The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-04-26


where's Betsey?'
'Abed,' suggested Mrs. R.
See, then, if she be; I've made noise
enough to wake dead man. Go and see
if she's in More'n likely she's taken her
chance to be off with that spark of hers
Easton.'
Mrs Rushton went to the girls room,
but it was vacant She came down, and
the miller then went to his boarder's apart
ment, to ascertain if he were there-when,
moment afterwards, his wife was astOun-
ded to hear him shrek out for her, as he
came to the door of Blessner's bedroom:
Quick, Esther! Blessner's dead-mur-
dered! Quickp
And surely enough, when the light came,
there lay Henry Bessner's dead body on
the floor, his room in disorder, his clothes
lying about, and ample evidence existing
that there had been a struggle there; but
the man was stiff and cold!
While they stood transfxed with terror
and amazement at this sight (the miller
having taken hold of the body to turn it to
the light), footsteps were heard below, and
three or four of the neighbors, headed by
Betsey, came dashing up the stairs, and
into the room where the murdered man lay
in his gore.
There he is,' yelled Betsey. That's
the murderer-and his wife's close by
Here she is, continued the servant girl,
drawing forth the miller's wife, who had,
in her fright, almost unconsciouly stepped
into side room, moment before. 'They
killed him for his money and watch. Hold
on to 'em,' she continued, wildly, and
jumping down stairs, she instantly return
ed with the over-coat which the miller had
thrown off below, as he came into the
house.
Examine for yourselves she added,
viciously. And upon turning out the
breast-pocket, the dead mans watch, and
a bundle of papers belonging to Blessner,
were discovered there. The miller didn't
speak! He couldn't utter syllable! His
wife turned pale, moaned, and fainting, fel
upon the chamber floor.
See, see!' screamed Betsey, with ravint
triumph, see! the blood here, on his hand
: and sleevep and there it was, too, fresl
, and clear as broad daylight. Rushton haC
moved the body, and had thus stained hi
hands, unwittingly.
The miller's horse had not yet been ia
ken out of the wagon, and the remainde
:. of that fearful night was passed by Rushto
y and his wife in close confinement. TIL
' neighbors seized them, put them into thei
% own vehicle, and drove them four mile
u away, to the nearest jail! They were eS
' amined next day, the evidence of the gil
was heard, and the circumstances wei
y recounted that had been witnessed by til
u y neighbors, and they were imprisoned
- once, and without much pity, to be tried
" future day for the murder. At the exp
:" ration of seven weary weeks, true bills we
found by the grand jury against them; th'
were duly indicted, and few days aft
I'D they were separately put upon trial for the
nc lives, the case of the husband coming
''' first.
The prosecution proved, by Betsey RI
-, som, that the prisoner and the deceas
\. Blessner had held frequent private conf
ences about money matters, which
had overheard, unknown to them. 1t v
-. also affirmed, through her, that the mil
~ and his wife had come home on that nig
you ''''N
,.,;t two hours prior to her giving the alar
and that the horse had been left before
,,Id house door, where he was found, only
80, a ruse. 1t was proved that Rushton
80 started from twon at a certain hour, and
G.u ought to have been at home quite as 81
as the period of his arrival there, Il
he sworn to by the servant girl. The wa
on and papers found in the prisoners pocl
Ioto were identified as Blessner's property;
,ino his bloody hands was the final turn
,ftey ~ point against him!
AXE, To certain questions put to Betsey
here the defendants counsel she stated that
was but little acquainted with young
and named Easton. She had seen him-k
our who was meant--but had mol seen him
oked three or four days prior to the murdel
him She hadn't seen him since, either! 1
the defence of Rushton was entered
suo. with an earnestness creditable to his
counsel.
she Five witnesses were produced to p
ight, the girl a liar, to commence with. 1t
can shown that she was in Easton's CONF
q he at nine o'clock on the night of the mil
oorp absence from home. A trunk Of
kick. had been left by Easton, at the stage-h
,ead- whence he proposed to take passage