Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1862-02-20
THE LAWYERS STORY

rather extensive hamlet, not many miles
distant from seaport town, in the north
of England, large, substantially built,
but somewhat struggling building, known
as Craig Farm House. The farm consist
ed of about one hundred acres of arabic
and meadow land; and at the time have
indicated, belonged to a farmer by the
name Of Armstrong. He had purchased
It about three years previously, at sale
held in pursuance of decree of the High
Court Chancery. Farmer Armstrong was
married but chililess, his dame like him
self was a native Of Devonshire. They
bore the character of plodding, taciturn,
morose hammered couple; seldom leaving
the farm, except to attend market, and
rarely seen at church or chapel, they natu-
rally enough became the object Of suspicion
and dislike to the prying, gossipping villa
gers, to whom mystery and reserve of any
kind was exceedingly annoying and un-
pleasant.
Soon aftet Armstrong was settled IN his
new purchase; another stranger arrived and
took up his abode in the best apartments
in the house. The newcomer, man of
about fifty years of age, and evidently
from his dress and gait seafaring person,
was as reserved and unsocial as his land
lord, His name or at least that which he
chose to be known by, was Wilson. He
had one child, daughter, about thirteen
yesrs of age, whom be placed at a board
ing school in the adjacent town. He sci
dom saw her; the intercourse between fa-
teer and daughter being principally carried
on through Mary Strugnell, a widow, of
about thirty years of age, and native of
the place. She was engaged as a servant
to Mr.. Armstrong, and seldom left Craig
Farm except On Sunday afternoons, when
if the weather was at all favorable, she
paid visit to an aunt living on the town /;
there saw Miss Wilson; and returned home
usually at half past ten o'clock-later
rather than earlier. Armstrong was occa-
sionall absent from home several days to-
gether; on business, it was rumored for
Wilson; and on Sunday in the first in
January, 1902, he and his wife had been
away for upwards of a week and had not
yet returned.
About quarter past ten O'Clock on
that evening, the early retiring inhabitants
of the hamlet were aroused from their
slumbers by loud and continuous knock
ing at the front door of Armstrong;
house; windows were hastily thrown open,
and presently numerous footsteps approach
ed the scene of growing hrbbnb. The
unwanted noise was caused, il was found
by Farmer Armstrong, who accompanied
by his wife was laundering vehemently up
on the door with heavy black thorn stick.
Still no answer was obtained, Mrs. Strug-
nell, it was supposed, had had not returned
from town, but where was MIR. Wilson,
who was most always at home both day
and night? Presently a lad called out
that white sheet or cloth of some sort
was hanging out Of one of the back win,
dows. This announcement, confirming the
vague apprehensions which had began to
perminate in the wise heads of the villa
gers, disposed them to adopt a-more effect
ual made of obtaining admission than
knocking seemed likely to prove. John
son, the constable of the parish, a man Of
great shrewdness, at once proposed to break
iu the door. Armstrong, who, as well as
his wife, was deadly pale, and trembling
violently, either with cold or agitation, hes
itatingly consented, and crowbars were
speedily procured, and an entrance wa:
forced and in rushed scoree of excited
men. Mrs. Armstrong it was afterwards re-
membcred, caught hold of her husband:
arm in a hurried and frightened manner
whispered hastily in his ear, and then fol
lowed into the house.
Armstrong, who appeared to have some
what recovered from his panic, darted a
once up the staircase, followed by th'
whole body of rustics. On reaching tn
landing place, be knocked at Mr.. Wilson
bedroom door. No answer was returned
Armstrong seemed to hesitate, but th
constable at once lifted the latch; they en-
tered, and melancholy spectacle present
ed ITSELF Wilson, completely dressed, la!
extended on the floor, a lifeless corpse. H
had been stabbed in two places in tn
breast with some sharp poined instrument
Life was quite extinct. The window wa
open. On further inspection, several bun
dies containing many of MIR. Wilson's va
uables in jewelry and plate, together wit
clothes, and silk handkerchiefs, were founo
The wardrobe and secretary bureau ha
been forced open. The assassin's had
seemed, been disturbed, and hurried off b
the window without their plunder. A h'
was also picked up in. the room, much to
small for the deceased. The constab
snatched it up and attempted to put it O
Armstrong; head, but it was not ne'
large enough. This, together with Il
bundles, dissipated a suspicion which ha
been growing 10 Johnson's mind, and
roughly exclaimed, "You need not look s
scared; it's not you that's quite clear"
To this remark neither Armstrong N
his wife uttered syllable, but continue
to gaze at the corpse, tie bundles and Il
broken locks, in bseildered terror and a
topishment. Presentlysome asked if a.
one lad seen Mrs. Strugnelhf This que
tion asoused Armstrong, and he said IS
has not come home yet; her door issloe
ed"
aHow do you know that" "'cried {
constable, turning sharply around; a
looking in his face. "How do you kn'
thati" -.
"Because, because stammered Ar
strong, abecause she always locks it wb