Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-10-16
WHOLE NUMBER 46O.

been committed, was found in one corn,r
of Wilson's bedroom, and a mortgage deed
Of one thousand pounds on Craig Farm.
the property Of Wilson, and which Mrs.
Struguell swore was alwas kept in the writ;
ing desk in the front room, was discovered
in chest, id the prisoners sleeping apart
pent; together with nearly one hundred and
| Fifty pounds Of gold, silver and country
bank notes, although it was known that
Armstrong had but fortnight before de-
clised very advantageous offer of some
cows he was desirous Of purchasing, under
the plea Of being short OF cash. Worse,
perhaps than all, key of the back door
was found in his pocket, which not only
confirmed Mrs. StFtgasfRs evidence, but
clearly demonstrated that the knocking at
the door for admittance, which had aroused
the hamlet, was a pure subterfuge. The
| CONCLUSION, therefore, almost universally ar
rived at throughout the peighborhood was,
that Armstrong and bis wife were the gull
ty parties; aud that the bundles, the brok-
en- locks, the sheet hanging out Of the win
dow, the shiny black hat, were like the
knocking, mere cunning devices to misIead
inquiry.
The case excited great interest in tho
country, and esteemed myself profession
ally fortunate in being selected to hold shs
brief for the prosecution. / had satisfied
myself, by perusual of the dispositions,
that there was no doubt, of the pFisoner's
guilt. and determined that no effort on
my part should be spared to insure the sc.
complshment Of the ends OF justice.
drew the indictment myself, and in my ope1
ming address to the jury dwelt with all the
force and eloquence of which was master,
upon the heinous nature Of the crime, aud
the conclusiveness Of the evidence by which
it was brought home to the prisoner. !. ils
The trial proceeded. The cause OF tho
death was scientifically stated by two medi-
cal men: Next followed. the evidence as
to the finding of the knife in the bedroom
of the deceased; the discovery of the mort
gage deed and the sum of money in tho
prisoners sleeping apartment; and the find-
ing of the key of the back door in the male
prisoners pocket; and his demeanor and
expressions on the night Of the preparation
Of the crime, in, bis cross-examination Of
the constable, several facts perfectly new
to me were elected by the very able coun-
sci for the prisoners. Their attorney. had
judieioHsly maintained the strictest secrecy
as to the nature Of the defence, so that it
now took me by surprise, The constable
in reply to the questions by conasei, stated
that the pockets of the deceased were emp1
ty; that not only his purse, but gold watch
chain and seals, which he usually wore had
vanished, and no trace of them had as yet
been discovered. Many other things were
also missing. A young man Of the namc
of Pearce, apparently sailor, had been
seen in the village once or twice, in thu
company of Mary Strsgnell; he had not
seen Pearce since the night Of the crime
was Committed; had net sought for him. !:
she repeated the previous evidence with
precision and apparent sincerity, and then
| I ababdohed her to the counsel for the de-
! fehce., A subtle and able cross-examiRa-
tick Of more than two hours duration fol-
! lowed; and at its conclusion felt that the
case Of the prosecution was so damaged
that a verdict of condemnation was or ought
to be- out Of the question. The witness in
fact, appeared to be confused, and contral
dicted herself several times-destroying ell
the important points in her evidence. Had
! the counsel been allowed to follow; up his
advantages by an address to the jury, he
would, l doubt not, in spite Of their pre-
judice against the prisoners, have obtained
an acquital; but as it was, after neutral
sort of charge from the Judge by no means
| the abeSt that then adorned the bench, the
Jurors having deliberated for something
more than half an hour, returned into Court
with verdict of "gu lty," against both
prisoners, and accompanying it however;
With strong recommendation to mercy. y
The usual ridiculous formality of asking
the wretched convicts whatrthey had to
urge why sentence should not be passed
upon them was gone through, the Judge,
with unmoved feelings, put on the fatal cap;
and then q new and startled light burst
upon the mysterious bewildering affair.
"Stop, my lord p exclaimed Armstrong
with rough vehemence; hear me speak I
I'll tell you all about it; | will, indeed, my
lord. Was gone away, wife and, i, for
more nor a week, to receive money, my
lord, as was found in the chest. When we
came home the dreadful Sunday night, my
lord, we went in the back way; and hear
ing noise, l went up stairs, and fouad
poor Wilson stone dead on the aoor.
was QFeaulully SkthItui uuu lSb uSVp bnO
candle. l called to wife, and told her OF
il. She screamed out, and aluost, tainted
away. And then, my lord, all aspnce the
devil shot into my head to keep. the money
had brought, and knowing as the keys Of
the desk, where the mortgage writing was
kept in the bedroom. ,crept back, as that
false hearted woman said, got the keys and
took the deed; and then l persuaded wife.
twho had been trembling in the Kitchen all
abe while, that we had better 60 out quiet
bgain, as there was nobody in the house
ut us; l had tried that woman 8 door, and
we might, perhaps be taken for the mura
derers. And so We did; and that's tho
downright honest truth, my lord" "a +.
/ was deeply affected, and felt that tho
man Had Uttered the whole truth, 1t was
/ evidently one of those cases in which per
! SON liable to suspicion damages hfs own
, cause by resorting to trick. No doubt,
: by this act Of theft Armstrong had been
! driven TO an expedient which would not
have been adopted by person perfectly
I innocent And thus, from one thing to
, Ionothar tho charga of murder had haau