Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-07-22
brand his good name by bringing him

doctor, We are TO discover Grim
Of no common nature you must hav
confidence in me. l may safely sa
that | shall be able to distinguish be
tween one who is guilty and one VIII
is innocent. Whom il il you sus
pect?"
The one in the neighborhood O
whose house the portfolio has beef
found"
Hill, the forester."
The doctor answered in the affirma
tive.
1T is impossible. quite impossible,
exclaimed the Judge IL do not thinl
him capable of such deed. +"
Not Of the robbery. replied Eek
ert. 'but he may have acted from {
different motive; he may have taker
the money in order to hide another
motive; is not that possible''
/ Explain yourself, do not under
stand you self, do not understand
you,
"Well, sir, Hill was in love with Ell.
len Fuller; he was jealous of Henry
Burns; on the evening of the last ball
they had quarrel he used threaten
ing language.
The doctor then related to Mr.. Sim
mons the scene that had occurred be-
tween the two young men on the even
ing in question in the refrcshment
room.
In great mental agitation the Judge
walked up and down in his room He
would not believe it, he could not. He
knew Hill.
do YOU think. he said after a
while. stopping short in his walk, 'do
you think that he acted from jealousy
or rcvenge?"
1T is not impossible, Eckert re-
piled. "Hill is easily excited and
rather choleric
Il know, know the julie said
musing.
II think we mentioned a. the in
quest that steady hand hId fired the
shot; 1t was aimed at the breast. =
Sportsmen, and in particular profess
slonal sportsmcn, are taught 10 bring
down their game at the first shot. But
| am going too far; | am giyn. free
rein TO my fancy.
No. no. doctor go on " the Judge
said, who was beginning TO float in a
sea Of doubt. You are speaking of
things of which had not the slightest
idea ;"
And if they prove to be wrong
when assumed asked the physician.
Il will convince myself of that, and
IN such case, of course, not act upon
them. You say that sportsmen are
taught TO aim at the heart Of their
game:"
Yes, sir, Eckert affirmed.
well, Hill is known 10 be good
marksman, the judge continued 4
have heard people speak about him as
such. Almighty God il YOU were
right, doctor But is it possible that
that A man committing such a deed, be
1t in anger or in the excitement OF
jealousy, would use such deep precau-
ton as To rob his victim in order To
turn suspicion aside from himself"
1t may and il may not, the doc
tor said. Struggling his shoulders.-
You know the fear Of being detected,
and the fearful consequences that must
follow, make a criminal have recourse
to the most extraordinary precaution,
and so it may be in Hills case
We'll, said the Judge, resolved, II
shall follow up the hint; the ball is
yet in my possession. If Hill shot it,
IT will fit III the barrel OF his rife, or at
least correspond with the weight Of
his own balls.
Il hope you do not intend to have
him arrested Eckert said
Circumstances will direct me how to
act. II he is really guilty, the sur
prise OF being held for the perpetrator
of crime will render it exceedingly
difficult for him to conceal his culpa-
bility.
You had better 90 cautiously 10
work, the doctor urged; my sus-
picions were only reused when you
spoke to me about the spot where the
| portfolio had been found but sin.
cerely request you not to tell him
have aught To do in the matter.
4 will try to avoid doing so, prom
ised the Judge; but if it becomes nee
essary to procure evidence about the
quarrel that occurred on the evening
Of that party, shall have to call vou
as witness.
| That l will testify to the best OF my
belief. | was not the only one pres
| ent.
The doctor made toward the door
There he stopped once more. Do MOI
be too hasty in the matter, Mr.. Sim
mons, he said; put yourself for ,
moment in his place if he is brough
to trial and proved TO be innocent. yol
will never be able to give him back hi,
fair name. and should not like to b,
the uause of his ruin.
Never fear the Judge responded
i shall well consider before acting.
Eckert went away. The judge nov
being alone in his office, sat dowl
again to reflect about the doctor
words. He recalled to himself the
forester's past life and his present
character. More than once he hat
been led to acts of imprudence by hi:
ic temper. He knew that Hill
had been counting Ellen Fuller, ant
and was we'll aware that jealousy wa,
q most violent incentive TO unlawiu
acts. What had it not led man t.
do! More cool.blooded people thar
the forester had already been led t,
destruction by it; what else was it bu
an alteration Of the mind? Besides
all this, Hill had been offended b,
young Burns. and had threatened te
punish him. 1t was not necessary