Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-07-04
CIRCUMSTAxTIAL EVIDENCE.

Nol l cannot consent to find the
prisoner ilty! The evidence is pure
ly circumsantial, and despite the ap-
parent strength of the chain, | shall
insist on verdict of mot guilty"
Years ago. while trying to work my
way through college, / learned lesson
that will keea me from ever being in
strumensai in coayicting man on cir
cumstantial evidence.
On the 18th of February, 1871, a
burlary was committed in the town of
Wappinger's Falls, near Newburg,
New York. The savings-bank Of
Sweet & Barlow was entered, the two
safes were blown open and their con-
tents rifed. Professionals had done
the job, for pane of glass had been
cut ont, and the door-lock pried of,
holes had been drilled through the
sides of ..de safes, powder introduced
and the massive iron plates had been
blown asunder.
Henry C. Brown. the book -ksspeF,
usually slept in the buliding, but OBJ
this night he was alta party. Return
ing at four O clock, he started to ascend
the covered stairway at the side of the
bank. it was cloudy, rainy night,
and in the darkness he saw some indis-
tinct object on the stairs. Thought
lessly he posaea it with the end of his
umbrella. Thisabject was the burglar
appointed to guard the stairway =.
Catching the umpreila in one hand, he
placed a revolver against Browns
breast, and fired. The book keeper
shrieked and ran, and the would
be murderer fired twice jEsore. The
shots and cries of the frightened man
soon aroused the town, but the burg
lars had disappeared. Strictest search
failed to discover the slightesS 4race of
the Williams. Browns coat and vest
we're powder-burnt, and the bullet was
found deeply imbedded in the gold
watch he carried in his upper left
hand vest t-pocket.
Such & bold, audaciDus burglary,
and such heartless, cold-blooded at
tempt at ;nssyder, we're well-calcula-
ted TO arouse the widest excitement.
Suspicion settlad finally, and unmls-
takably, upon az individual who had
been prowling aralssd town for week
or more. Ostehsibly he was a book
agent. He claimadt to he student en-
to raise means to defray ex-
penseses of his tuition. Upon arrlv-
ing in town he had made several in
quiries about the location OF the bank,
and the names of It's officers, pretend
Jog to want their influence on his sub
CO . Et7af
conclusive evidence would. at me
proper time be produced to prove him
one of the burglars.
The officers found upon inquiry that
he had paid his bill the night before
saying that he intended to leave early
the next morning. The landlady K new
nothing of the man except that he b. I'd
gone. She did not even hear him 90
for when he applied for board he was
particular about obtaining a room on /
the ground floor, isolated from other
dodgers.
The stage left Wappinger's Falls for
New Hamburg at five o'clock, to meet |
the morning train down the Hudson. /
This stage overlook the suspected in /
dividual about halfway to New Ham
burg, walking along in the rain and |
slush, and at his request; carried him
the rest of the distance. Meanwhile.
descriptions were telegraphed all over
the State, of "A young man with sharD.
piercing black eyes, dark hair and
moustache, about FIVE feet ten inches
in height, wearing heavy scarf, and a |
loose soldier cloak" 1t was Just after
the terrible railroad accident at New
Hamburg, when the passenger train of /
the Hudson River Railroad had crush
ed through the bridge and buried so
many people in the icy water beneath.
j. Scanding, the well-knowh State
officer, had been present during all the |
excitement, superlntending the raising
of the lifeless bodies. Standing In the /
telegraph Office, he CHANGED to catch 1
the description, frem the clicking. as
the message flashed over the wires TO
Poughkeepsie.
Iwas the book agent, and upon my |
arrival at the depot Mr.. Seandling /
promptly arrested me. At half-past
four had awakened, dressed, and left
the house without seeing any one. In !
order to collect two dollars from man |
at the coal-house to whom | had sold |
a book, l walked on before the stage, |
and received the money. Learning.
for the first time, of the burglary. /
soon understood that l was in dang
erous position. "A stranger in n
strange land, with little money, and
less influence, was to be carried back
into the midst of an angry mob. 1t
would utterly be impossible for me to