The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-18
WESTERLY, R l., THURSDAY. MARCH IS. 1858.


soon ripcnsd into love. For length sl
time they ripened into lsvs. For q
length of time they met clandestinely
Margaret not daring to make her father
acquainted with her passion. At length
Harvey persuaded her to allow him to
mako known his suit to Mr.. McLsod.-
He did so, and meet with an indignant
refusal ; in fact, Margaret's father had
even gone so far a. to insult him. and
forbid him from ever speaking to bis
daughter again. 1t is scarcely needless
to say thst his orders were disobsyed-
the lovers csrrssponded and met As be-
fore. At last Margaret Mcleod, made
up her mind that if her father wsuld
not give his consent to her marriage, she
would marry without it, but she wished
Harvey to make one moro effort.
This brings US down to the day Of the
murder. On that night Harvey paid
Mr.. Mcleod visit, about nine O'Clock
in the sveninE-high words were heard
to pass between them, and then there
was 4 blank.
About eleven o'clock that same night
a policeman was walking down Blseker
Street, and discovering Mr.. MsLsod's
front door open, he mounted the steps
in order to close it, when he fancisd be
heard the noise of footsteps in the house.
He entered and asccnded the stairs
Wien he reached the trent drawing
room q terrible sight met bis gaze. Nr.
Mcleod was lying IL his length on the
floor rtonc dead. A pool Of blood was
beside the body as we'll as knife with
which the deed had evidently been COM
mittsd, for it was proved upon further
examination that his throat had been
cut frsm ear to car. But the strangsst
part Of the story was, that Harvey John
ston was discovered in the room with
the mur dered man. When the police
man 6rst entered the room, he discev-
cred him gropisg round the walls, for
the apartment was quite dark until the
policeman brought his lantern. Of
course Johnston was arrested, aud the
proof against him appeared Overwhelm-
ing, for it was found that the knife with
which the murder had been committed
belonged to him. A coroner's jury was
summoned and Harvey Johnston was
committed TO take his trial at the ensu-
ing assizes fer the wilful murder of Mr..
Mcleod, and every one who read the
details Of the coronsr's inquest appeared
to be perfectly satisfied of his guilt.
Such was the substance of Mi'- Nc
Lsod's statement to me, Of course III her
relation she frequently wept, and made
repeated asseveratons of her lovers in-
nocense.
Now, Mr.. Melton she added, as
she concluded, l want you to undertake
his case-and for Heavens SCI s@o eve
rytbipg you can for him, for ! confess to
you that all my hopes of happiness in
this world are wrapt up in him. Spare
no e1pcnse-I am certain it will be prov
ed that he is innocent
But, my dear young lady, l am
afraid his case is desperate. What is
his explanation p
Il have neither seev nor heard from
him since bis arrest, but | feel he is in
nocent.'
Il am confident such evidence as that
will be of little avail to him in a court
oi Justice; however, l will call and see
him, and hear his statement will then
let you know the result
With a reiterated request that should
spare no expense, and promising to call
tho next day, the young lady took her
leave.
The mo~est she had gone, l put on
my hat, and wended my way to the
Tombs. After making my business
knswn, l bad no difficulty in obtaining
access to the prisoner, and was imms.
distsly conduspi''o him. found ny.
self in tho pres. q, Of very hne young
man about 6ve'. I'd twenty years Of ags'
lie vas possessed Of 6ns, open soun.
tspspos, aud 1 sought In vsia to dscov-
ar the slightest indication Of guilt 10 aay
oss fostsrs. All was placid aud serene
th.rc. I made tnswn my bssins. 10
hin, Al tho sans tine stating that 7
had bees ssst there By Mia Mcleod.