Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-06-28

fast, and, supposing from the lateness of
the hour that the occupants were asleep,
he knocked Justify, and called to Han
nah to admit him; but he received no
answer.
"She sleeps soundly, upon my word" "
said the deacon's wife.
"Sleeps!" !" exclaimed Joel. If she
wasn't so lazy by daylight, Id swear she
If he's here, to be sure he must hear
this noise. Halo! Open the door!'
shouted the deacon and, giving it II
kick, the latch gave way, and he tum-
bled headlong into the entry. "By
Jove!" he exclaimed, picking up his
portly person again, "the door wasn't
fastened at all"
"Thcy left it open for us. Why
didn't you try the handle first ?' queried
his wife.
81 s'posed it was locked, of course, at
this time O night" said Joel. "But
where's Hannah %
"Abed," suggested Mrs. Joel.
"Sec whether she is or not, he eX-
claimed. GIVE made noise enough to
wake dead woman. More'n likely she's
taken her chance to be off with that
spark of hers rs-Paddeford
Mrs. Joel went to the girls room, but
it was vacant. She came down, and the
deacon then went to his boarder's apart
mcnt, to ascertain if he were there,
when, Il moment afterward, his wife was
astonished to hear him shrek out, as
he came to the door of Dillaway's bed
room:
"Quick, Abbie! Dillaway's dead
murdered! Quick %
And, surely enough, when tlc light
came, there lay Chester Dillaway's dead
body on the floor, his room in disorder,
his clothes lying about, and ample evil
dence existing that there had been IL
struggle there; but the man was stiff
and cold.
While they stood transfixed with ter
ror and amazement at this sight, foot
steps We're heard below, and three or
four of the neighbors, headed by Han
nah Goodale, came dashing up the stairs,
and into the room where the murdered
man lay in his gore.
"There he is y yelled Hannah
"That's the murderer And his wife's
close by. Here she is,' continued the
girl, drawing forth the deacon's wife,
who had, in her fright, almost uncon-
sciously stepped into side room a mo-
ment before. "Thcy killed him for his
money and watch! Hold ON to 'em p
she continued wildly; and, jumping
down stairs, she instantly returned with
the overcoat which the deacon had
thrown off as he came into the house.
"Examine for yourself p she added,
viciously.
And,' upon turning out the breast
pocket, the dead mans pocket-book and
Il bundle of papers, together with Il dia-
mond ring belonging to Dillaway, were
discovered there.
The deacon did not speak. He could
not utter syllable. His wife turned
pale, moancd, and fell fainting upon the
chamber floor.
"See, see p screamed Hannah, with
raving triumph. "See the blood here,
on his hands and slecve?"
And there it was, too, fresh and clear
as broad daylight. Joel had moved the
body, and had thus stained his hands
and sleeve.
The deacons horse had not yet been
taken out Of the wagon, and the remain
der of that fearful night was passed by
Joel and his wife in close confinement.
The neighbors seized them, put them
into their own vehicle, and drove them
five miles away to the nearest jail.
They were examined the next day the
evidence of the girl was heard, and the
circumstances were recountcd that had
been witnessed by the neighbors, and
they were imprisoned at once and with
out much pity, to be tried at future
day for the murder. At tho expiration
of eleven weary weeks, true bills were
found by the grand jury against them !;
they We're duly indicted, and, few days
after, they were separately put upon
trial for their lives, the case of the hus-
band coming up first.
The deacon was placed at the bar, and
he pleaded "Not guilty in clear,
manly voice. He had had leisure enough
for reflection since the night of the mur-
der, and his counsel had been truthfully
informed of the circumstances of the
case, so far as he knew anything about
them. He now appeared calm and self
possessed, but the chances We're decid-
edly against him.
The prosecution proved, by Hannah
Goodale. that the prisoner and the de-
ceased Dillaway had frequent private
conferences about money matters, which
she had overheard unknown to them. 1t
was also affirmed, through her, that the
deacon and his wife had come home on
that night two hours prior to her giving
the alarm and that the borsn had boon