The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-08-17
Sketch of Eugene Aram.

In the year 1853 man, digging for
limestone near place called St Rob
ert's Cave, in the parish of Knaresbo
rough, county of York, found the re-
mains of human body. Suspecting
these to be the remains of some one
who had been murdered, he gave infor-
nation of his discovery in the town
of Knarcsborough, where the people,
thrown into great excitement by the in
tclligence, cndcavored to recollect if any
one had of late years been missed from
that neighborhood. 1t was remembered
by a particular individual that one Dan
iel Clarke, shoemaker. had disappeared
under circumstances which occasioncd u
suspicion of his having acted fraudulent
ly. He had borrowed considerable
quantity of plate, under preteuse of be-
ing commissioned to collect that article
for transportation. Being then just
married. he had also borrowed some ar
tcles of household furniture and wear
ing apparel for the purpose, as he pre-
tended of giving an entertainment to his
friends. After his disappearance, two
persons, named Houseinan and Aram,
were suspected of having aided him in
the fraud. Their houses were searched,
and some of the miscellaneous articles
found, but no plate, which it was then
supposed that Clarke must have made
of with and thus the matter ended. 1t
was now recollected that the wife of A.
ram, who was subsequently deserted 10y
him, had said to some one, that she knew
what would peril the life of her husband
and some other persons. An inquest
being held upon the skeleton, all these
circumstances were brought forward a.
evidence
To this inquest the coroner summoned
Richard Houseman, one of the individu
ais suspected at the time of having as
sisted Clarke in his fraud.
This man entered the room in a stat,
of great agitation, and with strong mark
Of fear in his couhtenance and voice. Tia
king up one of the bones he used the re
narkable expression-"This is no NOR,
Dam Clarke's bone than it is mine,
which convinced the jury that he kney
something more about the matter. ii
was ultimately prevailed on to acknowl
edge that he was privy 70 the murder Q
Clarke, and that his bones were burie
in St. Roberts Cave, not far from th
place where those now before the jury ha
been found On search being mad,
the bones were found exactly in til
place and posture which he described
He stated the actual murderer to be hi
former friend, Eugene Aram, who no
acted as usher in the school Of Lynn, j
Norfolk. A warrant was iinmediatel
sent of for the apprehension of Arar
who was found peacefully engaged in h
ordinary business. The profession I
J this man, his mature age, and the rep
tation which he bore for great lcarnin
conspired to render his apprehension
a murderer matter of the greatest su
prise to the inhabitants of The pla
where he lived. He at first denied thi
he had ever been at Knaresborough
knew Daniel Clarke but on the intr
duction Of a person who was acquaint'
with him at that town, he saw fit to Q
c knowledge his former residence in it
d Eugene Aram was native Of Yor
Z shire, and connected by birth with sol
Of the families of gentry in that count
The circumstances of his parents are y
! stated but he appears to have enter
|. life in the character Of poor scholi
G Having adopted the business of tcachiI
he devoted himself to the acquisition
knowledge With an ardor equalling ii
Of the most distinguished scholars
= ter acting as an usher in various sit'
tions, he had settled in 1894 at Knar
borough, where, eleven years after,
committed the crime for which he "
now apprchendcd. By an carly and
- prudent marriage, he had added to
r. r. embarrassment Of his circumstances;
his pursuit of knowledge continued Vi