The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-11-25
THE BLACK TARN.

rHN Nr'..H N" E" A"II.'ft aff 700. .l'ffTI ... +a
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Five or six miles to the north of the
small town of Brompton, in Cumberland
England, there is a mountain lake known
as Black Tarn. In the neighbOrhood are
sheep farms, and a few Insignificant
hamlets lie here and there around. In
one of these, known as Hayton, murder
was recently committed, accompanied
by cruel outrage. At the east end of
the village there resided one John Coul-
ter, who kept beer shop, and cultivated
a small farm. He was rough, qncouth
man, addicted to drink, and when
he was incapable of attending to
his customers who came of night for
beer, his daughter. a comely girl of
seventeen, waited upon them. He had
son, also, but he was in Carlisle, learn
ing trade, and seldom visited his native
village. Ta -H f"'ttAtH
Coulter was reported to be worth a
few hundred pounds, and consequently
passed in the neighborhood for man of
means A young man named Armstrong
had been cOurting his daughter, but he
had been driven off by Coulter for as
saulting farmer who was the latter's
friend. Armstrong had quilted the
neighborhOod, having, as was supposed,
enlisted. At the time now referred to,
Kate, Coulter's daughter, was receiving
attentions from one George Routledge,
the son of grocer in Brompton.
On the morning of the 10th of last
February Coulter arose late, having been
drunk, as usual, the night before. Hear
~ do haI ot nj. to
his daughters being abont, he went to
the top of the stairs and called her by
name. No answer came and he hastily
donned his clothes and descended. The
stairs led down into the back kitchen,
and when he reached the bottom he saw
the door leading into the yard open
Thinking that his daughter might be in
the byre, he again called her name, but
to no purpose. Then .he passed into the
bar, which was a small room with a
window opening into the main room.
The glasses stood around unwashed, there
was no fire in the CRATE, and the disorder
showed plainly that Kate had not been
at work that morning. a
Coulter searched around, but could
see nothing Of his daughter. The bed
in her chamber had not been slept in,
and her cloak and bonnet were missing.
He summoned one of the neighbors and
when the news got around that Kate
Coulter had suddenly Disappeared from
home, a crowd Of sympathisers gathered
around her father and offered assistance
and counsel.
David Redd, blacksmith, testified
that he was the last to quit the inn the
night before, and that Kate bade him
good night and drew the bolt in the door.
It was then ten o'clok. Peter Steele,
the village constable, confirmed Redd's
statemant, as they were in company,
Steele leaving the house only few min
utes before Redd, who remained to get a
light for his pipe. Beyond this there
was absolutely no testimony.
Coulter, accompanied by his friends,
searched the neighborhood for the miss
sing girl, but with no success. George
Routledge, her lover, who had been
notified, reached the village in the after.
noon, and Joined in the search. Mounted
police from Brompton, and then officers
from Carlisle, were speedily on the spot
and the whole countryside was secured.
No traces, however, of the lost one, were
met with. H.ra 3rs > -
Days and weeks went by, and the mys
terry remained unsolyed. One day, abou
| a week after the girls disappearance
Armstrong; old mother put her head il
at Coulter's door, and said, in bite
tone: 2 4 -qg-.fst - II CFFa@
J"A An Mr.. Coulter, so you'velost you
pretty miss. Now we're even. Yo.
drove away my boy, and now the devi
has drove away your daughter"
Then she gave malignant laugh anC
departed. 80, So
country lads amusing themselves arount
Black Tarn, saw something white anon,
the rushes. On closely examining tn,
object they discovered it to be a human
arm. With the branch of a tree the.
pushed aside the rushes and water plants
and the body of O female was disclosed
They were at first disposed to run away
but finally resolved to haul out the body
This they did With come diffic ultys ant
laid IL on the grass. 1t was in an excel
lent state Of preservation, owing to tn
ice, which bad just broken up, and tn
features were perfect. Both the lad
identified the cofpse as that Of the miss
sing girl, Kate Coulter. Covering 1
with rushes and leaves, they started 70
1 the village and informed the grief
stricken father of their discovery. Tn
body was carefully removed to Coul
ter's house, and coroner's inquest wa
held. A surgical examination Shove,
Y that the girl had been outraged, an,
marks of strangulation were distinct
visible on her throat. The body, whel
found, was entirely naked. and scare
was made for the unfortunate girl
clothing. They were found under pill
of stones about two hundred yards fror
, where the corpse was discovered, The
were torn and mudstained, and traces {
blood were observable on them. What tn
object ofthe murderer wasin removing th
clothing, was beyond comprehension; br
. that he had an object was evident.
verdict Of willfuI murder against SON
person or persons unknown was returne
/ by the coroner's jury, and the corpse WI
. inferred with becoming solemnity.
A large reward was offered for an
information which might lead to Il
Q appreh ension of the guilty person, an
( the Lord Lieutenant of the count
especially interested himself In the ms