Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-24
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which inclosed it on the eastern side, they
heard some one calling Else. 1t was Niels,
who was on the other side of the hazel
bushes, and who bent back the branches,
and asked Else if she would have some
nuts She took handful, and then asked
him what he was doing there. He replied
that the pastor had ordered him to dig,
but the task did not suit him, and he pre-
ferred cracking nuts. just then they
heard door in the house open, and Niels
said, snow listen, and you shall hear a
preaching Directly after they heard
(they could not see. because the hedge
was too high and thick) the voice of the
pastor raised in anger. Niels answering
insolently. and fierce quarrel ensued.
Finally they heard Soren cry, IL will beat
thee, dog, until thou liest dead at my feet "
On this followed sounds as Of blows, and
then Niels called the pastor rogue and a
hangman. To this the latter made no re-
ply but they heard two quick blows, and
saw the iron blade of spade and part
of handle swing twice above the hedge
row, but in whose hands they could not
discern After this all was quiet in the
garden, and, somewhat alarmed and ex-
cited they hurried on their way.
Larsen deposed that, on the evening of
the day following that of the disappear
ance OF Niels, as he was returning home
very late from Tolstrup, and passing the
cleIgyman's garden. he heard from within
the sound of some one digging the earth.
At first he was rather startled, but, since
it was clear moonlight. he determined to
find out who was working in the garden
at that late hour therefore, slipped off his
wooden shoes, climbed up the hedge, and
parted the tops OF the hazel-bushes so as
to see. To his surprise, he saw the pastor
in the green dressing he usually
wore, and a white night-cap on his head,
busted in leveling the earth with a spade.
More than this he did not see, for the pas
tor turned suddenly round. as if some
sound had met his ear And Larsen be-
ing afraid of detection, let himself down.
and ran away.
When the witnesses had thus deposed.
Morton demanded that the parson should
be arrested. Wishing to avoid such n
scandal, if possible, the magistrate pro-
posed that they should go together to the
parsonage, where they would probably
receive satisfactory explanation OF the
facts deposed to. Morton consented to this,
and the party set out. On approaching
the house, they saw Soren coming to meet
them-when Morton ran forward, and
bluntly accused him of numbering his
brother, adding that he was come with the
magistrate to make search for the body.
The pastor made him no reply, but,
courteously greeting the magistrate, gave
directions to the farm servants, who now
gathered round, to aid, by all means in
their power, the search about to be made.
Morton led the way into the garden, and
after looking round for some time, pointed
to certain spot. and called upon the men
to dig there. They fell to work at once,
but when they had dug to little depth
the ground proved SO hard, that it was
evident it had not been broken up for a
long while. Soren had looked on quite at
ease. and now he said to Morton
''Slanderer! what have you got for your
pains p''
Instead of replying. Morton turned to
Larsen, and asked him where 1t was that
he had seen the parson digging. Larsen
pointed to heap of cabbage-stalks, dried
haulms, and other refuse, and said he
thought that was the place. The rubbish
was soon removed. and the men began
digging at the soil beneath They had
not dug long when one of them cried out,
Heaven preserve ~ and. as all pres
ent crowded to look, the crown of n hat
was visible above the earth.
s''That is Niels' hiatt" cried Morton; Il
know it well; here is proof that we shall
find him! Dig away" he shouted, with
fierce energy, which was almost as eager
ly obeyed.
Soon an arm appeared, and in few
minutes the entire corpse was disinterred.
There could be no doubt that it was the
missing man. The face could not be re-
cognized, for decomposition had COM
meneed, and the features had been injured
by blows but all his clothes, even to his
shirt with his name on it, were identified
by his fellow servants; even a leaden ring
in the left ear was recognized as one
which Niels had worn for years.
There was no alternative but to arrest
the pastor on the spot-indeed, he willing
ly surrendered himself. merely protesting
his Innocence.
appearances are against me-, he said
'surely this must be the work of Satan
and his ministry but He lives who will at
His pleasure make my innocence manifest
Take ME to prison in solitude will await
what He in His wisdom shall decree"
He was removed to the Jail at Grenall
the same night, and on the following day
came the judicial examination. The first
three witnesses confirmed their former
statement on oath. Moreover. there now
appeared three additional witnesses, viz,
the pastors two farm servants and the dai-
ry-maid The Two former testified that on
the day of the murder they had been sit
ting near the open window in the SER
wants room, and had distinctly heard how
the pastor and Neils were quarrelng, and
how the former cried out, II will Stay
thee, dog thou shalt lie dead at my
feet" They added that they had twice
before heard the pastor threaten Niels In
the same manner. The dairy-maid de-
posed that, on the night when Larsen saw
the pastor in the garden. she was lying
awake in bed, and heard the door leading
from the passage into the garden creak,
and that, when she rose and peeped out,
she saw the pastor. in hi, dressing gown
and night-cap, 90 out into the garden.
What he did there she saw MT. hut about
an hour afterward she again heard the
creaking OF the door
coSrisuED TO MoRRuW