Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-07-15
NUMBER %.

lust occurred. he oPc1tu oic ~uoo~-
Attracted By the noise they looked up
and ceased speaking.
Whats the matter my friends?'' he
shouted to them in great excitement, for
he felt that something important must
have occurred. Nobody answered him.
He ran downstairs TO inquire, aud
stopped one of his neighbors. Mr.. Jones
did not know, another said just the
same: il was evident people did not
want to tell him what had occurred.
His anguish increased every moment.
He stopped third one by force.
Come in, Mr.. Burns" the neighbor
said, but be prepared to hear some
thing painful
What has happened7 what has hap
pened?r he cried, almost frantic with
despair.
Compose yourself. Mr. Burns. some
accident"
"where Is my son? tell me at once :"
the old man interrupted him impatient
lv; lis he deads is he deadY' he cried.
irving to discover the truthin his neigh
bor's countenance.
He is, Mr.. Burns, he was found shot
dead in the forest
With wild crv of despair, the old
man fell iainting on the floor; assisted
bv the kind-hearted neighbor his man
servant carried the apparently lifeless
BODY of the old merchant to the bed.
and tried every thing To bring him back
to life
The neighbor had spoken the truth.
Young Burns had been found shot dead
in the forest The whole town was in
= state OF excitement on the crime being
discovered To most people it appeared
almost impossible: but the fact that the
corpse had been found put an end TO all
doubt on the matter. Two men from
town. who knew the deceased well
enough, had discovered the corpse and
informed the authorities. That was all
people knew. Ii was not yet s.ccrtained
whether he had been murdered. killed
By an accident, or died by his own
hands.
The whole town seemed 10 have come
to a stand-still: nobody worked. \
gloom spread itself over the place. and
knots of people were seen in the streets
discussing the sad occurrence.
Suddenly a carriage was seen driving
out of the city toward the forest. Ii con-
tanned the Judge of the criminal court
and polie-officer. who We're hurrving
to the place OF murder TO investigate the
case. A great many people followed
them. and not only for curiositvs sake
The Young man was 80 generally liked
that every BODY took AN interest in the
matter.
The corpse was living on the footpsth
leading through the forest. and the lawn
all around was saturated with blood
About a rod of IN IN was sitting on the
trunk Of a tree he was A woodehopper.
ami he and his mate had found the muir
dered man. While his mate had run Ia
town TO inform the police. he had kept
guard. He was sure that nobody be-
fore them had touched the corpse, and
thinking ii OF importance that nobody
should do so before the coroner had ar
rived. he took il upon himself Ia remain
near it.
The judge and his companion. led by
the second laborer. reached the oninous
spot.
III i true, = he said with a lad look:
1t Is Henry Burns. lie seemed To
have doubted the news brought by the
man. Grief and anazement could bc
seen on his face. for he was well ac-
quaintei with old Mr. Burns and well
knew what shock the news OF hi. sons
violent death would be 10 the old ia
Their.
A crime has been committed here.
he said there j. not the least doubt of
il.
Ii took the Judge some time before he
conld commence the investigation. FOR
his heart ached when he thought OF the
bereaved father.
He first searched for the instrume nj
with which the deceased had been kill
ed. Nothing could be found
The dead one Law out.iretehed on his
back: his features We're not at all disfig-
ured. He appeared like one asleep.
only the extreme pallor made it evident
that lie was extinct. Hi, hat Law about
two steps off from him. Judging bv
the coat and wai,icoai. which were
stained with blood. a bullet had entered
the chest.
All what hour did YOU find the
body: the Judge began. and addressing
himself TO the laborer who had guided
him thiiher.
1T wa. about half-past six O'Clock
when We left home, and allowing half
All hour for the walk. | think il must
have been near seven when we reached
this place.
DO YOU ALWAYS go 10 work A. late a.
that!"
We work BY the piece. and can ac-
cordlngly commence when We like gen
orally we manage to he in the woods by
six O'Clock. but to-day we were late, rs
my wife got sick. and | didn't sleep
much.
How did YOU find the BODY"
In the position A. Won see it.
Did Won touch il at all:"
Il only touched his brow, and NV
companion raised the left arm 10 see
whether there was bfe in the body: bur
both were stiff and cold :
Did you recognize the deceased az
once:"
Yes. sir; both of Us have frequently
seen him in and about town. =
The judge thought for a moment
Thocgh he knew the two laborers as re-
spectable men, and did not suspect
them. he found il but proper to examine
them as closely as possible.
just tell me. . he asked of the first
workman. what made YOU STAY here
while your mate ran TO town 10 inform
me OF the murder"
II wanted to keep watch over the
body. You remember that man who
was killed four years ago on the high
road TO Stettin? Very well, when his
body was found nobody remained
watching over it, and some people car
ried il aside 10 ditch. When after
ward the coroner came, nobody could
say where the exact spot was where the
corpse had been found. as all traces to-
ward detecting the murderer had been
obliterated. The coroner blamed peo-
pie very much at that time. and. as
much as know, the real murderer has
never been discovered. The mans
words bore the stamp of truth upon
them.
You have acted like sensible neo-
pie, the judge said. do you think
that any body has passed here before
your
Il don't presume there has.
W hat makes you presume sou
a. Il