The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-20

which was of final service towards an eXpla-
nation of the events of the morning.
There was /, at little after five A NJ, with
walk before me of ten, and walk behind me
of three good Devon miles, breakfastless
without the least desire to reach the place
was bound for. and all because of couple oil
rou ct p,-eteranihils, voices without body
between them. l consumed the way in men
tally reviewing all the circumstances of the
case again and again, and by no means in g
credulous spirit; but when l at length arrived
at the city upon the hill, i was as far from the
solution of the matter as VIXEN l started. -
That the ferrymau himself, a simple country
man. should be concerned in any practical
juke upon me. a mere fly-6shing acquaintance
of couple of weeks; standing-or that such
persons as the Courtenays should have per-
mitted the playing of it upon guest at Cow
less, was only less astounding than the perfect
lion of the trick itself-if trick it really was.
But neither my feelings of anger. when
looked or the matter in that light, nor those
of mystery when took the more supernat-
ural view of it, in any wise interfered with the
gradual growth of appetite; and when turn
ed into private room of the Bishops Head
in the High Street, the leading idea in my
mind, after all my cogitations, was breakfast.
If seven-and-forty mysterious voices had in
formed me that the ferryman was waiting then
shonld have responded
Then let HIM wait; at all events, while
eat beafstake and sundries.
Although Exter is as picturesque and ven
erable city as any raven could desire to dwell
in, it is not a lively town, by any means, in a
general way. A quiet, sanity, solemn. spot
indeed it is, excellently adapted for sinner
to pass his last days in-although he would
probably, find them among the longest in his
Iife-and peculiarly adapted TO that end in its
very great benefit of (Episcopal) clergy ;but
for hale young gentleman of nineteen TO find
himself therein at nine o'clock on fine sum
mer morning, with nothing to DO and all the
day 10 do it in was an embarrassing circum-
stance. f-..-aF . l-.
Nothing going on, as usual, I suppose2' in
quired l, with yawn at the waiter, when
had finished vast rejection. -ssH
sGoing on, sir? Yessir. City very gay
indeed, sir, just now. Assises, sir. now sitting
Murder case-very interesting for young
gentleman like yourself, indeed. sir
How do you know what is Interestingly re
torted I, with the indignation of hobbledehoy-
hood at having its manhood called in question
Young gentleman, indeed am man, sir
But what about this murder Is the pris-
oner convicted p
Convicted, sir? Nossir; not yet, sir. We
hope he will be convicted this morning. sir
A iourneyman carpenter, one Robert Moles
have been and murdered toll-keeper-killet
him in the dead o'night, sir, with 'atched-
and his wife's the witness against him.
That's very horrible remarked 1. i didn'
know wife could give evidence
'Nossir, not his wife, sir; it's the toll keep
ers wife. SIR She swears to to this Moles
although it 'appened two months ago or more
sir. Murder will out, they say; and how tru
it is He'll be hung ir front of the Jail. sir
in hopen place upon an i'll. so as almost ev.
erybody will be able to see it, bless ye l.
Il should like to hear the end of this trial
very much indeed, waiter ... .....r
Should you, sir p fondling his chin.
couldn't be done, sir-it could not be done
he court is crowded into a q mash already
To be sure, I've got a. But no, sir,
could not be done .,., .....-.s- %. ---..
/ - suppose it's merely question Of Hoy
much ? said !, taking out my purse. 'Didu'
you say you had a. -,. q. ...,
"A cousin as is javein-man Yesssir.-
Well. don't know but what it might be done
sir. if you'll just wait till I've cleared away
There, they're at it already!' s
While he spoke, fanafronade of trumpet
without proclaimed that the judges were abou
to take their seats. and in few minutes tn
!. waiter and I were among the crowd. TIL
javelir-man, turning out to be amenable t
reason and the ties of relationship, as well q
pVe o'OioO w o eui"h PoSun'oiy loSOhPoioo'
soon found standing room for myself in th
!. courthouse, where every seat had been en-
gagged for hours before. As had been in
formed, the proceedings were all but conclud
ed, save some unimportant indirect evidenc
: and the speech of the prisoners counsel. Th
!, gentleman had been assigned to the accuse
, by the court,since be had not provided himse
with any advocate, nor attempted to meet Il
tremendous charge laid against him, except b
r simple denial. All that had been elicite
from him since his apprehension, it seemed,w
: this: that the toll-keeper's wife was mistake
in his identity, but that he had led wande
ing life of late, and could not produce any pc
:. son to prove an alibi-tbat he was in Dorse
: shire when the murder was done, miles aws
= from the scene of its commission; but at VIII
:, place on the particular day 10 question, Il
fifth of March, he could not recall to mind
This, taken in connection with strong condem
! atory evidence, it was clear, would go sad
: against him with the jury, as lame defen
indeed; although, as it struck me- who hi
- only CLEANED this much from bystandernot
% ing was more natural than that a journeym
carpenter, who was not likely TO have kept
y diary should not recollect what place he h
: tramped through upon any particular date
o Why, where had myself been on the fifth
March thought I. 1t took me several mi
10 utes to remember, and only did so by rec
~ lecting that had left Dorsetshire on the d
10 :, following, partly in consequence of some alt
'n alton going on at home. Dorsetshire,by the
did the prisoner sayP Why, surely, l b