Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-07
(Coucluded from FIRST page,

toward the late residence Of the deceased.
/ was admitted by his servant Thomas,
and was soon conversing with Miss Clara,
to whom l confided my relations with
Burton. l asked her what time she sent
Thomas to the bank the night her father
was murdered.
II did not send him at all, she replied,
evidently surprised at the question.
WELL" said /, 1--WE are going to acquit
Howard Burton, and to take his place we
want to find out who did commit the crime.
Now, Miss Clara, are you sure you did not
send Thomas to the bank the night of the
murder?''
a know very well did not" was her
answer.
Then" replied, "either the keeper of
the cigar store is mistaken, or your SER
want Thomas is the murderer of your
father
She did not look as much surprised rs |
expected at this assertion.
MIR. c." said she, "the night poor
papa was murdered, Thomas came
through the hall and started to 90 up
stairs. l WANTED him to mend the fire and
called him into the sitting-room. AS he
entered | noticed a large dark spot on his
collar half suspected him when heard
how anxious he was to tell the court about
that unfortunate little difficulty between
papa and Howard Burton, but l did not
say anything about it to any one, they
were all so sure Howard was guilty"
l told her to treat Thomas rs usual, and
not to speak of our conversation to any
one. After receiving a letter she wished
to send to Burton, took my departure
= ta1v, arrv al
there l went to my client, and commune
cred the letter. The poor fellow was SUI
premely happy, aud invited me to tea with
him in his cell. He ate heartily and
smoked cigar with enjoyment. took
the first real nights rest that night | had
since the death of Mr.. Richards. l had
previously sworn out a warrant for the ar
rest of Thomas, to be served as soon as
the jury should pronounce my client not
guilty. The District Attorney opened for
the people in an elaborate and very able
speech, giving the details of the case, and
then proceeded to examine the witnesses.
Thomas the servant was the first called.
He swore to the quarrel between Mr..
Richards and Burton, and that he heard
Burton threaten Mr.. Richards life. Not
withstanding l closely cross-examned
him, failed to make him contradict him
self. and when he retired nearly every one
in the courtroom was doubtless certain
that Howard Burton was guilty. The next
witness was the hotel clerk. who testified
that Burton came into the hotel while he
was attending to the guests from the train
that arrived in c. at about half past
six. Then followed the examination of
the bank cashier, who swore that the
package of $4,000 found on Burton at the
time of his arrest was deposited in his
bank on the afternoon of the murder.
After calling several other witnesses
whose testimony was of minor import, the
prosecution rested. then followed. and
after brief opening address, called the
German painter, who swore to seeing Mr..
Richards send Burton on the errand, also
TO seeing Mr.. Richards in the cigar store
after six o'clock on the evening of the
murder. When | had finished with him,
he was subjected to severe cross-exami-
nation, in which he acquitted himself very
creditably Then called the conductor
who swore to seeing Burton on the train
the night of the murder; he also swore
that the train left on time, 6 O'Clock. The
cigar store man was next examined, who
swore to talking with Mr. Richards at 6.15
p NJ, also to seeing him leave the bank
with Thomas. My witnesses all were cross
examined thoroughly. but did not contra
dict themselves in any particular. then
closed my case, and after few remarks
from the prosecution, the Judge charged
the jury, who retired, and in fifteen min
utes returned with verdict of NOT GULL
TY. My client and | were overpowercd
with organizations, and never since in
my professional life have felt as proud
and triumphant as l did then.
AS soon as quiet was restored. the sheriff
approached Thomas, the servant, and
said, in a loud voice, "Thomas Healy,
arrest you for the murder of Mr.. Rich
ards" The excitement in the court caused
by this unlooked-for and sudden proceed
ing was most intense. The prisoner was
Immediately taken to Jail, followed by
crowd that were loud in their expressions
of denunciation--the same crowd that a
little while before had marked Burton as
the murderer.
Well to finish this story, have little to
add. was retained by the bank officers
to prosecute Thomas Healy, and he was
convicted of the crime. He protested his
innocence almost to the last, but the night
before he was executed he made full
confession, stating that he had determined
TO rob the bank some evening when Mr..
Richards was there alone. 1t was Mr..
Richards custom, he explained, to go to
the bank in the evening, and when he and
young Burton quarrelled, he, Thomas,
saw his opportunity. His determination
was strengthened by hearing Mr.. Richards
remark on the day of the murder as he sat
at dinner, that there was an unusually
large amount OF cash on hand. The note
in the case was one that Miss Clara had
given him to take to her father some days
before, but Mr.. Richards coming home
before Thomas found him, it had not been
delivered as intended. By the aid of this
note he had got Mr.. Richards in the bank,
and while he was reading it he struck him
with stove poker, and then cut his throat
He got no money as the vaults had been
locked.
The night Thomas made his confession
he committed suicide, thus cheating the
gallows tree OF its just due.
Howard Burton was made cashier of the
bank and married Clara Richards within a
year, and they are both still living.