The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-06-19

Mo- cannot consent 10 find the priso-
ner guilty. The evidence is purely cir
cumsrlntid. and despite the apparent
strength OF the chain. | shall insist on a
verdict of . not guilty"
Years ago. while trying tn work my way
through college. | learned a lessor. that
viii keep me from ever being instrumental
in conyictng man on clrcumStantial evil
dence.
On the 18th of February. ISL, burg
larry was committed i'm the town of Wap-
pinger's Falls. near Newburg. New York
The sayings-bank of Sweet a Barlow was
entered. the two safes were blown open
and their contents rifled. Professionals
had done the job, for pane OF glass had
been cat out. and the door lock pried off.
holes had been drilled through the sides OF
the safes, powder introduced and tine mas
siye iron plates had been blown asunder.
Henry G. Brown. the book keeper, usu-
ally slept in the building. but on this night
he was away at a party. Returning al
four O'Clock. he started 10 ascend the COW
cred stairway at the side of the bank. IL
was a cloudy. rainy night. and in the dark
ness he saw some indistinct object on tine
stairs. Tboughtlessly he poked il with
the end OF his umbrella. This object was
the burglar appointed 10 guard the stair
wayl Catching the umbrella i'm one hand.
he placed revolver against Browns
breast. and fired. The book-keeper
shrieked and ran, and the would-be muir
derer fired twice more. The shots and
cries Of the frightened man soon aroused
the town, but the burglars had disappear
ed. Strictest search failed to discover the
slightest trace of the villains. Browns
a a.
bullet was found deeply imbedded in the
gold watch he carried In his upper left
hand vest-pocket.
Such bold. audacious burglary. and
such heartless. cold-blocded attempt
At murder. were wel-calculated To
arouse the widest excitement. Sus
pici0n settled finally, and unmistaka-
bly,, upon an individual who had been
prowling around town fora week or more.
OstenSibly he was a book agent. He
claimed 20 be a student endeavorinc 10
raise means to defray expenses Of his tut
ton. tron arriving in town he had made
several inquiries about the location of the /
bank, and the names of it, officers. pre-
tending To want their influence on his sub |
-cripion list. II was rumored that con
elusive evidence would at the proper time |
M produced to prove him one of the burg I
lars.
The officers found upon inquiry that he /
had paid his bill the night before. saving l
hat he intended 10 leave early the next |
The landlady knew nothing OF \
he man except that he hadgone. She did l
not even hear him 90. for when he applied 1
Ior board he was particular about obtain
ng room on the ground floor. isolated
rom other dodgers
The stage left wappinger's Falls for
New Hamburg at five O'Clock. to meet the
morning train down the Hudson. This
tage overlook the suspected individual
bout halfway 20 New Hamburg. walking
long in the rain aud slush. and at his re-
quest. carried him the rest of the distance.
descriptions We're telegraphed
II over the State. of "A Young man with
harp, piercing black ewes. dark hair and
about five feet ten inches in
leight. wearing a heavy scarf. aud loose
older cloak" II was just after the terri
lie railroad ac.i 'ent at New Hamburg.
When the passenger train OF the Hudson
ayr Railroad had crushed through the
ridge and buried so many people in the
~ water beneath. !. Scandling. the we'll
.nown State officer. had been present dur
az all the excitement. experimenting the
aising of the liieless bodies. Standing i'm
he telegraph Office, he Glanced 10 catch !,
he description. from the clicking. as the .
Message flashed over the wires TO Pough- !.
ecpsie.
was the book agent. and upon my ar
wal al the depot Mr.. Scandling promptly .
rrc>ted me. At half past four had
wakened. dressed. and left the house ,
fithout seeing any one In order To col ,
ct two dollars from a man M the coal /.
nu>e 90 whom had sold book, walk !.
4 on before the stage. and received the I,
ioney. Learning, for the first time. OF !
Nc burglary, | soon understood that !,
as in dangerous position. - stranger !,
! strange land" with little money. and !,
~ influence. was to be- carried back into :
~ midst Of an angry mob. II would Mt !
,rly be impossible for me 20 adduce any :
sidcnce As to my whereabouts at the time :.
the burglary. n | had been alone in my !,
pom.
Ia all the vast surging crowd that await !,
7 my arrival. there was not one face that !
euayed pity or sympathy. They glared at
,e a. though | were "A Bengal tiger. and
'r while u seemed as IL should DE p
Irung 70 lamp-po,t without the for II
lAity OF trial. A preliminary examina- c,
on. however. was speedily held. A crow Il
az .hat lot several days had been lying in n
~ 'front.' yard OF the house where lodged :,
a. hrst brought into court. II had been II
- Dy the burglars in prying OF the r:
'ck OF the door. Ny landlady testified 81