The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-17

NhET4o4 W mug bOA-
An obliging Post
Master.
ALEDo, August 10, 1875.
My account Of the abortion, case in o
general way included in its aspects the po-
sition of the trial up until Thursday night,
at the time of writing my last. The prose-
cution have not yet finished with their eyi-
dence, so that there is strong probability
of the trial continuing through the entire
week. So far, the prosecution have utterly
failed to establish anything that would
prove the counts jn the bill of indictment,
The two leading witnesses, Mrs, Goddard,
mother Of the victim, and DR.. Hall, of
Viola, who first reported the dying confess
sion of the girl, have, by their contradic-
tiOns, in determinations, almost entire
ly, if not absolutely destroyed their direct
evidence, and developed new phase of
the case not in the least complimentary to
the leading parties in the prosecution. As
regards Reuben Spicer Jr., not particle
of evidence has been produced to show
that he had any completely in the affair,
and | think ere this appears in type he
will have been discharged. A persistent
effort will be made to fasten guilt upon DIR.
Cloves, if for no other purpose than to re-
lieve certain parties from the stigma which
must attach to them should he be acquit-
ted. My observations, so far, lead me to
regard the case more as n huge scandal,
than an offense which the law defines as
murder aud for which the least punish
ment would be continued deprivation of
liberty
We have here q case in which the vic
tim died over q year and half ago, and
the parties implicated in the alleged crime
have ever since been out on bail. The
physicians examined as experts, instead Of
throwing light upon the case, have only
muddled it the more, leaving the jury to
grope their way in darkness; the techni-
calities of the law in case like this still
further confound the jury. They will be
Influenced by reasonable doubts when
asked for verdict, the punishment Of
which is one of very serious nature, To
show the reader the conflicting kind of ev-
idence, | give herewith that Of Saturday,
up until noon, when the court adjourned,
Both of these witnesses are brolhers-in'
law of the deceased girl:
dard's the day after the child was born;
got there some time in the evening; Hen
~ Sawyer and wife were there; my wife
went with me; think Mrs. Streetor was
not there when Invent; came shortly at
ter; think met George Streetor as he
was going home. and he turned and went
back with me; was directed to go after
DR.. Cloves: | found him at ROsenbaum' S
NJ, Window. kolA h in,
that he was wanted; told him the condition
of Tabitha; that Tabitha was sick and
wanted him to come; Cloves said it was
horse; he said he would not 60. as DIR.
him finish it; Cloves said l hear
from there John; Streetor has been
here and told me what has happened
that Streetor had been in that day; Glove:
did not go; had a conversation with Glove!
once after, and Cloves said, John, vol
were talking about hard feelings in thu
case; Cloves said intend to have you
evidence impeached; first conversation
weeks before Tabitha died. no one wa
present; Cloves told me at that time abou
the condition Of Tabitha; thought she wa
pregnant, but hoped he was mistaken
Cloves told him that he tried to get ava
from Tabitha and go to me and tell N
what she was there for; saw Cloves abou
two weeks before Tabitha death, betwee
Cooper's and Mrs. Childs's; Cloves told NJ
he thought she had taken cold; that h
had given her medicine and she atterwar
came back; Clewes did not tell me whethe
he gave her more medicine or not; Glove
said that the girl told him: Il am afrai
doctor there is something else the matte
with me-; the doctor then told me that
told the girl, in order to put her off, tia
his instrument was broken, and part of
was gone, and that he would have to sen
off and get part; the doctor told me tn;
he had used a speculum, and that
advised Tab.tha to bring it out on whoeyt
was the father Of the child, and let natul
have its course; did not say what he wan
ed to use instrument for, that he had SCI
for; was at Goddard's on Saturday aftt
the child was born; was not there a
day Sunday; was there the day she dice
don't recollect hearing Tabitha sta
whether she was going to die or not
only heard part Of her dying Statement
she said Cloves had used an instrument c
her; did not hear her say where; had al
OtHCE COnNeTSallOU Will AIOWeS Uu TUd
between Windsor and Goddard's; Glove
was talking about her condition and sal
there was something he would not do
said you could do it if you wanted t
couldn't you doc; he replied could do
if I.wanted to, but would not; if | di
anything of the kind and the girl shoul
happen to die, they would put me whel
the dogs would not bite me.
Cross examination:-She went with II
to New Windsor about the lst of January
Cloves stated to me distinctly that +
would not procure an abortion.
George Streetor, sworn:-Was at Got
dards next day after child was borr
think was there on the following Satu
day most all day; was there on Sunday
don't remember who was there any
these days; don't think l, or any or
in my presence was requested to go for
physician; went for doctor for the Of
gentleman; | went for doctor sever
times for some of the family; went
the night for physician; John Postl,
waite went with me once; don't know WI
the doctor was wanted for; was there mo.
all the time during their sickness; hear
Tabitha make statement the fore part
the week-1 think it was on Tuesda
morning; Mrs, Green, John Pos.lewait
DIR. Hall and Isaiah Fugate were present
think Fugate was there on Sunday;
was there when she made the statemeu
m nr Hall. Tohifho cfotod that n