The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-10-05
4 Remarkable Mmrdcr Trial.

Two years ago, on tic 9TH Of September,
1869, in Manistcc, Michigan Herbert Field,
the partner Of George Vandcrpool, mysterious
" disappeared Ten days later his dead body
was found in Lake Michigan, bearing unmis-
taxable marks that he had come to his death
by violence. George Fanderpool was arrested
for the murder On the morning of Sunday,
the 9th, the day On which Field was last seen,
he and Nandcrpoo dissolved their partnership.
Field retiring, and the two men went together
to Il store adjoining their bank to obtain the
signatures Of witnesses 10 the papers contain-
Ing their final agreement. With the exception
of Il single witness, who was positive that he
SAW Field later in the day, there VIZ, no record
that his existence continued an hour beyond
the time that lie and Nandcrpool We're suppo-
scd to have returned to the bank. That they
did so return, and that then and there Wander
pool robbed and murdered Field, and conveyed
his body to the lake, has been the theory Of
the prosecution from the beginning to the end.
Seeming torgcries in their books, an incongrui-
ty between Fields private memorandum OF the
amount to which lie was entitled, and the fig
urcs representing that amount in the iirni led
ger Nandcrpouis absence from home during
Il portion of the day, and his return in the at-
ternoon wearing Fields pants and vest; his
possession of gold which was seen in Fields
hands on the previous Saturday his having
cut out and burned several feet Of the carpet
on the bank floor. and the presence of blood on
the boards whence the carpet had been rcmo-
vcd-:l! these circumstances seemed TO make
the case clear against Nandcrpool. and on his
first trial, which took place in 1iani.tce he was
convicted and sentenced to State Prison for
life His counsel obtained 4 new trial, with
change OF venue to Kalamazoo County his
own resources had become exhausted, and II
subscription WAS taken up throughout the State
to pay the expenses Of counsel and witnesses,
many Of The latter being inli gent and hundreds
of miles away. The trial wis conducted with
great vi@or on both sides, and resulted in the
disagreement of the jury. Change of venue
WAS then taken 10 Barry County; 10 new tes-
tinony WI, developed on either side. Wander
pool explained the burned carpet, and the bor
rowing OF pants and vest from Field. IS having
could not control, and while lie had considera-
bic positive assertion on his side, the prosecu-
ton were confined to one OF the strongest
chains of circunl>,an;ia. evidence that ever en-
circlcd prisoner. The case was given to the
jury on Wednesday. September IL, and after
an absence of six hours they returned q YER
dict of acquittal. 1t is due to the eminent
counsel on both sides TO say that the result of
the trials WAS more dependent upon their COM
pctitivc abilities than upon the testimony in
the case The devotion OF Nandcrpool's Young
wife to her husband during his imprisonment,
her fricndIe>, condition. and firm belief in his
innocence did much 20 influence public opin-
ION in the State. which, at the outset WAS all
mos, >olidiy against him. The testimony GER
i;tinly pointed 10 Nandcrpool as the murderer
of Field, bat no man saw him do tie decd and
the jury preferred To free Il possible murderer
rather than shape 80 fatal - verdict on circum-
stantial evdcncc.-Ohio Statesman. Sept. 10.