The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-22

Let's go over to the courthouse ;
they're trying Joe Slifer." They went
out and remembering my little talk with
the district attorney, my curiosity was
excited, and / followed them
When entered the courtroom, the
victim OF the robbery was on the stand
He was plain simple old man, and gave
his evidence with apparent truthfulness,
He testified that he was stopped about
sunset, some months before, while passing
from Carlisle to his home with one
thousand dollars that he had drawn that
afternoon from the bank. It was lone
ly spot, and there was no house within
half a mile Of it. He was jogging leisur-
ly along, when a light wagon drawn by
two horses dashed up beside his buggy,
and three OF the four men in it jumped
out, while the fourth held the reins. They
were all masked. One of them seized
his horse by the bit and stopped him, the
second snatched the lines from his hand
and the third climbed half into the bug
gy, and taking him by the arms, demand
ed his money. He said that he instantly
shouted as loud as he could; when the
ruffian dealt him a savage blow with a
slung shot which knocked him senseless !;
and when he came to himself again both
robbers and money were gone.
He recognized only one of the four; !;
the man that struck him. As he drew
back to give the blow his mask dropped,
and revealed the face of Joe Slifer, the
prisoner at the bar He knew it-he
was perfectly positive Of it--and all the
ingenuity Of the cross-examination could
not weaken Or shake his evidence upon
this important point.
No other witness was called for the
prosecution; none seemed necessary. The
prisoners lawyer got up and made a
plausible statement to the jury that the
complainant was mistaken about recog-
nizing Joe Slifer on the occasion referred
to /; that Slifer was not there at all, but
that he was at Norcott, fifty miles north of
Carlisle at the very hour of that robbery
and that he should prove it by at least
two good witnesses. He sat down and
called out, " Caleb Wye," and everybody
leaned forward expectantly.
The witness came forward with slow
limping gait, leaning on cane. He was
apparently man of middle age, and was
dressed in suit Of sober black, with a
white choker about his neck. His hair
was silver gray and as he mounted the
stand, and leaning on his cane turned his
eyes placidly to the prisoners counsel, he
presented an appearance chat would at
tract attention and respect anywhere.
saw him. and though I did not be-
tray any surprise, know that my heart
gave a tremendous thump. For 1 saw
the bilious, thin face, the crooked nose
and the Scared forhead of tlflo .laf gar
whom had seen twenty-f 'tsi 9s7q sg-
fore in the doorway of the saloon. fYIh
this difference, however, the hair Of that
man was almost black, while this mans
was silver gray.
edged my chair quietly up beside
that Of the district attorney, and while
the man was testyfying I managed to
whisper in the officers ear without at
tracting the attention of the witness.
The latter testified that he was dealer
in ready-made clothing at Norcott, and
one Of the firm of Wye and Peasants.
That on the day testified to as the day of
the robbery, both he and his partner
were at their store at Norcott, and there
was an unusual call for goods Joe Slifer
was then in town they knew him we'll
and had often employed him to help in
the store. On this particular day they
sent for him; he came Immediately; and
he remained at the store, waiting on Gus
toners, from two o'clock to eight, without
once leaving it. Mr.. Peasants was in
court, and he would testify to the same
facts.
The first question of he district attor-
ney made the fellow start and shiyer.
Are you in disguise, sir ?"
"Wh-What ?" stammered the man.
:. Have you silver-gray wig over your
dark hair z"
The man looked amazed and then
frightened, but said nothing and before
he could recover his self-possession, the
district attorney had stepped forward aud
removed the wig, revealing smoothly