The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-11-16

baliys that Mercer has had q hearing be-
fore the examining court. and has been
committed for trial before the Superior
Court
New MA~RTINsvILLE,1
November a.
Nm. EprroR-Dear Sir: see in your
last week issue an article in reference to
the apprehension of a man in this county
for the high crime of murder, and the
ground OF the accusation rests upon a rev.
citation from the other world, and that the
whole evidence Of the guilt of the party
charged was communicated to a certain in.
dividusl by q ghost. and upon the ghosts
representation a man was deprived Of his
liberty and incarcerated in a prison. Now.
sir, my object in writing this communica-
ZION is to disabuse the public mind in ref.
ersnce to the whole matter. and TO vindi-
cate our courts from the imputation OF act
ing upon evidence derived from ghosts
In the fret place, it is q case that has pro-
:duced a wonderful excitement in this and
the surrounding communities. But, sir,
to the facts of the case. Three years ago
the f2sh Of this month, n John Gamble
was in this place, and in the evening he
left to 90 home, some four miles, in a skif
When he left he had between Two and three
hundred dollars in money with him About
lwo miles below % W some raftsmen that
were lying at the shore caught the skiff
and some barrels that were in it when he
started. Gamble was found afterwards
down near Rays rum, and he had no
money or papers or anything else on his
person when found, and his pocket in his
~pantaloons was cut off. Many circum.
stances vent to point out Leban Mercer
Is the guilty person, and public opinion
had settled down upon the fact that Mer-
Ger was guilty. if the evidence could be
not Il. Things rested SO until two weeks
ago, when . party left iowa to go to a
sneighboring town to q corn -husking, n
on their return home about 2 o'clock at
night, it being q remarkably clear night,
and the moon was full, so that it was as
lieht az moonlight could be, Mr.. John n.
Hindman, the worthy proprietor Of the
Wetzel House, in this place, took across
Robert w. Cox s farm. whilst the company
went around the road. and out in the mid
die of one OF Cox's fields he states under
osth thaf.a nerson all at once appeared 10
h;rc and When he frs, saw whatever i, was.
!, ,gse : }it,le 10 his left hand and about
,hf.s feet from him. and The person or
sbcs, WAS Is The act Of speaking. and he
sfsseds thar the first words spoken were
she.e. .You dontknow me-" and Hind.
man answered Thai he did not. Then the
.arson. ar GHOST. or whatever YOU NAV
all a sa;d. 81 am John Gamble he
-, ,sas wa. murderea nv I,eban Mer.
80 ya.r onnr,s have mt done mo inc.
~. / I wsn, .vou - have him arrsstsd
.cd ,hsv viii a. me ~;ust;ce And af,er
.cma o,her- conyarsa,;on the uerson mr. an.
nsr;s;on d-;.anneared all At once from his
~. 4 TIA m;ds, of : LARGE. level 6eld on
~ .na wbs,;s varv remark.
Il .h.,. ,ha ca.a H;ndman "a l;Le NV.
.sic : grast d;shal;ever in Ghosts and hob.
.cbi;rs and nerbans If I had told the story
sh.r.onla wa,,ld hava r;d;cnlad the mat.
tsrs hi H;ndman. Is = man Of such strict
syp,h and verao;tv and above all. so cool
and .sll.nossa.sed undsr ali circumstan.
oes. and free from excitement. that all who
know him did not for a moment doubt
what he stated was true, and especially
she next morning after. (althoueh he had
nsver .eanscsamble and was not a~couaint-
a with him. he described his size. an.
nsaranca and clothing exactly as thew
wers when G Gamble left Town. Friend Cox
eaw Gamble on the evening of his death.
and he saw that the description that Hind
nan gave Of him without knowing any
ding about how Gamble was dressed, his
.;.A &rc was corroct Then altar all
this Hindman had an interview with Mer-
Ger, and from certain statements and con-
fessions made by Mercer 10 him. which in
his mind convinced him Of MERGERS guilt,
and accordingly he swore out a warrant.
and he was apprehended. but not upon the
evidence drawn from the ghost. he was
brought up for trial, and il was found tina,
Gamble loaded his skiff below town, along
out 10 the hill, where a man by the name
oh." .ls. H. ,.9L.d ahou, aoma hns;.
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