Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-24


cried I, aloud, ",hen Will Brockman is the MUIR
derer."
The exclamation was hardly uttered, when |
found myself suddenly surrounded by con.
course of people, among whom were several
peace officers, and magistrate The agitation
necessarily produced by being caught under cir
cumstances so extraordinary, having passed a.
way, repeated to the latter all that had heard
and seen on the preceding night; and having
likewise communicated my suspicious respect
ing the perpetrators Of the deed, constableS were
Immediately despatched 10 secure the parties
named. In the meanwhile the body was reno
we'd TO the vestry, to await the issue OF an IN
quest; and the magistrate returned with me TO
the vlcarage, where we spent The Tune IN no
very enviable slate of feeling, TIL the officers
will, their prisoners should arrive.
Nearly two.hours eIaped before the latter c
vent occurred. They came, however, at last,
bringing with them the three brothers and their
companion; nor could the most careless specta'
tor fail TO observe the striking contrast which
the appearance and manner of these unhappy
persons presented
In the dcmean5ur of the first were exhibited
hardly any symptoms OF alarm, certainly none
OF confusion or dismav. An occasional lush
would, indeed, pass over their countenances as
The examination proceeded; but with THIS eH-
oePton, theirs was the expression OF men Ell
ths absolutely innocent, or 10 terrible degree
calious and hardened Not such was the sX-
preston of Brockman's face Misery, the deep
est and the darkest, was pictured there. lie
was deadly pale, his eye was Wild and Diood-
shot, and either rested steadily upon the floor,
or wandered in seeming INCONSISTENCIES rouhd
the room. Nor was the difference In their
dress less remarkable The brothers haG been
arrested in bed. They rose, coolly and Calmly
put on clean apparel, and acted in every way as
il they were utterly ignorant c: all cause Tor
their arrest Brockman had been taken upon
the beach. He wore the same garments WHICH
he must have worn on the preceding night, ana
they, as well as his hands, were red with blood
When the officers overlook him, he was pacing
backwards and forwards, more like one who
meditates sci-des,ruCt;on than escape, and he
now stood before us as manliestly stamped with
the crime Of which he was accused, as eXter-
nal appearances could stamp him. Even
could not but acknowledge to myself, that he
must be the murderer
The magistrate having seated himself III due
form beside the table, proceeded to take the
dispositions OF such as appeared in any respect
acquainted with the circumstances OF the case
For my own part, l could only repea. what
had previously communicated, ayowing at
the same time. my ignorance. Of the persons
Of those concerned; and the next lndlYidl-
al examined brought not The matter greatly
more home 10 the prisoners. his witness
proved to be the companion OF the murder
cd man. He dsposed TO the receipt Of an
anonymous communication, IN consequence
Of which he and his companion had acted, and
described infinitely the fact OF iheir ambush,
and consequent seizure, The goods seized
were, however, TOO bulky 10 DC removed WIN
out TURNER assistance whsn l! became nee'ssa-
ry Tor one 10 80 II search OIL Hucn assistance,
whist the o,her Hep' guard ever 'ne F''|g; ana
the former duty laIing TO Ms snare ne lei' .he
deceased 10 aisGhaFSe the ,a''er. ut oniy
thing when al az pore upon Inc charge; was MS
assertion, that, OelhS on ms way 10 ro.NeS'o"e'
he met, OF the opposite side oil inc hiN' man
whom he recognised as 'he elder fese!' Out
who merely wiShed MIN So0d hlS"'' ana passed
on.
Witness farther deposed that
He might have been absent from his compa,
Mon about an hour, ior that the inhabitants oil
fo!kes'one being asleep ne lo0ha 1t olhncuit 10
procure the necessary aic. Having pro-
cured 1t, however he hastenea PACK, anu us
covered, to niSdiS'nay, ''a' neither MS oIo'ner