Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-21
CIRCU msrANTIAL EVIDENCE

ChhCC hSE ANIAAb EbADENCE
The Chicago papers publish ac-
counts of an extraordinary murder
committed at Jacksonville, in that
State, and a curious train Of circum-
stantial proofs leading to the arrest
of the supposed murderer. The
victim was an aged, wealthy man,
named Gen. Mcconnell, who was in
infirm health and confined to his
house. There were no other per
sons on the premises than his wife
and female servant, when he was
found dead in his room, having been
killed by blows with some heavy
instrument, striking him from be
hind while sitting in his chair. There
were no signs of robbery. The as
Sassin escaped without notice, and
conjectures were wild about any
possible motive. 1t appeared that
when struck he must have been ex-
aiming an interest table. A book
of interest tables was found open,
and on particular page was the
mark where lead pencil had rested,
making some calculations. But ii
had been violently stopped there,
for there were marks of indentation
or scratch, as though the hand had
been struck, and the broken pencil
was found upon the floor. The
General had a few days before caus,
ed list to be made Of the over due
paper in his hands. In examining
his effects one note in the list was
missing. 1t was for $500, due Oh
the 10th of December. On refer
ring to the interest table, it was dis
covered that the pencil had stopped
at the point in the table which furn
ished the amount of the interest o
$500, the missing note, from the
day it was due. Inquiry was in
stantly had as to the drawer Of
the note, and it was found Il
be one William A. Robinson,
a storekeeper in the same village
heretofore of good -repute. In
quiTy was directed toward him
testimony came forward that he haC
been seen in the neighborhood 0
the Generals house about the tim
of the murder, and by one person
seen coming from it. He admitte
having been in the nelghborhooC
but contradicted the other allega
tions, and alleged that he had take
mp the note in question by paying
- when due. His books were pre-
duced, and they supplied the mos
eliminating proofs against himself
He had recently opened a new lee
ger, and for the period includin
these transactions, had copied Ii
old items into the new. In the oil
books, among his entries of receipt
for four days, including the day {
the maturity of the note, were foul
which amount to $50 10. They s
stand in the new book. There is n
credit on the old book for pa
ment to Mcconnell. Recently, al
in different ink, figures are prefixt
to the items in the old book, maxim
the receipts $430 10, instead of Il
true addition of $50 10: and in d
new book, with the same ink-ce
tainly at the same time, under Ola
Of Dec. l0-was inserted an entr,
1 Paid Mcconnell $500. The int
polation was evident, and the effo
to provide a defense supplied t
link which made suspicion certsint
and brings about the arrest and t
charge Of murder! Like the mi
der Of Adams, by Colt, and
Parkman, in Boston, by DR.. W.
ster, ii appears to have been an L
premeditated act, under a sud-
impulse Of passion, and unfortun;
opportunity. 1t is very singu
case OF the connection of fac
apparently trivial, leading to {
exposure Of a great crime; and
the weakness with which console
guilt brings about It's own discov,
by over precaution for safety.
In recording these incidents,
New Orleans Pic0gune is remint
of an episode which occurred a qr
ter Of century ago, in q neighL
inc State, wherein a robbery