Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-02-20
SJNBJRY. Pa. FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY TO- 1874

and purse, with the Old-IaSnlOneu coal
found on the body. were shown TO the be-
reaved granddaughter, and tearfully recog-
nized by the trembling girl as belonging to
her grandfather, the evidence of identity
was complete. How had the old man
come to his death? There was no cause
to suspect him of suicidal intentions and
it was proved that he was sober when he
departed from Jacob Moss. Then had
followed the query, was David Birch at
enmity with any one ? At this point in
the judicial investigation, Tom Bartlett
put in a deposition to the effect that he
had witnessed quarrel between the old
man and his nephew day before the de-
ceased had taken his fatal journey. He
detailed what he remembered of the scene
between them how he tom Bartlett) had
been apprehensive Of violence on the part
of the young man, who had told his uncle
''that before he was many days older he
would be sorry for what had passed that
night" This ended in the arrest of the
young carpenter. The news was carried
to Polly Carson, but the sorely-tried girl
rose against the crushing blow. 81 cannot
believe it. John Birch would not harm
my grandfather and wouldn't take Tom
Bartlett's word against dog.''
81 am doing my best, Nellie, you may
be sure of that. If there's ever so small a
loophole for escape, trust to me that poor
Jack shall have the benefit ofit.'
The speaker was Nellie's plighted lover,
George Denton, the detective, thoughtful
looking man, some years her senior, who
had already given evidence of more than
average ability in his calling.
"My brother is not guilty, George; 1
could stake my life % it.''
$50 could 1, Nellie but leave it to ME.
The examination has adjourned, and 1
may do much in the meantime"
His words gave Nellie Birch comfort for
the present and she trusted in them.
v.
The court was crowded, for much inter-
est had gathered round the case of the old
man, whose mysterious death had followed
so suddenly upon his accession of wealth.
The prisoner was pale and haggard from
mental suffering and want of sleep, but
holding his head erect, and gazing before
him with eyes that never lowered or shrank,
and looking very unlike a man charged
with murder. But the evidence had gone
against him, and he was committed to take
his trial for the willful murder of his uncle,
David Birch. The decision was received
by the prisoner with shuddering gasp for
breath, and wild look ofagony in his eyes,
as a scream from a woman came from the
crowd-it was voice that he knew, fer it
was poor Nellie, who had dropped down
insensible. He was about to be removed
when there was sudden stir in the court,
and a man whom many recognized as
George Denton, the detective, forced his
way through the crowd. Another mo-
ment, and he was standing before the
magistrate, every ear drinkingin his words
''The prisoner, John Birch, is not guilty,
and am prepared to prove it,"
''On what evidence ?'
THAT it is a case of mistaken identity !;
the man whom he is accused of numbering
being still alive. He lies helpless on sick
bed. or he would have been here to set this
wrong right"
The deposition which was made before
the startled bench may be briefly summed
up as it was afterward related in the pres
ence of reunited family circle, when the
old bird d-ancier got well enough to add his
portion of the story. He explained that,
after leaving his friend Moss, he mad been
met and attacked by man in an untre-
quented lane. They had a struggle, dur
ing which he received blow on the head
that must have made him insensible, for
he remembered nothing more until he
found himself in bed in strange room
How long he had laid there he could not
tell. He had been taken home by hu-
name market gardener, who found him
living senseless in the road, without hat or
coat; his injury proving to be serious
fracture of the skull, and the death-like
stupor continuing, he was LETT on the
hands of the good Samaritan, who, living
some distance from London, had no chance
of gaining any Information about him.
At this point George Denton took up the
narrative. His frs; step had been to OBJ
tain sight of the body; he had found a Pc
culiar mark on the right side of the neck,
which led to the suspicion that, instead OF
being the body of David Birch, it was that
of n notorious burglar with whom he had
been several times brought in contact in
the course of his profession. This was
further proved when he found on inquiry
that Llght-fngered Joe, as he was called,
| was missing from his accustomed haunts,
and one of his associates remembered haV-
ing seen him in the neiShborhood OF Put
nam on the night named. Upon making
inquiry George learned that market gar
dener had been asking whether any one
belonging to the neighborhood was miss
ing. rs man unknown was lying i'll at
his cottage.
Thus, step by step, the detective had un-
raveled the mysterious affair. 1t was
thought the drowned man had ended his
nights work by getting drunk, and, losing
his way in the dark, had fallen into the
river. This was the history of the mistake
through which the young carpenter had
suffered. But the old bird-fancier seemed
to make up matters by full reconciliation
with his nephew, satisfying his grand
daughter by his unexpected liberality TO-
ward the brother and sister, not forgetting
a reward to George Denton for his faithful
service. Folly made no secret of her feel
ings toward John, and it was easy to see
how it would end with the young people.
And this Christmas is as happy one to
them as, trust, it will be to US all.
A Bedford, Pa, newspaper tells OF a
girl who stands on a half-bushel measure
ond gracefully shoulders three bushels O