The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-07-13

came, there lay Henry Blessner's dead
body on the floor, his room in disorder,
his clothes lying about, and ample evil
dence existing that there had been a
struggle there; but the man was stiff
and cold! i' 5' '.''. ''' Vs.
While they stood transfixcd with ter
ror and amazement at this sight (the
miller having taken hold of the body to
turn it to the light, footsteps were
heard below, and three or four Of the
neighbors, headed by Betsey, came
dashing up the stairs, and into the room
where the murdered man lay in his
gore.
: "There lie is," yelled Betsey. "rhat's
the murderer, iand his wife's close by.
Here she is,' continued the se:vant
girl, as she drew forth the miller's wife,
who had, in her fright. almost uncon-
sciously, stepped into side room, mo.
ment before. "They killed him for his
money and watch. Hold on to 'em,'
she continued wildly, and jumping
down stairs, she instantly returned with
the overcoat which the miller had
thrown off below, as he came into the
house.
Examine for yourselves" she added
picio,.sly. And upon turning out the
breast. pocket, the dead mans watch,
and a bundle of papers belonging to
Blessner, were discovered there. The
miller did't speak! He couldn't utter
syllable! His wife turned pale, moan
ed, and fainting fell upon the chamber
floor.
"See, seeu' screamed Betsey, with
raving triumph, "see: the blood here,
on his hands and sleeve!" and there it
was, too, fresh and clear as broad day
light. Rushton had moved the body,
and had thus stained his hands, unwit-
tingly.
The miller's horse had not yet been
taken out of the wagon. and the remain
der of that fearful night was passed by
Rusbton and his wife in close confine-
ment. The neighbors seized them, put
them into their own vehicle, and drove
them four miles away to the nearest
iail. They were examined the next
day, the evidence of the girl was heard,
and the circumstances were recounted
that had been witnessed by the neigh
bors, and they were imprisoned at once,
and without much pity: to be tried at a
future day for murder.
At the expiration Of seven weary
weeks, true bills were found by the
grand jury against them they were
duly indicted, and few days after they
were separately put upon trial for their
lives, the case of the husband coming up
first.
Rushton was placed at the bar. and he
pleaded mot guilty" in clear, manly
voice. He had had leisure for reflection
since the night of the murder, and his
counsel had been truthfully informed o
all the circumstances of the case, so 1al
as he knew anything about them. he
now appeared calm and selfpossessed
but the chances were decidedly against
him. The prosecution proved, by Bet
sew Ransom, that the prisoner and tht
deceased Blessner had held frequent
private conferences about money mat
ters. which she had overheard, unknown
to them.
1t was also affirmed, through her
that the miller and his wife had come
home that night two hours before she
gave the alarm, and that tie horse hat
been left before the house door, wher'
he was found, only as a ruse.
1t was proved that Rushton had start
ed from town at certain hour, and h
ought to have been at home quite a
soor as the period of his arrival there
thus sworn to by the servant girl. Th
watch and papers found in the prison
er's pocket, were identified as Blessner'
property; and his bloody hands wer
the final turning point against him!
To certain questions put to Betsey b.
the prisoners counsel, she stated tina
she was bat little acquainted with
young man named Easton. She ha
seen him-knew who was meant-bu
had not seen him for three or four day
prior to the murder. She had not seel
him since, either! Then the defence c
Rushton was entered on, with an earn
: estuess creditable to his able counsel
Five witnesses were produced to prov
the girl liar, to commence with.
!, was shown that she was in Easton
company at nine o'clock on the nigh
of the miller's absence from home. 1
trunk of hers had been left by Easto
at the stage house whence he intende
to take passage for Conway, early tn
> next morning after the death of Bless
ner, but which he forgot to call for, an
which, being broken open, was foun
i, to contain all the money that Blessnt
was supposed to have had with him
the time of the murder-the notes o
the county bank having been identifie
- by the cashier who paid them to hi'
:. on that very day! In this trunk wei
y also some trinkets and light articles
:, wearing apparel known to have belong
. ed both to Betsey and to Easton.
farmer came forward and swore that /
saw the prisoner twelve miles dista'
=, from Clatville at half-rast ten o'ciocl
= on the night designated, where he h'
r. evidently lost his way, and that he
rected him back towards the mill.
. was shown to the satisfaction Of Il
> court and jury that Rushton's hor
# was incapable of travelling over sevt
= miles an hour at best, and when Il
dead man was discovered by the neig