Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-11-04
The Timely Witness.

, England, there came up by th
evening mail stage an ordinary look
ing person, who halted at smal
tavern in the town Of B.
where the trials were being heard
and who informed the laDdlord tha
be should proceed on the followin,
day, if the weather was not bad.
He booked himself as .Henry
Edgeford, Of Leeds" his baggage
was duly slowed, and nothing ou
of the common appearance indicated
itself in his manner or habits. H.
spoke pleasantly, mixed with the
coming and established guests o.
the house, and as the weather SEEM
ed gloomy and forbidding in the
morning, ia circumstance that might
be easily foretold on the evening he
arrived, by the way.) he decided
to remain over another day.
Among the cases which had been
presented by the grand jury Of the
borough, at the present sitting OF
of the court, was one for highway
robbery. charged upon a man who
answered to the name Burrows, and
whose trial had commenced On the
day OF Edgeford arrival.
Time appeared to hang heavily
upon the new comer's hands, and
be seemed to be anxious to proceed
on his Journey; but the weather
would not permit, and he found himself
reluctantly compelled" to :arry at
B. His landlord desirous to
amuse him, and retain his visitor as
long as possible, informed him that
the town or vicinity offered but
poor encouragement ordinarily for
the entertainment Of strangers, and
especially to those were bred in, and
accustomed to city life; but just a.
that time court was in session,
and among the presentations was
the case Of one john Burrows.
who was being tried for an alleged
.obbery on the highway, the details
of which would no doubt interest
him FOR the moment. But the stran.
ger had no taste for the marvellous,
and didn't care to attend court. i
The subject was freely discus
sed at the table, however, both at
breakfast and lunch houls, and Mr.
Edgefo.d was induced at last to &c
to the court house TO listen to the
closing evidence upon the capital
trial which had deeply interested
every one else in the neighborhood.
and which was really cause of im'
portance and note.
In the meantime letters reached
the hotel for Henry Edgeford, Esq
of Leeds" forwarded duly by the
post from London; and Mr., =. had
spoken of enc or two of his cores
pondents, casually, who had beer
recognized by other gentlemen, alst
tarrying at the public house where
be was temporarily sojourniug. Ht
had a heavy letter Of credit, from
bis "friend," Gas he called him. Hon
Thomas Barring, and everything abou
the department and carriage of Mr
Henry Edgeford denoted him th'
accomplished gentleman.
The case of Burrows, who wa
charged with the high crime men
toned, was in this as set forth il
the allegation :
On the night of June 10th, Isl 4
the Hon. Jonas Petit, nj. P, was oil
his way home in his pond chaise
when his animal was suddenly seiz
ed by a man who sprang from
hedgerow near the crossing Of th
, Chariug and Darlington roads, VIII
presented a pistol against the pei
SON of the honorable M. P. and de
mauded "his money or bis life
It was near the setting of tn
moon and the only clue to tn
f inden.ity Of the supposed robbie
, was a small cash upon the back ofhi
hand, which the honorable gentlema
observed at the time the pistol wa
drawn upon him.
D He had only four guiDeas abou
him at that moment and a singl
3 ten pound note upon the Bank
3 England. The latter vas not disco'
. cred by the robber but the four sol
. coins given up. Immediately a
0 alarm was given by the honorab
9 gentleman, Scouts and pollceme
. were sent out; and three days alt'