Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-03-20
A Hidden Witness.
now y MURDERER WAS HUNG BY
MEANS OF A TELESCOPE.


lConcluded.l
1t was breathlcss moment | contin-
ued to watch, AMI hardly breathed. At
last, and when | was becoming desper-
ate with uncertainty, | saw something
move again. The trees were parted,
and at the same place where the MUIR
Gerer had entered the wood, bearing
with him the body of my murdered
friend, he now re-appeared alone. He
stood q moment, rs If undecided, and
then came out looking behind him first
then arranging the disturbed boughs as
though to make the plac- look as if no
one had passed that way. That done,
he stood still a moment, looking about
him as if in search of something, and
then he moved acrOss-how lnconcious
of the pursuer on his track, the tele-
scope following his every step, unseen
and unsupported Ito where, at the cor
ner of the meadow, there was, as | have
already mentioned, a little pond with
pollard willows round about it, margin
He stopped and picked up some object
lying beside the pond. What was it :?
There was something green about it,
Was it old Mr.. Twins butterfly net
could not sec with certainty, but no
doubt the poor old man had wandered
away from the footpath, which was
near at hand in pursuit of some ento-
biological specimen.
The man with the red cap threw this
object into the water. Then, taking off
his canvas frock, he began to wash the
font of it, stained, no doubt, with blood
Then he washed his hands and face, and
putting on the frOck, wet as it was in
part, stood up, and once more looked
suspiciously about. All this took time,
but | dared not remove my eye from the
glass for a single moment, Once l had
tried to reach the bell handle, but
could not. Something would have to
be done presently, for he was going
He turned his back upon the pond,
looked about to see if there were any
traces of his crime visible, and cross eu
the field, got over the gate by the hay
appeared, disappeared, and finally, af-
t-r being out of sight for some time,
showed himself, walked along the high
road till he came to a roadside inn-the
very Marquis of CRANKY spoken of be-
fOre-into winch he entered.
And now | felt that the time had
come when some decisive step must be
taken. If he were not secured now,
while he was in the public house-lf he
got out of it without being taken, he
might get off by ways which We're hid
den from my RANGE OF vision, and so cs-
cape.
still dared not move my eye from the
telescope, or the telescope from the inn
door. 1t was absolutely indispensable
that he should nct be able to leave the
house without my knowledge. | must
not stir then, but as something re-
quired to be done, somebody else must
stir for me. In moment decided on
my course. Remaining mOtionless at
my post, l lifted up my voice and gave
utterance to such a succession of shouts
that l expected that the whole house
would rush up stairs to the observatory,
thinking that ! myself was being MUIR
dered. 1t was not so, however, and
it is re ally astonishing, considering the
noise l made, how long ] called in vain
AT last it did appear that L was heard.
The head gardener was in the grounds
close by, and the sound of my voice
reached him at length through the open
window.
Even when he heard, it was evident
that he could Ut make out whence the
cries which reached him came.
"Who calls ?" he cried.
"Here,' shouted, :" in the tower
Help! help! at once! There is not a
moment TO lose"
heard the welcome sound of foot
steps hurrying up the turret stairs. AL
most before the door was opened or the
gardener in the room, issued my or
ders,-
Jump upon the pony" l cried, with
my eye still fixed on tie door of the old
inn, land gallop at full speed down to
the Marquis of CRANKY. There has been
a murder committed, and the murderer
is in that house. He has on scarlet
cap, red beard, and Il canvas frock with
a dark patch in 'front.'
what! My helper here ?" cried the
gardener.
"The same. Seize him, or if he has
left when you get there, raise the hue
and cry, and follow him. He has MUIR
dered poor old Mr.. Irwin.n
"Don't stop to answer" resumed, as
the man uttered an exclamation of horror
and surprise. $50 at once. Go; and if
you meet any one on your way, send
him here-aly one-to me-"
The man was sharp fellow, and inn
mediately disappeared. Very soon, l
had the satisfaction of hearing the sound
OF horses hoofs galloping out of the
yard at the back.
l. oil Il,