Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-11-13

eTS from thc Oiu Wf1tiug ueSk, ana tna
the same tracks led from the ives
room across the wide passage, into tn
east room. aud then returned. tn
footprints being unmistakably imbed
ed in the snow which had drifted clea
across the passage. His first and onl.
impulse was to push forward upon th'
tracks Of the guilty parties. He over
took them just as they arrived at home
and they proved to be the son anc
daughter of his neighbor, James Deer
ing, who lived about two miles distant
and with whom he was not on the mos
friendly terms; he Immediately, and
in rude and threatening manner
charged Jennie and Robert Deering
with the crime; they, pale with alright
gave forth what the world calls posi-
tive evidence of guilt. How could il
be otherwise? Suddenly charge bur-
glary and theft upon any one, though
as pure as the tints of the morning s
dewdrops, tremor and CHASTITY pallor
would pervade the features. 1t was
so with Jennie and Robert Deering f;
Oliver threatened them that IL they
did not restore to him his money. and
make full confession, they would be
waited upon the next morning with u
State warrant; they had no reparation
to make, or at least they offered none,
save protestations of innocence, coupled
with the prayers and entreaties of their
father, aud the pitifui supplications of
their mother. The next morning they
ware arrested, and taken before the
nearest magistrate for preliminary ex-
animation, when and where the above
facts were detailed by Oliver, and one
Murphy, in behalf of the State, MUIR
ply having been requested by Oliver
to go with him to the scene of outrage,
and bear testimony with him in behalf
Of the prosecution. At the conclusion
Of the testimony, the Justice informed
Jennie and Robert Deerlng, that they
had the privilege of making any state
ment they chose, in extenuation Of the
crime with which they were charged.
Jennie being the elder Of the two, SUBJ
mitted in substance the following state
ment: That she was Is years old, and
Robert was 16, that they were returning,
from the nearest village on Friday,
December I'D, where they had been
attending school during the week, at
about the hour of l o'clock; it being
intensely cold, they had left the main
road, and had determined to travel a
by-path which led through the woods,
and Immediately by the aforesaid farm
of Mr.. Oliver; when getting opposite
the house, she suggested to Robert the
propriety Of going up to the house, aud
warming themselves, as they were very
cold they opened the front gate, and
walked boldly and innocently forward
to the door of the west room; the door
to which was closed, but not locked,
and after making repeated knocks SO
as to arouse the inmates, if any there
were. and being unsuccessful, she
turned the hand-kuob and the door
swung open with harsh grating sound.
She and Robert both noticed that some
violence had been done the door, but
after scanning the room, they paid no
further attention to this seemingly
trivial circumstance. After they had
gotten into the room. they noticed
that it had been tenanted very
recently, for the smouldering ashes
were yet warm and glowing upon
the old fashioned hearthstone, and
Jennie requested Robert to go out
and get some kindliDg with which
TO start blaze, when he return
ed, and reported that he could find
neither wood nor axe; upon glancing
into one corner of the room, she saw .
dry stick of wood, though too large to
ignite from the fast failing embers,
Robert proceeded to look about the
rooms for axe, hatehet, or something
with which to split 1t up; he proceed
ed at once across the passage into the
East room, and noticed that the doors
leading into this room bore marks of
violence when he entered this room
a casual glance showed him at once
that it contained no furniture what
ever, save the remains of what appear
ed to be an old writing desk, which
was nothing but a heavy unwieldy
box. set upon legs, with a lid, being
made of coarse oak timber, unpainted,
and unyarnished. with the lid shatter-
ed into a thousand fragments, with
bits of paper strewn over the floor,
and an old axe laying near by. He
called to Jennie who Immediately came
into the room, but it did not occur to
their unsophisticated minds that a
robbery had been committed; they re-
mained in this room but moment, re-
turning to the West room, taking with
them the axe and some splinters of the
aforesaid desk; they soon had cheer
ful blaze, and after warming them
selves, they resumed their journey
homewards, where they were overtaken
by Mr.. Oliver as detailed above
Further the deponent Jennie Deering
said not There was nothing else of
importance elected at this examining
court; the acting justice holding them
under bond for their appearance at the
next term of the Criminal Court.
They were promptly indicted at said
court, and placed jointly on trial in
April following. At the trial nothing
further was developed save little
more defnite tesmony detailed by Mr..
! Oliver, in behalf of the prosecution.
He stated that he could not have been
q. absent but very shcrt time, and that
no other persons seemingly had ac-
cess to the house, save Jennie and
Robert Deering, he further stated that
! he knew that be had left the axe at the