely with
the description of Samue! Staudiler had
lodged in the house of one Of them on that
night and related TO them that he was by he
nsnr ol Siandifer, aud nephew 70 the accused.
| THIS evidence being So full and explicit that
the young man was still living, the uncle and
MS SOUS were Immediately discharged.
The uncle and his friends, conscious Of their
selves of the unjust impuialion, Immediately
despatched ID messenger in scar ch uf the ne
Phew, who after or 10 days, found him,
near Florence, and brought him in triumph
To Huntsville, alive, last. Sunday evening"
mus sy giving an ocular demonstration 10
| jealous and highly incensed community,
That they had been charged falsely. 1t turns
| out That The young man Tesortrd 10 this ne
iarlous aud wicke Il slratagrm 10 effect his un-
cle's destruction aud actually cut lls own
finger, stained hi, b. idle and saddle, and left
them aud his horse at his nncle's cotton gin,
inr the express purpose of inducing the pub
nc TO believe, that his uncle was the MUIR
derer. A most diabulica scheme. But nis
plot failed, and he is brought back TO receive
the punishment due tn his periidy.
La addition to the evidence given OH trial
OF the uncle, it is proper to mention, that the
young man, before his departure, had made
a conhdaDt of another uncle, to whom he
disclosed his wicked intentions, and enioined
upon him perpetual secrecy. But when the
Intended victim was found in jeopardy, the
Uncle promptly inierpused and disclosed the
whole scheme. The result of this case adds
another lesson to the many already given To
the world, what little confidcnce is To be pIa
ced In circumstantial testimony. ndrrd,
III innocent men, no duubt, have suffered death
IN similar way, and, but for the delivering
hand Of Providence, the venerable Jesse
StaDdfcr mis;.:, and probably would, ha We
been sacrificed To appiease the vengeance Of
AN incensed cUmnunty fSesiin,k
NO'PICE