St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-11-13

Miss Clara for you, sir
We'll Thomas.' said he. Il suppose it
Is for money; that usually is the sub
Ject of her perfumed notes to me: come
into the bank moment
In IL little while | saw the servant
going i'll the direction of Mr.. Richards
house, and in about an hour attcrwald
hlS master was discovered i'll the bank
dead
This from the cigar store keeper. |
did not let him know that | waS an at
tolney for the accused. and turning my
steps towards his late residence. | WAS
admitted by his servant Thomas. and
was soon cOnvcrSimg with Miss Clara. to
whom | contidcd my relations with
Button. | asked her what time she
sent Thomas to the bank the night her
father was murdered
i did not send him at ALL she re
piled, surprised at the question.
: Well said |, we are going to acquit
Toward Burton, and to take his place.
e want to find out who did commit
le crime.
{ Now, Miss Clara, are You sure you
did not send Thomas to the bank the
night of the murder "
i know very well did not WAS her
answer
Then. replied. either the keeper of
the cigm store is mistaken. or your
servant Thomas is the murderer of your
father
she did not look as much surprised
~ expected at this assertion.
Mr.. c.. said She. the niyht poor
papa WAS murdered. Thomas came
through the hall and started to go up
stairs. | wanted him to mend the fine.
and called him into the sitting room.
A. le entered | noticed Il large dark
spot on his cheek and one on his collar.
| half suspected him when | heard how
/ anxious he vas to tell the court about
that unfortunate little difficulty hetwccn
papa and Howard Burton. but did not
. say anything about il To any one; they
were all 50 >ule Howard was guilty
Il told her to treat Thomas aS usual.
and not to speak of our conversation T."
any one. and after rccciNim" Il letter she
wished to send to Burton. took my
departure for G.
Immediately on my arrival there. |
went to my client. and communicated
to him all had learned. and delivered
the letter. The poor fellow seemed Su
prcmrly happy, aud invited me t" take
tea with him in his cell. He ate hcrrti-
~ and smoked a cigar with evident en-
i"ymcnt. took the first nights rest
that night | had had since the death of
Mr.. Richards.
The day OF the trial at last arrived.
had previously sworn ont Il warrant
tor the arrest of Thomas. to hc served
a> soon ~ the iulN should pronounce
my client not guilty. The district al
t"rmcl opened t"l the people. III an
clah"ratr and very able speech. giNiu"
HE details of tine case. and then pro
crcdrd tu examine the WITNESSES.
Thomas. the servant. Was the first
called. He >Worc To the quarrel he
tween Mr. richards and Burton. and
that he heard Burton threaten MI
Richards life. notwithstanding | close
ll cI">>-cNamimcd him. failed To make
him contradict himself. aud when he
retired nearly every one in the c"uIt-
room WAS d"uhtlc~> certain that How
ard Burton WIS guilty. The next vii
ness Wa> the hotel clerk. who testified
that Burton came into the hotel while
he was attending To the guest from the
train that arrived i'll Cat Il o'clock.
ana that that train passed X at
about halt-pl>t six. Then followed the
examination ot the bank cashier. VIII"
+ -w"rr that the package "t >9.OU found
un Burton at the time nt his arrest was
dcpo~ted in his bank on the afternoon
of the murder. After callim" several
other witnesses whose Testimony WAS ut
nin"I import. the prosecution rested.
i then followed. and after Il brief
l opening address. called the German
painter. VIII" Swnre to seeing Nh. Rich
ards send Burton ON the rrIand. also To
seeing Mr.. Richards in the cigaI store
= after sIN o'clock on the night of the.
murder. When | had finished with
hm. he WAS subjected t" Il severe cross
examination in which lac acquitted him
self very crditIhly. Then called the
: conductor. h" >vorc I" seeing Burton
> om the train the night of the muld,l
. hr also ~wnrr that the train left ON time
p q o'clnck.) The cigar store man WIS
: next examined. who >woIc to talking
, with Mr. Richards ut 6:I5 T. VI. also t"
seeing him leave thr bank with Thomas.
I Nv vitmc>>rS were all cross examined
/ thoroughly. but did not contradict
/ themselves in any particular. then
CLOSED my case. and after Il few remarks
| from the prosecution. the Judge charged
minutes returned with verdict of moi
| gWity. My client and were ovcrpow
cred with congratulations. and never
: since in my professional life have felt
= as proud and triumphant us did then
I AS soon az quiet was restored. til,
4 sheriff approached Thomas. the servant
Z and said, in loud voice. .Thomd,
t UcdIy. arrest yoU for Hc mHy,ieI. Of .N'
RichdrdS.'
l The excitement in the court CAUSED
Il 10y this unlocked for and sudden pro
< cccding was most intense. The prison
u CT WAS Immediately taken +" Jail. fol
= lowed by Il crowd that were loud il
o. their expressions of dcnunciation the
- same crowd that Il little while hcfor,
I had marked Burton us the murderer.
= We'll, to finish this story. hav,
t little to add. was retained 10y tn,
!, bank officers to prosecute Thoma,
t Hcaly and he waS convicted of til,
= crime. He protested his innocence al
, most to the last. but the night hefor,
: he was to be executed he made IL tul
= confession. stating that he had deter
y mined to rob the bank some evening
e when Mr.. Richards was there alone. Ii
= WAS Mr.. Richards's custom. he cX
i planned. to go to the bank in the even.
o ing, and when he and Young Burton
quanelcd. he (ThomaS) saw his oppor
ii tunlty. His determination was strength
t ened by hearing Mr.. Richards remark
Il on the day of the murder as he sat "a
. dinner, that there was an unuSuall,
e Large amount of cash on hand. Tn,
Ii note i'll the case was one that Mis-,
6TIN tn fax tn h.i