The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-25

BY BUTTON COOK.

The mysterious murder Sofs 10 Mr.
Block occasioued great STRAND COM
motion. The Government of the day
offered a. large re ward forst be discov-
cry and conviction of the murderer,
while free pardon was promised to
any one privy to- the crime, not being
the actual assassin, who would aid the
administration of justice by turning
Kings evidence Crowds from all
parts visited the scene Of the Rother-
hithe tragedy Much, sympathy was
expressed for the daughter of the uns
fortunate man but for time all at
tempts to elucidate the mystery re-
mainder Intellectual, The; officers of.
the law were said to be certainly
baf1ed and at fault, sssniss,a eii.s-asy
With many people the apprentices
Davy Jones, was, still an object of
grave suspicion. The story Of that
other apprentice George Barnwell the
subject Of Mr.. Lillo's admirable play
commented on as being singularly op-
constable who, onsthe night of the
murder, had made so close an exani
nation of Days hands and feet, cluug
to his theory of the boys guilt withsin
gular pertinacity. Every small piece
Of evidence he could collect, heisought
to twist and shape and fit in this view
of the affair. He was forever hanging
about The Travellers JOY. listen
| ing to the talk there, smoking his pipe
and taking his glass, in very friendly
and pleasant way: but with, his eyes
lincessantly watching every movement
Of Davy Jones. Mrs Barford, for the
entertainment Of her guests, often
| times strangersnow, drawn by curios-
ity fronlssdistantf parts of London,
would relate her share in the events
! of that dreadful evening. She went
into much detail in her recital. II
shall never forgetp she said one night,
"how the poor soul shivered and let
fall his pen, when they were lifting
| HIM up to sign. bis. will L fancy that
the sight Of Mr. Starkiess white hands
reminded him somehow for the mo
ment ofFlthe hand he had1seeu at the
window To close observer it
might have occurred that the Bow
Street officer was istruckAby this fancy
of Mr. Barford's, aud took mental
note of it. His manner towards the
boy underwent change from that
time; and he was said ITO ihavegbeen
| seen shortly afterwards in close con-
| fabulation with, Mr., Block sslawyer
and Mr. Jasper the Doctor, who took
a keen interest in the case, and yet
were both regarded as friends and
| patrons of Davy Jones, and had never
for one moment credited his guilt aoa
| Miss Block, her health much shat
tered, and her grief unspeakably great,
remained Under the shelter Of Mrs.
| Barford's roof. 1t was reported that
| she had adetermined not to oquit athe
neighberhood until justice had been
| done upon herr father Tmurdefer.
| She was not left too wen provided for,
people said. The late Mr.. Block
affairs were:dotin nearly SO prosper
Gus state as had been imagined. The
| business vas fTe3rried on by the sur
viving partner, who, it was rumored,
/ had been paying his addresses for
| some time tosMiss Block 4 OF course
an immediate marriage was not to be
thought of; but it was generally ,es-
| teemed desirable for Miss Biock in
terests that she should eventually be-
| come Mrs. Starkie In-such wise the
manifest difficulties of her situation
4 .NOaiO pC CtOIlfJ Nld
! of Miss Blocks friends, therefore,
Icounselled her by all means to favor
4 Mr.. Starkie's suit; presuming that he
was presenting himself, as sutton.
Such chances they avefred, did not
occur every day. AID should, accord
ingly, when they did occur. be appre
ciated and made the mestsef, especial
ly by people without features, and,
as it now appeared, without fortune
either To reject the offer Of marriage
of man like Mr.. Starkie, supposing
thatshe ever was weak enough to make
such an offer, was a proceeding that
would be characterized by Miss
| Blocks friends only as sort of sly
ing in the face of, Providence = /,
was in vain that Miss Block represe Mt
ed that she did not want advice OF
THAT, or indeed of any kind. Miss
Blocks friends knew better what was
1 good for her than she knew herself
so they PERSISTED in giving her advice
/ which was, indeed; all they adid give
her, and was, after all, not a gift of a
i very costly or valuable nature: IF L
had been. Miss Block friends, prob
ably, would not have been quite SO
liberal with it. ..sAl-oa' II :.
n nis5' -Sl CHAPTER vi. 121eia
| Miss Block occupied quiet,upper
chamber ID, Mrs. sBarfords house,
comm ndiag 4 view of the river. and
Eof the wharf+premisesa of her father
a Late one nigh, when she could not
fsleepl for thinking of her SORROWS, and
of certain events that had happened
that day. she was startled blythe sound
as ofvpeopie talking under her win
dow In SO me alafm, she rose quietly
[ and looked forth - Il scanned to her