Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-05-02
From the Home journal
RCUMSTANTEAL EVIDENCE.
BY MRS. BELL sMITI

number OF gossipping idlers-sea- -faring men and
/, farmers. Although early in the afternoon, the
heavy clouds OF an approaching storm so dark
ened the Shore that candies were lit, and in their
dim light the gathered crowd listened to the beat
ing of the waves upon the beach, and the distant
roll of thunder that announced the coming strife
1t was one OF those scenes that occur when a
mighty tempes. comes down OH Erie's inland sea,
and the dullest seemed struck with its impressive
grandeur. Sailors drank from their poisoned cups
with less noise, and the village politicians were
less absorbed in the Presidential election. One
OF the number seemed more uneasy than the rest
young man, of mild prepossessing appearance,
with rife in his hand and a powder horn slung
over his shoulder, for he had but few minutes be-
fore come in from cunning, paced TO and from
the door, looked at the troubled bay and clouded
sky, and frequently asked an old captain of a
shooner when he would be able TO sail-to
night!
. Tonight? No sir = he responded to one Of
these inquiries NOR 10 morrow-nor next day, |
expect. This ERE storm looks as flt was goin to
lead off dance for good many hrtin' ones, and
don't believe in putin out in sich company--it
corrupts good manners, the sayin' is. You
seem to be in great hurry, comrade -
Il am. The Sea-Gull brought me i'll news
from home this morning, and | will double your
passage money if you run me- down TO C--,o
night.
Not l. / wouldn't undertake it for four times
the money
Sienced by this reply, the young man returned
sadly into the house aid, sitting down, thrust his
hands into his pockets, with the dogged air of one
who makes up his mind to be content with posi-
tive evil.
M--W--had been in S--but a
few weeks, and although stranger had impressed
its inhabitants favorably--so quiet retiring, and,
as all thought, kind was he in manner and dispo-
sition. The business that brought him to the
place was by no means settled, and the intelli-
pence he had received must have been Of a very
pressing nature, 10 make naturally so tmid,
anxious to brave storm that caused the hardest
sailor to shrink from duty. He had been sitting
with look Of gloomy discomfort but short time,
when the clauer Of horses feet were heard in the
street, and a man, pale and trembling, stood with
in the doorway His first discordant utterance
was the word MURDER
No expression Of pain or terror can send the
same deathly chill to the heart as that one word
of terrible import; and, paralyzed with stupid
surprise, the gathered crowd lnquiringly gazed at
the brealhless messenger Of evil. Before he
could relate what seemed to choke his utterance,
the sheriff ofthe county hastily entered and ar
rested M--W-
U, f,Itorod tho voppr man
The muder of Mile Woods was the stern re-
ply.
1t wanted only this to swell the horrible sensa-
ton that had fallen upon the crowd. Millie
Woods, little girl ten or twelve years of age,
was the only child Of respectable parents living
within mile of s., and in her sprightly
loyeliness had won the affection of all the villa
gers. The circumstances attending her death.
were as follows: The parents, as was frequently
their custom, left the house under the charge of
Millie. and had been The greater par, of the day,
making purchases and visiting in the village
Hurrying home before the coming storm, the ag
onzed parents found their house robbed and their
oily child brutally murdered The news spread
rapidly, and soon the curious and cooler neghbors
were looking carefully on all marks the violence
had left in the premises. The house, large frame
one, stood some distance froln the road. The
front door was found open all the inner doors un
locked or broken, every drawer, chest, press or
cupboard forced and their. contents scattered O.
yer the floor. In The garrett, to which the poor
lille creature had probably fed Millie was found,
covered with blood that flowed from a stab in her
side, her little hand grasping an old bed post, while
around her neck white handkerchief was slight
ly knotted.
Upon the floor Of the hall, one Of the neighbors
picked Up squirrel with one fore paw gone, and
lis head scaped by rifle ball. young man
who had been chopping wood in nelghOoflng
grove Immediately recognized itas one W---had
shot that afternoon; he by, and, picking it up,
remarked to W---the excellent shot W
left him in the direction Of Woods house. with
the squirrel in his hand. The handkerchief un- |
wound from Miles neck had the letters M. W.
in one corner True these were the initials Of
Miles own name, but her mother, positively "a
vowed she owned no such article. Satisfied with |
these circumstances the officer at once arrested
W From the time the murder was discov-
cred to that of W--s arrest was just two
hours z.s - e ts
The prisoner was hurried TO the nearest magis- |
-. lafo lat0 h1i