The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-03-17

"Yes.n FFs,....s .s.r fr.... ...s..
Where does he put up ?''
"At Joe Snow's." ; .-,-.#,.5
"What. the Five miles from anywhere
as we. used to call t?" 'po.7 q ss
1"Yes. Do you know it?''
~ know. every inch o. 'ouse and land
And so old Joe's alive still It's dreary
place for travellers" srf.. s. .gsf +. lse
80 It ia" said j. i. thonghtfully; 'but
sleep in little room leading out of his
r,"And oldJoe is an honest chap" broke
in the senior cheerily. "You'll be there,
suppose, by this time tomorrow p gfw
"Yes.; Pm surs to be there by seven
o. clock. aarr t-afe7 si' lt sg.a Hager
''It seems rum start for gen'rman for
to collect lis own rents and then you'd
think ed put 'em in the bank at Sneshng.
ham," r sa 9l
"Mr. Noman has some strange ways. Be-
sides, how did you know he didn't bank at
Sneshingham 2" f' ta-
II didn't know it till You told me this
minute" laughed the senior; but, lor,' it
don't matter to the likes ONE where'e banks.
Give US a paw, lad; good night
He nodded, and slouched off, leaving his
son tn ponder seriously over the events of
the evening. How ought he to act with re.
spect to Mr.. Norman He had promised his
father that he would tell no one of his return;
but he had spoken mrriedly, without think
ing,' Perhaps Mr.. Nonan might hear of it
from some other source, for the returned
coi,vict might possibly have been recognized
by some in his native village. Mr.. Noman
was q stern man, and would undoubtedly
give information to the authorities and
then j. g., If caught, would be hanged-for
death was at that time the penalty for his es-
cape. Poor j. j. was in dilemma he was
determined not to have his fathers blood
upon HIS hands, and, at the Same time, it
was evident from his fathers manner that
he harbored III feelings against Mr. Noman.
and probably meant to be avenged upon hin.
in some'way Ought he not put Mr.. Noman
on his guard? He wonld think what course
he should pursue as he rode the next day
over to Allingham.
What course he determined on was never
known. n
He arrive' at Alingham at the appointed
time, performed the duties required of him,
supped with old Joe Snow in the bar, where,
Joe recollected afterwards, he seemed rest
less and uneasy, smoked his pipe. and when
the bellruns went mp to his little room lead.
ing into Mr.. Noman's. Old Snow remained
smoking his pipe in the bar, and was lit
tie alarmed, though not at all astonished (for
he knew Mr.. Noman's temper) to hear.
aboutian hour after J. J. had retired, voices
in louddispnte.- He listened, and heard Mr..
Noman dstir city say: 'sYou'll leave my
service Tomorrow then. sa .aati
!"Very we'll" was the sullen answer
You'll, be sorry for it though"
Joe laughed to himself as he heard two
doors slammed, and pictured to himself the
recurrence next morning Of a scene he had
once or twice Witnessed before. j. J. would
come down early for Mr.. Noman's hot water,
knock at Mr.. Nomans door. enter. holding |
his jug like a herald's wand before him, and |
say "Iiot water, sir. Beg pardon. sir, hope |
no offence" And then CHEEKY voice would
reply: ooh! good morning. j. Offence,
man mo! Get my razars out"
But the NEXT morning came, and there
was no appearance of j. j. at half-past six
none at seven none at eight; none at nine;
and more wonderful still, Mr. Noman's bell
didn't ring, So old 10 mounted TO j. J.'s
door. aud knocked once. twco, thrice; then
he tried the handle. Tbe door opened, bu,
the room was en,ty. The bed was rum
Piled outside, hnt that was all; it hal evident
ly not been slept in. The, window was
thrown up as high Is it would g, an l thcre,
on the moist gravel beneath---for it had rain.
ed during the smll'-h,urs-. were visible
marks Of nailed boss. j j. had evidently
made OF that way. Joe shook his head and |
" A devil os a temper. (" The
door Of Communication, between the two |
rooms was ajsr. Joe Knocked, and pushed
It open with a !" beg pari,n, sir it's past
The last word died on his lips, his eyes
prctruded, his cheeks paled. and his knees
shook. 1t mattered nothing to Mr.. Noman
how much Il was past any hour His head
. .
lay on the pillow in the attitude of sleep,
but in the middle Of his throat from ear to
ear, was huge chasm; his arms lay outside |
upon the sheet. and close to the fingers of
his right hand was the handle Of large
clasp knife.
There was costernation at the Five miles
rom anywhere" An inquest was held; and
verdict Of ''wilful murder" WIS returned !
against J.J The position of the knit, was
,, ,onouncei. On the authority of the medical
evidence, a clumsy attempt to suggest sui.
,ide. The knife, too, had j. j upon the
,andle Old Joe could sreak to the dispute
md to j. Us threat; in fact, there was no
loubt 1t all about it, So J j. was put on
rial for his life; and the most singila fea.
ure about the whole case was this. the
mans's mcney-bag had been rifled,
III the gold and silver distracted. but oddly
enough, only one bank-note; aud this very
'ank note J J. got changed on the day af.
er the murder. This was pretty strong ev-
dence against him. But besides all this,
here were the Footprints on the gravel.
which J. Jps boots exactly fitted, and the