The New York herald., 1872-12-08
The Internal Instrument Of
Death Described.
Scandal and "a WOm an
the Cause.
TIE MULAITo MURDERER
A COrOner's Jury Hold Him Oh Apparently
Conclusive Evidence OF Guilt.

The alleged murderer OF Old John Alngham, at FL
dersve, early yesterday morning, was arrested to-
day, and tonight hes in a cell in the Washington
County jail. This frghtful tragedy for the delibe-
rate cooiness with which II was planned and the
terrible success OF the measures taken, has never
been equalled here and the excitement in the
village OF Eldersvie has been intense and many
persons, through pure curiosity, lett here to-
day to view The remains OF the disflgured
victim and behold the ingenious contriv
ance that caused his death II appears
now that the murdered man is native
OF New York city, where he was married, ana from
whence he moved with hls wife some years ago to
the village in which he was Killed yesterday lie
owned farm and kept a small store and was
quite wen TO do. Some years ago he sold whiskey
In the store, but subsequently gave II up and con-
fined his attention more to the cultivation OF his
farm than to anything else. The house in which he
resided rs on the corner Of the two principal streets
OF the town, one OF which is on the main road be-
tween Steubenvine ana Washington. Pa
DETECTIVE OFFICERS AT THE SCENE.
Officer CuppIes, OF the police force OF
this city, left for EldersviIle last evening
which place he reached after couple
OF hours ride. The country folk were in
a state OF excitement bordering on frenzy, and
had made little or effort to obtain clew to the
guilty parties. As soon the oGicer arrived he
set TO work and discovered footmarks in the snow,
perfectly legible; but the trail being followed it
was soon lost. However several little articles
were picked up which had mOurnlul yet absorb
ing interest. About thirty feet from the house the
weapon with which the deed was committed was
found, and several slugs also. This instrument
consists OF strip OF oak board, about seven and
half feet long and about two and half inches
VIII ana nd of mo pia of hoo haa
fastened piece OF iron pipe four feet and half in
length and an inch and nalf in diameter One
end of this pipe had been beaten nat, plugged with
wood and filed with lead. II was then loaded one
hall its length with at least
HALF POUND OF POWDER
and, from what has been found, nearly double
handful OF slugs This pipe was then fastened
to the board and at the muzze fuse had
been inserted so that 1t would reach the
powder. This fuse was wrapped around the
woodwork many times, and must have been
fifteen feet long THIS is shown from the fact
that the wood Is burned by the fuse az the flame
proceeded to the muzZle OF the formidable weapon
peg had been driven into the board to prevent
the pipe coming back after the discharge OF the
piece, nut this had been broken OF, as the reco
was too great TO Withstand.
THE INQUEST.
This morning an inquest was held, the jury
being composed OF honest-loOkiug farmers, who
expected to discharge and spoke to one another
in whispers The testimony OF several persons
was taken and some facts elected One of these
was that a farmer seeing the pipe, on returning
home told his family that he had one Just similar
which would give an idea OF the weapon He
searched for 1t high and low, but II could not be
found. The scent was now getting keen, and one
witness after the other gave little circumstance
which strengthened the chain OF evidence Soon
after there was a lull in the proceedings, caused
by Whispers, ana tnen loud talking, and finally yells
OF excited men rent the air.
THEY'VE GOT TIE VILLAIN
rush was made for the store of Mr. COoper
where the suspected murderer had BEEN and then
again to the hotel, where the inquest was being
held. The excited mob endeavored to break down
the doors and take the prisoner from Detective
Cupples; but The oilcer, assisted by those within,
barred the door securely, and after time the
violent passions Of those without in measure
subsidized. BY the fire in this apartment sat the
suspected man, Henry Briceland alias Hank. lie
IL about thrty-hve years Of age carpenter by oc-
cupatiOn, and has lived near the scene OF the
tragedy for some years. He was born in Virginia.
and Is mulatto, but possesses OF the features
of the African race. A sharp aquiline nose thin
lips, high cheek bones and high intellectual brow
are the prominent features. He has worked
for several people in the vicinity and having
spent most OF his nte among white people has
none OF the traditional negro dialect. The prisoner
was neatly dressed in IL brown suit, wore white
felt hat, striped cotton shirt and heavy boots. He
sat there gazing into the fire, apparently uncon-
scious that vengeiul men, with batcd breath,
glared on him with vengeance in their eyes from
the street, through the windows A whispered
consultation was held, when the foreman or the
murderer OF Mr.. Aiiingham The foreman nor OF the
jury then said, 'Henry, are You the right party 2"
~ CLAIM TO BE INNOCENT
replied the accused quickly, and then, relapsing into
silence again, looked steadily at the fire. The
deadly pipe and board were then produced and the
latter handed to him. and the foreman OF the Jury
asked II he had ever seen 1t before. Taking the
strip in his hand he examined IL coOlly and deib-
erately; not culver Of those decisive lips not a
muscle trembed, not sign OF any significance
could be observed as he replied "NO. don't think
rtuhf in,
eye as he spoke. The pipe was shown him with the
same result nothing on his part indicating the
slightest agitation. lie examined it, and handed
1t back, with the remark,
"IsUPPosE IT Is THE WEAPON
that was nsed.n AT this point Detective CuppIes,
who had been sitting on stool by the side Of the
fire and directly opposite the prisoner arose to his
feet and pulling from his pocket several small
eso o IN length SAID
the man IN the instant changed color and became
whittier than nature ever intended II should become
and his limbs trembled visiby. He gave the detec.
tive one look, In which there was world OF mean
ing sank down on chair near by where he was
standing and refused afterward to utter one word
EVIDENCE OF HIS GUILT.
Suspicion was liked upon this mulatt0 owing to
threats he had been heard to make against the de-
ceased Tor testifying in forgery case in Court and
his clothes being searched small memorandum
book was found In an inside pocket OF his vest. In
TINS was written the exact measurement OF the
board on which the deadly pipe had been fastened,
also the distance from the fence In the front OF the
house on which one end OF the board rested to the
book was the measurement OF the piece of block
required to elevate the pipe from the sill
to % an elevation that would allow the
fearful instrument full play for its deadly work.
II viii be seen from this cool deliberate procedure
that the black fend had in contemplation the mur-
der OF Alllngham many day before he executed
IT.. me detective then visited the workship OF
Brceland, which Is abOlt three and half miles
from the scene OF the MURDER and among the
shavings and sawdust that covered the ground
moor discovered the nuts Of the pins driven through
, the board which held the pipe. The instrument
had been made here. the pins were driven through
the board, the surplus portion was sawed on
anu there being picked up were found to cleave
most perfectly TO the parts from which they had
been severed. This was not all discovered.
A bar OF lead from which the
vILLANOus- LOOKING sLrGs
had been cut on, was secured: also portions OF
brown twine, that assisted in holding the pipe to
the board, and the ramrod that lorccl the charge
INTO the instrument was found, forming as COM
plete chain to the guilt OF Briceand as one
would wish A paper OF arsenic was also discov.
cred In small box in the shop. With this he in
Tended TO make away with old Allngham, but
~ cd opp aa Mro