New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-16
THE MCCONNELL MURDER.
THE CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST ROB-
INSON.

THE CIRCUNSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST ROB-
NSoN.
1t is seldom such mass of circumstantial
evidence is brought to light that which is
around the unfortunate man, William A. Robinson, now
confined Jail Jacksonville, Ill, upon the charge OF
assassinatlng the Hon. Murray Mcconnell, and new
threads being gathered up which tend to confirm his
elusive the table OF the murdered man was an inter
est calculator. opened at particular page, with
very instant OF the murder motto due from Robinson
to the murdered man was missing The nterestcacna-
opened at Just the proper place Tor calculating
the interest on the note further search developed
little piece Of paper less than two inches square which
contained calculation in the murdered mans own
hand Of interest on note OF $780, drawn on the very
day Robnsons note was drawn and up to the very day
claimed to have paid this note on the lOh OF
sent for the books that edgers
old one, and one new one. The new one was
was found to bo tho Turning to the 10th OF De-
cember the accused showed entry OF $500 paid TO Nc
the preceding four or Ave days of money received
lug that he had sufficient amount OF money on hand az
that to have paid the 800 entry. But when the old
ledger from which the new one was copied, was ek-
amined it found to embrace the same dates but the
entry OF $500 paid Mcconnell or the same receipts OF
money during the preceding days did not appear, A
single glance suniced to show that the cash receipts
during these few days, shown by the new book were
precisely 800 moro than the old b0okexacty balancing
the 500 entered as PaS in n these entrees ON the
book, the units place OF dollars, and the deei-
and that the changes consisted in prexng figures in the
tens place Of dollars, sufficient 70 make $780, Then IL
was again observed that these additional figures wero III
different kind OF ink from tho remaining figures, and
then this ink tho as the ink with when en-
tries were made the day OF the murder. card was
also found on desk which he had calculated what
charges necessary make this difference OF $500 In
his entries OF moneys received during that week. IN or
der to balance the entry OF 500 paid Mcconnell And
further search has brought TO light another BOOK
ing a memorandum account OF all his money disOurse
monts during months past and such entry ~
500 TO Mcconnell appears And then 1t was shown
that, on the day preceding the murder. lie endeay-
ored to borrow money OF several persons saying he had
TO pay note TO Mcconnell 1t was evident tnat ms
books had changed but he had forgotten ABOUT tue
old copy of the ledger aud the private memorandum ac
count book that his sful arrangement OF nspoohs,
10 afford him u defense In case it should De as
covered that the note missing proved 70 DO realy
trap set for himself When Robinson was hrst arrested
he conducted himself with great cooness but since the
verdict OF the coroners jury was announced he mas ap
pearodlutterly Frustrated and heartbroken
Thc fnerai OF Gen Mcconnell was solemnzed at Jack
sonve on Friday afternoon IL attended by several
thousand people Business during the afternoon was en-
trey suspended not single store or shop being OPEN
'' (Chicago Times.