Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-09-27
CONDEMNED BY A CLOCK.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.


On summer evening, some years ago,
man was found murdered in field near
certain town in the West of England. The
name of the field was "Pardon's Piece"
The man was small carpenter and
builder in the town, who bore an indiller-
ent character. On the evening in ques-
ton, distant relative OF his, employed as
farm bailiff by gentleman in the neigh
borhood, happened TO be passing a stile
which led from the field into road, and
saw gentleman leaving the field by way
of this sslle rather in hurry. He recog-
nized the gentleman Whom he knew by
sight only) as Mr.. Dubourg.
The two passed each other on the road
in opposite directions. After a certain
lapse of time-estimated as being half an
hour the farm bailifI had occasion to pass
back along the same road. On reaching
the stile he heard an alarm raised, and en-
tered the field to see what was the mat
ter. He found several persons running
from the farther side of Pardon's Piece
toward boy who was standing at the
back of a cattle-shed, in a remote part OF
the inclosure, screaming with terror. AT
the boys feet lay, face downward, the dead
body of a man, with his head horribly
beaten in. His watch was under him,
hanging out of his pocket by the chain. II
had stopped-evidently in consequence oI
tne concussion of its owners fall on it--at
half past eight. The body was still warm
All the other valuables, like the watch
were left on it. The farm bailiff instantly
recognized the man as the carpenter and
builder mentioned above.
At the preliminary inquiry, the stoppagc
of the watch at half-past eight was taken
as offering good circumstantial evidence
that the blow which had killed the mar
had been struck at that time.
The next question was--if any one hao
been seen near the body at half past eight
The farm bailff declared that he had met
Mr.. Dubourg hastily leaving the field by
the stilc at that very time. Asked If h'
had looked at his watch, he owned thai
he had not done so. Certain previous cir
cumstances, which he mentioned as having
impressed themselves on his memory, en-
abed him to feel sure of the truth of thi
assertion without having consulted hi
watch. He was pressed on this importan
point, but he held to his declaration. A
half past eight he had seen Mr.. DubourI
hurriedlv leave the field. At half-pas
eight the watch of the murdered man hat
4 topped. aa
Had any other person been observed II
or near the field at that time
No witness could be discovered who ha'
seen any body else near the place. Hal
the weapon turned up with which tn
blow had been struck 2 1t had not beel
4 found. Was any one known (robbery hav
j ing plainly not been the motive OF tn
q crime) to have entertained grudge agains
the murdered man. 1t was no secret tina
81 he associated with doubtful characters
8 male and female; but suspicion failed t
8 point to any one of them in particular.
] In this state of things there was no a.
tentative but to request Mr.. Dubourg-
] well known, in and out of the town, as
young gentleman of independent fortune
bearing an excellent character-to Civ
some account of himself
Il lie Immediately admitted that he ha
passed through the field. But, in contri
] diction to the farm bailiff, he declared tn;
4 he had looked at his watch at the momeI
before he crossed the stile, and that Il
time by it was exactly quarter pa
EIGHT. Five minutes later-that is to sa
ten minutes before the murder had bee
committed, on the evidence Of the dei
mans watch--he had paid visit to lac
living near Pardon's Piece, and had
NAMED with heruntil his watch, consultt
once more on leaving the lady's house, i
formed him that it was a quarter to nine
Here was the defense called an "alibl
IL entirely satisfied Mr.. Dubourg's frieno
10 satisfy justice also it was necessary
call the lady as a witness. In the mea
Time another purely formal question W
put to Mr.. Dubourg. Did he know an
thlng OF the murdered man
With some appearance of confusion, N
Dubourg admitted that he had been
4 duced (by friend1 to employ the man
some work. Further interrogation G
tracted from him the following stateme
of facts:
That the work had been very bad
uone; that an exorbitant price had be
charged for it; that the man, on being
monstrated with, had behaved in gross
impertnent manner; that an altercatl
nad taken place between them; that \
Dubourg had seized the man by the col
OF his coat, and had turned him out Of I
mouse; that he had called the man an
iernal scoundrel (being in passion at
ume), and had threatened to "thrash b
within an inch of his life" Tor words
That effect) if he ever presumed to co
near the house again; that he had since
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