The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-10-16
Circumstantial Evidence,
The Fatal Resemblance.
BY MARY GRACE HALpINE.

The quiet village of Barton was thrown
into state Of horror and excitement b,
: the cold blooded murder of one Of its mos
respected citizens, who was found in !;
grove about half mile from his house
shot through the chest. He lived Ions
enough to reveal the name of his mur
derer, which sent deeper thrill of hor
ror through the community than the
event itself.
The physician who was summoned tc
his aid, personal friend of the deceased
saw at glance, that medical skill wa,
useless. After striving in vain to staunch
the flow of blood, he bent his ear to the
pale lips, saying:
'"Tell me, if you can, who it was that
shot you?"
The dying man turned his fast glazins 6
Ieyes upon young man who was standing
few feet from him-a look Of terri BILE
reproach piercing through the gatheri ne
mists of death:
"Richard Blakel"
As he said this, his daughter Susan,
who was kneeling beside him, sprang to
her feet exclaiming:
"No-oh, mol it can not bel He did
not hear yeur question Alright, DOCTOR
Ask him again.
! Doubling himself whether his ears had
not deceived him. DR.. Grey said:
"My dear friend, this is a terrible
charge-do you mean to say that Rich.
ard Blake is your murderer?"
There was death-like stiffness among
the group that surrounded him; every
ear was strained to catch the reply:
"Yesr'
With the utterances Of this one fata
sentence the spirit departed.
| Unable to endure this accumulation O
horrors, the daug hter of the murdered
man and the betrothed Of the accused
fell senseless upon the body other depar
ted father.
AS for the young man SO solemnly ac.
cused by thelips now rigid in death, hi
stood dumb and motionless, in reality by
horror and amazement, but as those pres
ent believed, by the smitings of a guilty
conscience.
When the officers of the law approach
ed to take him into custody, he submit
ted without resistance or the least remon
STRANGE.
When Susan Huxton awoke from he
deathlike swoon, and recalled her father
dying words, the conviction sank heavily
upon her heart that, maddened by thu
taunts and reproaches of the choleric ole
man, Richard had given him the wounf
that had terminated so fatally. But he
very first interview with him dispelled
this terrible fear, and she expressed the
6rmest convictions of his entire innocen
ce. This siding with one universally be
lieyed to be her fathers murderer, wa
severely commented upon by the commu
nifty; but in spite of tais the heroic cir
remained firm and steadfast, cheering AM
sustaining the mind of the prisoner b
the assurance that his innocence woul
yet be proved.
As the day for the trial approached, sh
reused herself from the grief occasione
by the loss of one of the most indulgen
of fathers; the best of counsel obtaine,
and every means taken to unravel tn
mystery that surrounded the whole Q
this intricate affair. .
What tended TO increase the popula
/ feeling of indignation against the accus
/ ed, was the fact of his near kinship t
the deceased; he being the orphan son
, his only sister, reared and educated b
him with all the care and tenderness of
father. When Richard grew from an &C
tive, brlght-eyed boy to strong, statel
youth, seemingly endowed with mor
than usual excellent qualities, of bot
head and heart, the old gentleman no
Lonly viewed the attachment that spran
Q up between him and his daughter, with
r out disappl obation, but with eviden
r pleasure. 1t is true that of late ther
r had been some trouble between them, Of
account of Richards determination
r abandon the profession of medicine.
;. which he had been educated, to becom
an artist, for which he had strong incl
r nation and no little genius, but no on
r acquainted with the parties anticipate
any serious difficulty.
, The papers had sent an account
this terrible tragedy throughout the cour
| try, and the painful circumstances attend
r ing it, made the trial one of peculiar II
r terest. 1t had spread deep gloom ovt
). the community where it had occurred
I The deceased, though he had been note
. for the wildness Of his eearly manhooe
. had been universally beloved and respe'
. ted. Though somewhat hasty in tempe
= he was generous and public spirited, an
ever ready to lend helping band to Il
needy and unfortunate. As for the prl
oner, with the exception of two yea
: spent in neighboring university he ha
grown up in their midst. Some of tho
l now to sit in judgment upon him ha
l known him when he was happy bo
g and as he grew in years, had pointed hi
out to their sons as an example worth
l of their imitation.
l The dying words Of the deceased hi