The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-02-17
CHAPTER XIV.
AWFUL DREAD,

CHAPTER XIV.
AWFUL DREAD.
Never had the insignificant village of
Oxford been so full of STIR excitement, and
dread. Two murders in one night it was
enough to put fear into the sto Itest heart.
At first it was universally assumed that
the same parties had been guilty OF both,
but this impression wore away. Young
Mr.. Louth had evidently been molested
for the purpose of robbery. Not so Mr..
Janson. His watch and chain, his pock-
etbook and purse, each containing money,
were all found upon his person, undisturb-
ed-carrying out Mr.. Yorke's assertion
that there had been no robbery. Ho,o did
he knOa0 II? began to ask Olivia Hardisty.
Mr.. Janson had habit of going in at
the back door of bis house, through the
garden; it was the quicker mode of en-
trance, since at the front he had to ring: it
was surmised that his assailant must have
known of this; have got into the garden,
and waited for him. He was probably
struck down and stunned, at the moment
Of entering, ana was again beaten abont
the head one or two blows. The MEDICAL
men were asked with what sort of instru-
ment "Was it likely to be gum" spoke
up somebody, while they were deliberat-
ing-the question probably being dictated
by the remembrance of the shot which had
destroyed the farmer. They replied that
they did think it likely to be gun, as
likely, or more likely, than any other
blunt weapon; but, if so, they added, the
gun had probably been broken by the vio-
lence of the blows. The blow which had
| killed him was an unfortunate one, given
underneath the left ear.
The woman-servant' testimony was as
follows:-About six o'clock, (she thought
it must have been,) while she was in her
kitchen, waiting for her master to come
| in to tea, she heard noise in the garGen,
to which the kitchen looked. This was
followed by a groan, by more than one
groan she thought, and she got atop of
the ironing board underneath the window,
and looked out above the half shutter,
but she could see nothing but mist When
asked to describe what sort Of noise it was
that she had heard, she replied it was a
Sudden" noise, "scuffling" noise. And
that was the best explanation that could
be obtained from her. There were often
drunken folks about on a market night,
she said, and she had supposed it might
be some going by in the lane, quarreling
with one another: she "didn't think no
worse" Every thing was quiet after that,
so far as she heard, except for people COM
ing to the front door inquiring for her mas
ter. Five or six times they came; they
wanted him to go and see the gentleman
who was murdered young Mr. Louth. -
At ten o'clock, she went out to lock the
back gate, taking lantern with her, for
the lock was small and awkward; and
then she came upon her master, lying in
the path, dead. And when people focked
up, after she had given the alarm, and
came to look at-him, they said be. must
have been dead for some hours. Such
was her testimony, given in plain
Straightforward way; she was a simple
countrywoman of middle age, Mr.. Jan.
sons only maid-servant By a somewhat
curious coincidence, the surgery boy had
had holiday given him that afternoon, and
was away.
Squire Hipgrave propagated the unsat-
isfactory dispute between Mr.. Yorke and
Crane the gardener. The. extraordinary
fact that the murder should have beer
known to either of them at that early
hour of the evening struck everybody; up
on Mr.. Maskell, keen man OF the law
it made strong impression. Who could
have known it, hours before he was found
save those concerned in the deed? argued
Mr.. Maskell. Very true, said the village
but Crane and his wife are above suspicion
and so-of course-is Mr.. Yorke. Thi
must be sifted, concluded Mr.. Maskell
and / shall take care that all three ar
summoned before the coroner.
Ere the day, Friday, was over, the muir
derers of the farmer were in custody
two men, OF whose guilt there was not ,
shadow of doubt. The spoil taken from
Mr.. Louth was found upon them, and Their
were other proofs, which need not be en-
tered into, since that is not the murde
with which we are most concerned. Thes
two men had been seen lurking about tn
village in the afternoon with another sus
picious character-a man named King
1t was assumed that this third had ais
been in the mischief, but at present h
could not be found. The murder of Mr.
Louth and that of Mr.. Janson must hav
taken place about the same time, render
: ing it next to an impossibility that tn
) same parties were guilty of both. The in
. quest was fixed for Monday. the corone
being unable to hold it sooner, and poo
Mr.. Janson lay in his own house, the out
side of which presented a scene of hustle
. night and day, iuasmuch as it was regu
: larry besieged by crowds of the curious
/ who stood there for hours on the stretch
gazing at its closely-curtained windows
Towards evening, on the Saturday, thei
e perseverance was gratlfyingly rewarde
I by the arrival of Mr.. Janson's mother
Q who had been summoned from a dstanc,
She took up her abode at the sorrowfr
house, although several neighborly Offer
to receive her were made, and the delight
ed crowd of stationary gazers was forth
| with doubled.
a Now the reader cannot fail to perceiv
> that suspicion lay fearfully strong upo
Mr.. Yorke. His jealousy Of his wife an