The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-10-14


serious: there was no occasion for the po-
tent drug or the keenly cutting knife, and
after short delay, the travellers resumed
their seats, homeward bound Again
nothing occurred for the first three miles.
All nature was hushed In the darkness of
the night, when all at once, in the middle
of narrow lane, with trees on each side,
master and man might have been heard,
had there been any one within earshot, to
exclaim together, give lost my hat -
\ sudden pull-up was the result, and
few moments were enough to show Mr..
Gray how the matter was. Tightly
stretched across the road was stout cart
rope at once revealing the whole scheme,
and conveying the feeling that there had
been but narrow escape from murder in
the gig. Mr. Gray's plans were immedi-
ately determined Opening his penknife,
for he was accustomed to say that he
''knew where to put it," and considered it
match for any weapon but a gun; in-
deed, he carried no other weapon through
out the thirty-fve years that he was in
practice, and travelled those roads, he
proceeded to search the bitches both ways
for the villain, whom he judged to be not
far away. The search was without effect,
and, after climbing both trees and untying
the rope, which he carried home, MIR.
Gray at last yielded to the entreaties of
| the groom, who had hardly ceased TO call
out, ''Never mind the hats, sir: pray,
drive home,' Another mile brought them
to village, and the parish constable was
at once aroused from his bed and informed
Of what had happened. Mr. Marsh was
a most excellent baker but his expert
cnce at detective policeman was not ex-
| tensive, and, after hearing all the particu-
| lars, he confessed himself quite unable
| to make any suggestion. But the doc
tors thoughts had not been idle, and he
requested the constable to arrest the first
man who came by in the same direction.
| To this Mr.. Marsh demurred strongly !;
and is was only after repeated assurances
| that he should be held harmless of ali con-
sequences, that he fell in with the plan,
and the three took up their watch. 1t
was true that there was another road be-
sides the one leading to the water; but
the doctor shrewdly guessed that the
would-be murderer, batfied in his enter
| terprise, would most likely take the direct
way to the market town (Where he him
| self resided). In a few hours inquiries
would be made, and be could more easily
escape notice there than in any of the vii
| lagos, where every man knew all the rest
So they waited on some hour or more,
when at length footsteps were heard, and
a man dressed as a laborer came by. Him
the constable arrested, and, disregsrding
his tlreats Of vengeance, drew him into
the house, where, on removing his hat,
there fell on the table bundle of linen,
which set the doctors mind at rest.
BIr. Gray was accustomed to speak of
the midnight watch in the constable's
house as attended with reflections of no
pleasant character. What if the wrong
man should be arrested How if the in
jured party should take proceedings in con-
sequence? Loss of money there would
certainly be, in the shape of damages
awarded by jury; while probably to
this would be added loss of reputation,
carrying with it loss Of practice. But the
bundle from the hat set all these thoughts
at rest, and called forth the exclamation,
|
ny, if not for murder" His quick eye
had noticed peculiar stain, and in mo-
ment he recognized the linen as night
dress belonging to a patient in the village
beyond, the stain being caused by lotion
supplied by himself for an affection of the
throat. This gave the constable courage,
and he at once proceeded to complete the
searching of his prisoner. The property
found was of no great value,-a few half
pence aud little tobacco were not trea-
sonable matters but Jagged razor and
a newly cut heavy bludgeon could not be
misunderstood.
Mr.. Marsh was now thoroughly alive
to tie nature of the case, and on the de-
parture of the doctor took an original and
effective method of securing his man. The
''cage" was out of repair, and could not
be trusted with the care of such villain,
who might have in the neighborhood some
accomplice as desperate as himself 80 the
constable handcuffed the prisoner to bis
kitchen CRATE, and sat up the rest of the
night to keep guard over him,
Morning came, anu with it the investi-
gation before the magistrates, when all
was speedily and clearly explained. The
culprit had crawled up cross-ditch, over
looked by NIr. Gray in the darkness OF
the preceding night, and the traces left
were of the plainest. The mans boots
had been recently mended in a very pecu-
liar manner, and the impression tailed
exactly. The rope was identified by a
farmers man who had lost it, and had
seen the prisoner about the premises the
same day.
In short, the chain of evidence wa;
complete, and at the next assizes yer.
dict of ''GuiIty of the attempt to murder
was returned by the jury. Robert French.
as he gave his name, was accordingly sen
| tenced to TRANSFORMATION for life and al