The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-15

The CLEAR Spring TrRgedy-COnfession
Of One OF the Murderers-He duplicates
Several Others "A Woman Among
Them.
From the NeiO Albany tInd.) Ledger, FEB. 8.
Our readers will remember the account we
published some three or tour weeks ago OF the
horrible ravishIng, murder, and robbery of
widow lady named Maria Cutter, near Clear
Spring, jackson county, and the arrest, on
suspicion of implication in the crime, OF one
John Brooks, of Washington county. This man
Brooks vas confined in jail at BrOwnstown
The examination came of, Brooks N tde
confession of the crime and named ms accom-
plices, two in number. One of them, Jackson
Easton, who is Justice OF the Peace, has oeen
arrested, and on Monday last had preliminary
examination. Brooks was taken from the
BrOwnstown Jail to Clear Spring to testify
against Easton. Brooks, the Seymour Tunes
says, under the i'm preston that confession on
his part would result in his acqmttal, owned
up, and gave Easton and one John Tally,
brother-in-laW OF Easton, as his accompllces IN
the murder and robbery. Eastln aud himself
are now in the Brownstown Jail. The story of
BI ooks is that the robbery was concocted at
the house of Easton, near that OF the murdered
woman.
That Easton showed them the way, but didn't
go with them; and that on parting with them,
charged them not to hurt tae woman, and only
TO get the money. Tally said they wouldn't
caution for them not to hurt her. He says that
on coming to the house, one OF them pushed
and the other kicked the door till 1t Tell, when
they entered and found the woman had risen
from the bed and was sitting on the side OF 1t.
He immediately threw a blanket or coverlet
over her head. But what mediately followed
he won't tell, but it is evident they subjected
her to the grossest outrages upon her person.
They were there half an hour. He held the
blanket forcibly over her mouth and nose till
he found her breath had about ceased, when he
let go his hold. In the meantime, Tally had
taken the money from her waist, and swore
they must kill her.
Brooks says he then left the house, while
awhile he came out, but though he had mis-
finally killed the woman. They then went to
the house OF Esquire Easton, when Tally handed
over $50 as the proceeds OF the robbery, winch
was divided equally amongst them, Edston re-
ceiving $50. Tally is still ut large. 1t may be
remarked that although Tally and Brooks uu-
doubtedly committed the murder, there is a
strong probability that Easton is innocent His
former character is said to be good.
He has property, and it is Incredible that
he could enlist in q robbery of a near neghbor
for so paltry sum, when detection was so pro-
bable result. We learn that he SAYS Tally
brought Brooks to his house and introduced
him as John Combs, and that he supposed
Brooks to be an honest man-that he knew
nothing of their designs, but is censurable for
suffering SO bad character as Tally about MIN
but adds that Tally, being his brother-inlaw,
he couldn't find IL in his heart to order him
away. Later information however, Is to the
effect that the testimony of Brooks will be con-
firmed proving the guilt not only of Easton, but
also of his wife, who is very Ill.