Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-06
asilu ArnHebfr yournaL.
from the Atlantic Monthly for March,
JOHNS TRIAL.
BY T. DEMING.
CONTINUED FROM YEsTERpAY.l

L.
s coxrnurp FROM rEsrERpAY.l
The captafn said that upon the Attn OF
July. he had heard quarreling upon John
sloop all the afternoon, and had noticed
tkAt only two men were there. lie thought
the men had been drinking. At night-fall|
there was little lull but soon alter dark,
the noise broke out again. He could see
nothing through the gloom, but he heard
high and angry words, and at length blows,
and then dull, crushing thud, followed
by plnnge into the water, and then there
was entire silence. He listened for an
hour, in the stiffness of the summer night,
but heard no further sound from the boat.
In the early gray of the next morning, the
captain, looking across the space to Johns
slOop, which he described as hardly a
stones throw from his own, saw hat ly-
ing upon the deck, and using his glass,
was confident that he saw ''spattcrs OF
blood" He thought it 'none OF his BUSH
ness and taking advantage of light
breeze, sailed away and said nothing. But
when the floating corpse was found, he
felt sure there had been murder, and, as
he expressed it, felt bound to tellhis story
like an honest man, and SO told it.
Putting these things together it soon
grew to be the current opinion upon the
lake, that Captain John had murdered his
cousin William. The jewellers upon the
Wilderness road also came by slow de-
grees, and unwillingly, to the same con-
clusion. It was felt and said that John
ought to be arrested.
Accordingly, on dreary day in Novem-
Der, two officers, from the country town
twelve miles away down the lake Shore
came and climbed the steep road to the
lonely loghouse, and arrested John. 1t
was undoubtedly dreadful blow to those
two lonely people living isolated in the
wilderness. Perhaps there ought TO have
been some crying and scene, but there
was no such thing. The officers testified
that neither John nor his mother made
any fuss about it. There was slight
twitching of the strong muscles of hel
face, as she talked with the officers, but
no other outward sign.
John gave more evidence OF the wounl
he fclt He was white and quivering. ye
he silently, and without objection, made
ready to go with the officers. He soor
prepared, and they started. John, as he
went out Of the door, turned and said
"Good-by it will all be made right, moth
err" She simply answered. Eyes good.
by; know 1t. my son.
The trio went on foot down the road to
the next house. where the officers had left
their team, Jupiter, standing up with
his fore paws upon the top of the fence
gazing wistfully after them. When they
passed around the bend of the road out o.
sight, Jupiter went into the house. The
strong woman was there about her work
as usual but the heavy tears would now
and then fall upon the hard pine floor
She knew that her own boy would spend
the coming night in the county Jail.
At twelve o'clock of that chill November
night, the woman and the dog went out OF
the house she fastened the door, and then
they went together down the dark noun
tain road, while the autumn winds swept
dismally through the great wilderness,
and the midnight voice of the pines
mourned the dying year. The next day at
noon, very weary woman on foot with a
small bundle and large dog, put up at
the little village hotel hard by the county
jail.
Another day passed and then the pre-
liminary examination came on before IA
justice, to determine whether there was
sufficient evidence to hold John in custody
until grand jury of the county should be
assembled for the next Court of Oyer and
Terminer.
Three days were spent in this examina-
ton before the justice the captain of the
sloop who had overheard the quarrel in the
night told his story, and the boatmen who
had found the body told theirs. Two men
who had been the crew of Johns little
vessel were also called. But they could
tell little more than that they were absent
on shore upon the 4th of July, and when
they returned TO the vessel William had
gone, they knew not where nor why.
The evidence against John seemed to
the magistrate clear and conclusive. But
the counsel for the accused employed by
Johns mother) took the ground that as
the offense was committed in Canada, a
Justice in the United States had no juris-
diction in the matter.
This view prevailed, and after five days
the accused was set at liberty. But that
voice of the people, which the ancient
proverb says is like the voice of God, had
decided that John was guilty. 1t was I'M
der this crushing condemnation that John
and his mother left the county town on
cold December day. turning their steps
homeward; and at evening they climbed
the ACTIVITY SO familiar to them, and
reached the lonely g.house on the noun
tain. Their ncighbors were glad to see
them back again, bat were plain to say
that ''it appeared like as if John was
guilty." These dwellers in the solitudes
were accustomed to speak truly what they
thought. John and his mother too spoke
openly Of this matter. 1t was only of
showing affection and love that these
people were ashamed and shy. They both
admitted to their neighbors that the evil
denee was very strong, but John added
quietly that he was not guilty, as if that
settled the whole matter.
But the voice Of the people and a sense
Of Justice would not let this crime rest 1t
came to be very generally known that a
man guilty of murder was living near the
shore Of Lake Champlain unmolested.
Arrangements were effected by which it
came to pass that the Canadian author
tiles made formal application 10 the
United States for the delivery of one John
NV,lenv, bal;avaA IN ba Ia, p,ur