Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-04-28
& gtory nf Real Iife.
THE ASSASSIN'S TRACK.
(ConcludeG)

I
tried. Circumstantial evidence wa
. certainly strong against him. II
was known to have frequently quar-
relied with the old man, and the yer,
dayon which the murder was sale
to have been committed, bad borrow
ed a knife from butcher in the
neighborhood, and which be had not
returned, and which had doubtless
been used in the preparation of The
horrid deed. His hands were also
scratched and cut, and there was a
bruise under one of bis eyes. In
my evidence gave plain statement
of the facts that bad come under
my observation. l had also attend
ed his private examination, and used
my best endeasors TO arrive at the
truth. The presiding magistrate, at
my request, desired him to write his
name in full. asked this, in order
to observe whether be used his right
or left hand He sigued bis name in
firm, clear letters, and with his right
hand. At this, the captain Of the
police glanced at NE, and shook his
head misgivingly, as though be would
intimate that fer once 10 10Y life |
was at fault. BE was then asked
whether be could use the left hand
for the same purpose. lie replied
that he could, and Immediately wrote
bis name with the left hand in equal
y fair characters. This proved that
he had the facility Of using both his
hands with equal freedom, and that
he was. in fact, an Ambidexter. But
this proved nothing, and | felt some
what puzzled. | then examined the
soles Of bis boots, and found them to
compare exactly with the dimensions
of the footprints / had discovered
in the room where the murder bad
been perpetrated; but they were des-
titute Of nails. The question then
was, whether he had changed his
boots or shoes since the date where
on the murder was committed. He
said that he had not, and that those
new on bis feet were the only ones
he had worn Cor the last three months.
He admitted that he had borrowed
the butchers knife mentioned, and
that he had used it for the purpose
he had mentioned, and that he bad
been assisted by the murdered man
and woman; that if We would search
the small pantry on the landing, We
would discover the bacon that had
been divided. When questioned
what he had done with the knife, be
said he had left it on the table, in
the room where the murdered man
and woman were found. That du-
ring the evening he had quarrelec
with the old man, from whom he had
parted in anger, and in bis agitated
state of mind, had forgotten to return
the knife to the butcher, and thus, as
previously stated, had left it on the
table. When questioned whether he
had expected that the victims inten-
ded to bequeath him their money at
their deaths. he candidly admitted
that such had been his expectations.
He was then fully committed to trial.
There was an apparent frankness
in the demeanor Of the young man,
that, spite ofappearances against him,
won my immediate esteem, and al
though / felt convinced that the evi-
dence about 20 be brought against
him. would end in an ultimate SEN
tepce of death, could not avoid feel
ing prepossessed in his favor, and !
forthwith determined to use my best
efforts to save him, provided Icould
discover the slightest fact in his favor.
In brief, / did not believe him guilty.
Itappeared strange to the police
department., when | founded my be-
lief of his innocence on the very fact
which would probably cause the jury
to render verdict of guilty. ] al.
lude to the circumstance of his hay
ing borrowed the butchers knife
The department smiled increduously
at my assertion, and d-humoredl,
babe me confess that for once my
vaunted system Of tactics had failed
shrugged up my shoulders and said
"Gentlemen, you may think as yol
please, but you may depend upon il
thata man that is going to comm
a muNer in certain locality, woul'