Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-29
MISCE A n Y.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
BY MRS. BELL SMITH.

One Saturday afternoon, years snce about Inc Dar
room of the only public house in the village OF 5, on
Lake Erie were gathered number OF gosslpng dles'
searno men and farmers. Although early in the alter
noon the heavy clouds approaching storm so darken
ed the shore that candles lit, and in their dim light
the gathered crowd listened the beating of the waves up
on the beach, and the distant roll of thunder that announc-
ed the coming strife 1t of those scenes that occur
when mighty tempest comes down the Eries inland sea,
and the dues seemed struck with its impressive grandeur
Sailors drank from cir poisoned cup with less noise, and
the village politicians were less absorbed in the PRESIDENT
al election One of the number seemed more uneasy than
the rest young man. of mild prepossessng appearance
with gun in his hand and powder horn suug over his
shoulder, for he had but few minutes before in from
cunning paced to and from the door, looked at the troubled
bay and cloudy sky aud frequently asked old captain of
schooner whether he would be able to sail-tonlght!
"To-ught? No, s!" he responded to one OF these ln-
auiries; ''nor omouow-nor next day expect lhs ere
storm looks as if it gon' to lead off dance Tor good
many irtins ones and don't believe in puh ou in such
company- couupts good manners, as the sayn is You
seem 10 be in a great hurry, comrade!"
al am The Sea Gull brought i-news from home
this morn and will double your passage money you
will run me down to c. tonight"
"Not tI-wouldn't undertake il for four times the money"
Slenced BY this reply the young returned sadly IN
to the house. and sitting down. thrust his hands n'o MS
pockets with the logged ofOne who makes up his mind
to be content with positive evil
M W had been in s. out few weeks, and
although stranger had impressed its inhabitants favoraby
so quiet retiring and all thought. kind was he in
manner and disposition. The business that brought him to
the place was by no settled and the intelligence he
had received must have been Of very pressing nature to
make one naturally so im anxious to brave storm that
caused the hardest sailor shrink from duty tie had been
sitting with look Of gloomy discomfort, but short time,
when the claer of horses feet heard in the street,
and man, pale and trembling stood within the doorway
His first dlscordant uterance the word "Aurder -
No expression OF pain send the deahly
chill to the heart that word Of terrible import and,
parayzed with stupid surprise the gathered crowd nqur-
iEpy pazed at the beahess messenger Of evil Before ne
could relate what seemed to choke his the sheriff
of the county hastily entered and arrested NJ W.
"For what 2" faltered the young man.
..The murder of Mille Woods !" was the stern reply.
1t wanted only this 10 swell the horrible sensation that
had fallen upon The crowd. Mile Woods, little girl ten
or twelve years Of age the only child OF respectable
parents living within mile OF s. and in her sprighy
lOveness had won the affections of all the villagers The
circumstances attending her death were as follows:
The parents, as was frequently their CUSTOM lett the
house under the charge of Mie and had been the great
er part of the day. making purchases and visiting the VII
lage. Huryng home before the coming storm, the agon
izng parents found their house obSed and their only child
brualy murdered The spread rapidly and soon the
curious and cooler neghbOs looking carefully on all
ahe marks the violence had left the premises The house,
large frame one stood some distance from the road The
on door was found Open all the inner doors unlocked or
broken every drawer chest press cupboard forced and
their contents scattered over the floor In the garrett TO
which place the poor little creature had probably fed Mile
was found covered with blood that flowed from her sideher
little hand gasPog old bed post while around her neck
white handkerchief was slightly knotted Upon the hoor
of the hall one Of the neghbors picked up squirrel, with
one fore paw gone and his head scaped by rifle ball.
young who had been choPpRg in nelghoorng grove
Immediately recognized it as W had shot that al
tenoop he was by, and, picking it up, remarked to
the excellent shot, W left in the direction OF WOODS
house. with the squirrel in his hand The handkerchief
unwound from Miles neck had the letters Nj. W. in one
corner True these were the uitjalsor Mie name,