Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24

ClEaI store IL MISTAKEN. or your servant
Thomas is the murderer of your father"
"She did not look as much surprised as
expected at this assertion.
Mr.. G. > said she. "the night poor papa
was murdered, Thomas came through the
hall and started to go up stairs. I wanted
him TO mend the fire, ana called him into the
sitting room. AS he entered 1 noticed a
large dark spot on his cheek, and on his coll
anxious he was To tell the court about that
unfortunate little difficulty between papa
and Howard Burton, but did not say any-
Thing about IL 10 any one, they were all SO
sure Howard was guilty"
told her to treat Thomas as usual, and
I. lot to speak of our conversation to any one.
AFTER receiving letter she wished TO send TO
burton, took my departure to c.. I'm
med1ately on my arrival there / went 20 my
client, and communicated to him all / had
Iearr ed, and delivered the letter. The poor
fellow was supremely happy, and invited me
to tea with him in his cell. He ate heartily,
ard smoked cigar, with evident enjoy ment.
took the first real nights rest that night
had since the death of Mr.. Richards. had
previously sworn out n warrant for the ar
res ofThOmas, TO be served soon as the
jury should pronounce my client not guilty.
The D1stllct Attorney opened for the people
In an elaborate and very able speech, giving
the details of the case, and then proceeded to
examine the witnesses.
Thomas, the servant was first called. He
swOre 10 the quarrel between Mr.. Bicharts
and Burton, and that he heard Burton
threaten Mr.. Richards life. NOtwithstand
Ing Iclosely cross examined him ~ failed
to make him contradict himself and when
he retired nearly every one in the court room
was doubtless certain that Howard Burton
vas guilty. The next witness was the hotel
clerk, who testified that Burton came into
the hotel while he was attending to the guests
from the train that arrived in c. at about
hali past six O'Clock. Then followed the ex-
3miuation of the bank cashier, who swore
mat The package of nine thousand dollars
lound on Burton at the time of his arrest was
deposited in his bank on the afternoon of the
a rnftR rfvff
nesses, whose testimony was of minor i'm
port, the prosecution rested. then followed
ana after q brief opening address, called the
German painter, who swore to seeing Mr.
Richards send Burton on the errand; also to
seeing Mr.. Richards in the cigar store after
SIX O'Clock on the evening of the murder
When had finished with him he was sub
United TO severe cross examination, in
which he acquitted himself very creditably.
Then called the conductor, who swOre to
seeing Burton on the train on the night of the
mu1der; he also SwOre that the train left on
tlme-six O'Clock. The cigar store man was
next Examined, who swOre TO talking with
Mr.. Richards at quarter past SIX also to see
ing him leave for the bank with Thomas.
My witnesses were all cross-examined thor
oughly, but did not contradict themselves in
any particular. / then closed my case, and
after a Few remarks from the prosecution,
the Judge charged the jury, who retired, and
IN fifteen minutes returned with q verdict of
not guilty. My client and 1 were overpow-
cred with congratulations and never since
in my professional life have l felt as proud
and triumphant as did then.
AS soon as quiet was restored, the sheriff
approached Thomas, the servant, and said in
loud voice, Thomas Healey, i arrest you
for the murder of Mr.. Richards" The excite
ment in the court caused by this unlocked
Tor and sudden proceeding " as most intense.
The prisoner was Immediately taken to JAIL
followed by a crowd that were loud in their
expires slons OfdenunciatiOn-the same crowd
that a little before had marked Burton as
the murderer.
Well, to finish the story have little to
add. i was retained by the bank officers to
prosecute Thomas Healy, and he was con-
victed of the crime. He protested his inno-
cence almost to the last, but the night before
stating that he had determined to rob the
bank some evening when Mr.. Richards was
there alone. 1t was Mr.. Richards's custom,
he explained, TO go 10 the bank in the even
Ing, and when he and young Burton quar-
relied, he, Thomas, saw his opportunity. His
determination was strengthened by hearing
Mr.. Richards remark on the day of the muir
der, as he sat at dinner, that there was an
unusually large amount of cash ON hand
The note in the case was one that Miss
CARA had given him to take to her father
some days before, but Mr.. Richards coming
nome before Thomas found him, it had not
been delivered as intended. By the aid of
this note be had got Mr.. Richards in the bank
and while he was reading it he struck him
with stove poker and then cut his throat
He got no money as the reward OF his crimes
as the vaults had been locked.
The night Thomas made his confession he
committed suicide, thus cheating the gallows
tree Ofits Just due.
Howard Burton was made cashier OF the
bank and married Clara Richards within
year, and they are both still living.