Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-07-22
endeavored to keep back his tears.
Was young Burns at your no,

mo SIR" the farmer replied; ''bu
he had promised me to come out eithe
last night or this morning; we wer,
about to close bargain"
$50 was told; he wished to buy
your farm
Yes. sir; we were trying to come t.
an understanding. I had given hin
the refusal till this morning."
"He had the money about him t.
pay the first installment. and this ap-
pears to have been his ruin"
''And have you no trace of the mur
dererI'
'.None at all" so far.
The judge and the coroner. accom-.
panied BY the farmer and the officer,
had searched the vicinity to find some
tracks, but nothing at all could be de-
tected.
when did Burns ,eavc your home,
doctor 2 the judge inquired again.
II did not notice the time exactly.
but am pretty sure that it was not
much after six"
''And did he GO to Moorfeld at
once?"
IL only know from Ellen that il was
his intention to 60 thither, and in all
probability he has done so"
Then he should have been there at
about seven: at seven the sun has
hardly set. but the laborcrs do
not go home till af.er this hour. Does
the condition of the corpse not allow
you to form an opinion as regards the
time when the murder might have been
committed 7"
Not quite, sir" the coroner replied !:
but | can say this much, that il took
place before daybreak. as the body il
perfectly cold, which requires abou,
four or five hours in the open air. And
again. - the clothing is noisiened bv
the dew, which generally falls before
sunrise, ! sm inclined To believe that it
could not have taken place at a later
hour. though. of course. it may have
happened in the evening just as well"
The Judge did not appear to agree
with the doctors opinion. AT any
rate l,e said. II think it will he easy
To ascertain at what time he ieft Mr..
Eckert's for Moorfield. and II nothing
| else will lead us TO the track of the
murderer, then trust the ball will did
you give il TO me. doctor"
Yes. sir, you put it into your waist
pocket
"All right; ba, what pity that it
should have been iattened.''
The weight is the same" the coro-
ner replied. Il think that insignificant
rs the object is, it may lead 10 the dis
covery OF the criminal"
While waiting for a carriage to take
the corpse to town. some of the people
told the judge that old Mr. Burns. sup
ported by two men. was coming toward
them. The Judge went To meet him.
and il possible To oprevcnt his looking at
his dead son. but the poor and weak old
man would not be deferred
1t would be difficult 10 describe the
afiiiction Of the father when he knelt ut
the side of the corpse OF his only son.
upon whom he had bestowed all his
affection. When he saw him last, before
be went TO offer Ellen his heart and
hand, he had given him his blessing
now he saw him outstretched a, his
feet-dead
Ii Is a singular trait of human nature
stantly deprive us OF our reason, Nnd
that our tears do not how when mex
pressible grief seems about TO break
our hearts.
Slowly the old man reused himself.
His limbs trembled. but no feeling was
expressed in his countenarce. What
was the world with its pleasures and
sorrows 10 him whose chief delight has
passed away, and greater sorrow he
never could feel
The judge tried to console him. Bear
| up, Mr.. Burns said he, 1--WE all feel
with you the great loss you have sus-
tanned but you must learn to bear it,
for no power on earth can restore you
your son"
The doctor, too. spoke few words
Of consolation to the bereaved father,
but he warded him off, and said Spare
your kind words, sir for me there is no
consolation, and you know it we'll"
Yes, he was right there was no con-
ISOLATION for the old man, and every
one present felt it.
When did your son 60 to Moorfeld! 2
the judge asked rather timidly. The
old man required some time before he
was able to answer, for all his thoughts
were absorbed in his affection.
Yesterday; last night" he said
'.may be it was about six o'clock when
he sent me messenger to acquaint me
that he had gone to Moorfeld. knew
what he meant by it he would not have
gone If his ardent desire had not been
accomplished"
~ know it, sir" the judge replied,
she had betrothed himself to Ellen Full
ler, and was about to buy Mr.. Thomp-
sons place for = future residence"
| The old man nodded assent.
Did he carry any money about him p
the Judge continued.
"Yes, sir"
sHow muchY'
Fifteen thousand dollars"
sin bills?"
The old man nodded again.
"Perhaps you remember what kind
Of bills they were!
Certainly; my books will show.
Oh! how willingly would l give all l
possess and become beggar if l could
redeem thereby his life 7"
1t was very painful for the judge to
put further questions to the old man.
| but be had to do it, as perhaps every
thing depended from acting without a
moments delay, before the murderer
could make his escape. He suggested