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

the top of his voice. He was answered
by low moan. In an instant the frail
door was burst in, and Mrs. Strugnell was
soon pulled out apparently more dead than
alive, from underneath the bedstead, where
she, in speecbless CONSERVATION, lay par
TALLY concealed. Placing her in chair,
they soon suceeeded-much more easily,
indeed, than they anticipated-in restoring
her TO consciousness Nevertheless she
glanced around the circle of eager faces
that environed her, till her eyes fell on
Armstrong and his wife, when she gave a
loud shrek, and muttering, "they, they
are the murderers" swooned, CT appear,
ed TO do so, again instantly.
The accused persons, in spite of their
frenzied protestations of innocence were in
stantly seized, and taken off TO place of
security; Mrs. Strugnell was conveyed to
a neighbor's close by; the house was care
fully secured, and the agitated and won
dering villagers departed 10 their several
homes. The deposition made BY Mrs.
Strugnell at the inquest on the body, was
in substance as follows.
"0n the afternoon in question, she had
in accordance with her usual custom, pro-
ceeded to town. She called on her aunt,
took lea with her, and afterwards went TO
the Independent Chapel. After service
she called TO see Miss Wilson, but was in
formed that, in consequence Of severe
cold, the young lady had gone to bed
She then Immediately proceeded home
wards, aud consequently arrived at Craig
Farm more than an hour before her usual
time. She let herself in with her latch
kew, and proceeded to her bedroom. There
was no light in Mr. Wilson's chamber, but
she could hear him moving about in it,
She was just about to go down stairs, hav-
ing put away her sunday bonnet and shawl,
when she heard noise, of persons enter
ing the back way, and walking gently
across the kitchen floor. Alarmed as TO
who it could be, Mr.. and Mrs. Armstrong
not being expected home for several days,
she gently closed her door and locked it.
A few minutes after, she heard stealthy
steps ascending the creaking stairs, and
voice in low, hurried whisper, said-"Ma-
rv, are YOU there?" She was positive it was
Mr.. Armstrong; voice, but was too terri
fled 10 answer. Then Mrs. Armstrong
she was sure it was she-said also in a
whisper, and as if addressing her husband,
she is never back at this hour A minute
or so after there was a tap at Mr.. Wilson's
door. She could not catch what answer
was made; but by Mr.. Armstrong; reply,
she gathered that Mr.. Wilson had laid
down, and did not wish TO be disturbed.
He was often in the habit of lying down
with his clothes on. Armstrong said, Il
will not disturb you, sir; I'll only put
this parcel on ;he table, There is no lock
to Mr.: Wilson's door. Armstrong stepped
into the room, and almost Immediately
she heard sound as eff violent blow,
followed by deep groan, and then all was
still. She was paralyzed with horror and
alright. After the lapse of few seconds
a voiee-Mrs. Armstrong; undoubtedly
asked in tremulous tone if all was over 2
Her husband answered, 'Yes; but where
be the keys 10 the writing desk kept?-
Armstrong then came out of the bedroom,
and both went into Mr.. Wilson's sitting
apartment. They soon returned, and
crept stealthily along the passage to their
own bedroom on the first floor. They
then went down stairs 10 the Kitchen
One of them-the woman, she had no
doubt-went out the back way, and heavy
footsteps again assembled the stairs. AL,
most dead with fright, she then crawied
under the bedstead, and remembered nc
more until she found herself surrounded
by the villagers.
In confirmation of this statement, q
large clasp knife belonging TO Armstrong
), aud with which it was evident the murder
had been committed, was found in one cor.
ner of Wilson's bedroom; and a mortgage
deed of one thousand pounds on Craig
| Farm, the property of Wilson, and which
, Mrs. StrugDell swore was always kept il
the writing desk in the front room, was
discovered in the sleeping apartment, 10
gether with nearly one hundred aud fifty
pounds in gold, silver, and county bank
notes, although il was known that Arm
strong had but fortnight before declined
a verv advantageous offer of some cows he
) was desirous of purchasing, under the plea
, of being short of cash. Worse, perhaps
than ali, a key of the back door was founC
S in his pocket, which not only confirmed
: Mrs. StrugneIps evidence. but clearly dem
: onstrated that the knocking at the door TO
b adnittance, which had aroused and alarm
. ed the hamlet, was sure subterfuge. Th
conclusion, therefore, almost universall
i arrived at throughout the neighborhood
y was that Armstrong and his wife were tn
/ guilty parties; and that the bundles, tn
o broken locks, the sheet hanging out of th
e window, the shiny black hat, were, like tn
n knocking, mere cunning devices TO mislea
II inquiry.
e The case excited great interest in th
d county, and l esteem myself professions
e " fortunate in being selected to hold th
% brief for the prosecution. l had satlstie
myself, by perusal of the depos'ion
Or that there was no doubt of the prisoner
d guilt, and / determined that no effort o
10 my part should be spared TO insure th
S accomplishment of the ends of justice.
~ drew the indictment myself, and in my
s. pening address to the jury, dwelt with a
be the force and eloquence of which l WI
k master, upon the heinious nature of ii
crime, and conclusive of the evidence b
be which was brought home to the prisone
nd The trial proceeded. Tho cause OF Il