M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-02-24
gntr;tsting STORY.
TIEE TIMELY WITNESS.

At the close of a cold winter day,
III the year 1914, during court term,
at Clerkenwell Assizes, England, there
came up by the evening mail stage an
ordinary looking person, who halted
ut a small tavern in the town Of B..
where the trials were being heard, and
who in formed the landlord he should
proceed on the following day, if the
weather was not too bad.
lie booked himself as "Henry Edge.
ford, Leeds" his baggage was duly
bestowed, and nothing out of the
common appearance indicated itself
Of his manner or habits.
lie spoke pleasantly, mixed with the
coming and established guests of the
house, and the weather seeming gloo.
my and forbdding in the morning ia
circumstance that might easily have
been foretOld on the evening he arriv-
ed, by the way) he decided to remain
another day.
Among the cases which had been
presented by the grand jury of the
borough, at the present sitting of tie
court, was one for highway robbery,
charged upon a man who answered to
the name of Burrows, and whose trial
had commenced on the day of Edge.
ford's arrival.
Time appeared to hang heavily up.
on the new comer's hands, and he
seemed anxious to proceed on his jour
ney; but the weather would not per-
nit, and he found himself reluctant
ly compelled" to tary at B. Ris
landlord, desirous to amuse him and
retain his visitor as long as possible,
informed him that the town offered
but poor encouragement ordinarily for
the entertainment of strangers, and
especially to those who were bred and
accustomed to city life, but just at that
time the court was in session, and
among the presentations was the case
of John Burrows, who was being tried
for an alleged robbery on the highway,
the details of which would no doubt
interest him for the moment. But
the stranger had no taste for the mar
velous, and didn't care to attend court.
Tie subject was freely discussed at
the table, however, both at breakfast
and lunch hours, and Mr.. Edgeford
was induced at last to go into the
courthouse to listen to the closing evi-
deDce upon the capital trial which had
so deeply interested every one else in
the neighborhood, and which was re-
ally a case Of importance and note.
In the meantime letters reached the
hotel for ''Henry Edgeford of Leeds"
forwarded duly by the post from Lon
don; and Mr.. E. had spoken Of one or
two OF his correspondents, casually,
who had been recognized by other gen.
tlemen, also tarrying at the public
house where he was temporarily so.
iourning. He had heavy letter of
credit from his "friend," (as he called
him. Hon. ThoS. Barring, and every
thing about the department and car.
riage of Mr.. Edgeford denoted him
the accomplished gentleman.
The case of Burrows, who was
charged with the high crime mention
ed, was in this wise, as set forth in
the allegation.
On the night of June 10th, 1914,
the Hon. Jonas Petit, NJ. p, was on
his way homo in his pony chaise, when
the animal was suddenly seized by a
man who sprang from a hedgerow
near the crossing of the Charing and
Darlington roads, who presented a
pistol against the person of the Hon.
M. p, and demanded "his money or
his life." 1t was near the setting of
the moon and the only clue to the
identity Of the supposed robber, was