The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-11-04
A vICiPoF CIRCUMsTANTIAL
EVIDENCE.
BY JAMES PARTON.
New York Ledger.l

BY JAMES PARTON.
New York Ledger.l
hestte to relate the story of this
man'sls and death, fearing lest should
seem Toe encroaching upon the depart
ment biction. 1t is, however, nothing
but sinle facts, and stands recorded in
the afcves of Danish court; whence
it has Zen drawn by English and Ger
man h-writers as the most remarkable
case Vich has ever occurred of circum-
stantk evidence convicting an innocent
man, rbe evidence not only convinced
the cbrt and jury, but it actually made
the Itsoner believe himselfto be guilty
of 9me ofwhich he was innocent.
Som Qvist was Danish clergyman,
whohd b parish upon the peninsula of
Jutlsid.l Both as man and minister he
wasthed in esteem by his neighbOrs,
amoag whom he had lived most of his
Wife. fTI6 one great fault was hasty and
vioent temper, of which occasionally he
lsnfrely lost control, when he would
bspk forth in torrent of furious words
"a his own sore humiliation, and the
,eat grief of his family. These fits of
meer were of brief duration, and they
uually expended themselves in mere
Violence of language. They were, nev-
etheless, a subject of lifelong regret to
him, lowered his selfesteem, and troubled
hiconscience.
Among his parishioners there was
farner named Burns, a man of consider
abe property, acquired by disreputable
mans, who was held in aversion rs
hrd man, unscrupulous, and an oppres-
scr of the poor. In those old countries
Sdreis wide difference of social rank
btween a clergyman of the national
cblrch and the farmer; the clergyman
beng what is technically called q gentle
ms, while the farmer, though ever so
rio, il a peasant. Notwithstanding this.
Bunsdpresuming upon his wealth, asked
fofhe hand of the pastors daughter in
marriage. The offer was refused, and
proabIy not in the most courteous and
conSleiate manner. The farmer, stung
to th quick, swore to be revenged both
upohfather and daughter.
'So,e months passed and the affair
was llmost forgotten. The clergyman
neede farm servant; for in that coun-
try athe clergymen cultivate portions
of laf and he hired poor brother of
the darded suitor. He proved to be a
lazy, isolent fellow, who irritated the
pastoto such degree, that he not only
often tlded him in unmeasured terms,
but ocsionally resorted to blows; and,
at lenS, the scene occurred which led to
the pasr's destruction.
Enr$ld one day at his servants
LnealectG duty, and the impudent tone
of his rely, the old man wholly lost his
selfcontDl, and, seizing spade, struck
the man'ith it several times, and ap-
peared tpknock him down.
For a Nv moments, he lay like one
dead bb when his master in terror
began to u. him up he sprang to his
feet, leape through the hedge of the
garden, ant disappeared in an adjacent
wood. He MS not seen in the neighbor-
hood again, ad all attempts to discover
his whereabouts were fruitless.
Burns in W. meantime, seemed to be
full of indightion at his brothers dis
appearance, all did not hesitate to point
to the pastor a one who could explain,
If he would, wat had become of him.
He was often hard to say:
81 will makethe parson produce my
brother, even ifie has to dig him out Of
the EARTH"
He went at leg 9Th before magistrate
and, taking wit him three persons as
witnesses, declartl his suspicion that the
clergyman had murdered his brother
The witnesses teti6ed that they had
overheard quarr between the pastor
and his servant, irithe course of which
the pastor cried ou:
81 will beat theedog, until thou liest
dead at my feet"
Then they heard he sound of blows
and had twice seen aspade swing above
the hedge, though thy could not see II
whose HANDS it was Another witness
deposed that, while rsing the garder
of the pastors, late in he evening OF thu
next day, he had he,Ih the sound o
some one digging, and IN looking Owe
the hedge, had seen thdpastor, in hi
usual green dressing-gowA and a whit
nightcap. The magistrate could m
longer disregard the accusation, and CAV
orders that the garden be earched in tn
presence of accuser and accused. Whel
they had dug to little depth came cart
which had evidently not b6n disturbed
and the pastor turned to hishccuser, say
ing: !.
Slanderer, what have fou got 70
your pains?"
But, upon digging undet heap G
rubbis1t to the horror and c0psternatio
of the clergyman and his friends, tn
missing mans hat was found; soon afte
human arm appeared and, before Ion
whole body, the face dis6gured beyon
recognition by blows, evidently give
with fiat instrument. The clothe
even 10 the shirt with the mans name o
it, and leaden ring in one OF the ear
were Immediately identified. The paste
could only protest his innocence.
Appearances" said he, care again
me. Surely this must be the work
Satan and his ministers. Take me
prison; in solitude and in chains wi
await what God in his wisdom shall d
cree"
Upon the trial, in addition TO the te
timony given above, two, new witness
declared that, on the evening in questio
they saw a man in green coat m
white nightcap come out Of the woo
with large sack upon his back, cross q
road, and disappear from view at u
hedge Of the pastors garden. Upt
/ hearing this testimony, the minist
tainted. After recovering his senses,
spoke like this:
=" From my childhood / have ev
been impatient Of contradiction, al