Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-28

for pound of cheese and some biscuit at one
of the stores in the village.
Jake was at once committed to Jail, his
daughter being permitted to 60 with him, and
the coroner's jury rendered verdict against
him of wilful murder of the unknown: Then
followed the indictment, and now the trial
was to come off, the murdered person, mean-
time, having been buried without being lden-
tilted.
"Of course it will be conviction, as the case
now stands, and the fellow very likely is gull
ty," said Grandson "but it is our business
to get him of. 1 want you to visit Humberg,
view the locality, and sift the witnesses II
we can get clue to the Quaker, we may find
that some one else was interested in his end,
or at least we may persuade the jury So"
"But the pocket-book," said l; "isn't that
a circumstance which brings the thing right
homer"
"Oh no. The pocket-book may not posi-
lively be identified, and if it should be, IS
proof of robbery only. 1t may have been
lost, and found by Jake; or Jake may have
robbed the man after death or, in short, the
pocket-hook proves very little. flake could
furnish an alibi, there'd be no trouble; but
the drunken man can furnish nothing says
he don't recollect and don't care-is as good
dead as alive"
"What does the girl say?"
"Well, her testimonys worth nothing, and
of course she is not any help. She says that
the stranger gaue her the pocket-book, after
asking her for drink of water-a very likely
tale, Of course! However, he was seen by
several to 90 in the house."
81 don't see how we are to defend him, MIR.
Grandson"
"Neither do l but if we 60 about it right
we will see, before the case is called. we
have week to prepare in, and good deal
can be done in a week. Tomorrow morning
we'll have a talk with Jake and the girl the
next day you'll take my horse, ride over to
Humberg, and ascertain all the facts. lfyou
find clue, follow it up regardless of the cost.
I've shot in the locker if there's need, and
interest enough with the court to get post
ponement should there be any occasion. That's
all. Here are some references to authorities,
which it will be we'll for you to overhaul be-
tween this and the trial. Young lawyers are
always expected to spout textbooks to the
court and jury, you know"
made little by my visit to the prisoner.
He was careless, taciturn, and refused to as.
sist either Grandson or me to knowledge OF
the circumstances.
81 don't know anything aboutt-drunk all
that week-drunk when they fetched me in
here-wish 1 was drunk now, or dead 1t
don't mattera wax.end, only for Sally there
Sally sobbed, wept, and wiped her eyes on
a dirty apron, and whispered:
"He is always that way, since he could not
get any whiskey. 1t is no good to talk with
him. But he did not kill the strange gentle
man-no, indeed w added she, looking up into
my face. -,
A dirty, puny, unhappy looking, sallow girl
of thirteen, was Sally-yellow hair, wild and
uncared for, clothes tattered and flthy-yet
what a pleading innocence and convincing
frankness in her wide, straightforward eyes?
Grandson beckoned her after him into the
corridor. "Now, Sally" said he, "tell this
gentleman what you told me-"
"Pappy was drinking harder than ever
that week ); he'd got paid for some work, and
his jug was full OH Monday. On "Wednesday
it was empty, and sitting on his bench, savage
like, so that 1 was half afraid Of him. Tie
didn't sleep none the night before; and Mrs.
McCauseland wouldn't trust him for the pint
he sent me for, you know, and that made him
mad. Then it was after dinner, only had
none-pappy wouldn't eat, and | had onl y a
piece Of cold corn bread for my share-then
the strange gentleman came in"
"This was Wednesday afternoon ?" asked
Grandson.
eyes, sir, Wednesday, after dinner, he came
in-such nice, neat-looking old gentleman,
and stands by the shop counter, and lays his
hand on it, and says, Friend, will thee let thy
little girl fetch me drink of cool water from
thy we'll p and pappy, he don't look up, but
cusses the strange gentleman, and tells him to
get out Of there. So the strange gentleman
was going to say something more, only beck.
oned to him to be quiet, and he went out; and
l took my mug and went out the back door,
to the we'll, and drawed him drink, and took
it round to him, just as he was going through
the gate. And he said, Thank thee and
took the mug. And while he was drinking |
says to him, That's my pappy's shoe. knife
you've got in your hand, mister, amt it !?
And he says, Verify, it is, but have need of
it more than thee, and [ pray thee let ME
keep it, And says,.'Pappy'll most cut my
liver out when he misses it, so you can't have
it, And he says, I did not mean to rob thee
of it, but to take it at fair price, and l will
give thee money to buy dozen like it. And
with that he takes out his pocket-book and
studies over the notes, then says, kinder to
himself, Nay, her needs seem to be great, and
mine are none any longer. Here, child, take
and keep it all, and may the Lord bless thee?
And so he walked away, and didn't see him
any more, only heard he was found with his
throat cut. But pappy didn't do it, for he
kept the house all that day, and raved so all
night couldn't sleep, and early in the morn
ing l took dollar out of the strange gentle
mans purse and run to Mrs. McCauseland's,
and got the jug filled for him, and that quiet
ed him; and he was home the same way,
drinking and stupid, until Friday night, when
Mr.. Bent, the constable, came and took him.
And that's all l know about it, gentlemen,
only that pappy hadn't anything to do with
killing the strange gAtlemanI
1t was agreed between Mr.. Grandson and
me that should make Sally's straight-for-
ward yet very improbable tale the basis of my
inquiries at Humberg, and, if I could in any
way verify it, l was then but to push the
search after the old Quaker's antecedents.
"But you will fail" said he; "who ever heard
of Quaker committing suicide much less
stealing knife to do it with !"
eff there is anything to be found out, |
will find it," said /, confidently and the next
morning rode over to Humberg.
This forlorn place was mere fringe of
houses on either side Of a turnpike road, of q
crossroads, and did not deserve the name of
village. There we're first Mrs. McCausland's