The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-10-16
The Murder at the EIms.

About ten or twelve years since l
was practicing law at the village OF
Freeman, then containing ten or twelve
hundred inhabitants.
The great man of Freeman was
Ralph Newcomb, who resided on his
estate, 4" The Elms." about mile from
the village, and who owned, In addi-
iion to the paper factory, large am.
cunt of real estate, In and around the
village. A generous, good-hearted
man was Ralph Newcomb,as was prov
en- by his adopting his nephew, James
Fairweather, when the boys father
died, leaving him an orphan of ten
years of age, destitute and almost pen.
niless. This was twenty years before
the time of which this sketch treats.
And Ralph Newcomb was young
man then, and he had just commenced
rearing the immese fortune which. at
fifty years of age, he was possessed OF.
And this made his adoption OF the Or
phsn more noble than il he hail q large
sum of money which he did not know
how to dispose of.
The boy grew up in the house of his
uncle, and when he arrived at q suit
able age he was sent away to school !;
and, when prepared, was sent to col
lege. Here James acquired some bad
habits. He became member OF a
secret club, composed Of students OF
the college, and, In their company he
learned to drink and gamble. For
considerable time this did not reach the
ears or his uncle, but, finally, Ralph
heard of 1t, and as soon as his business
would permit took the cars for Ruther.
ford, the city where tie college was
situated. Arriving there, he repaired
TO the institution, and had long and
friendly talk with his nephew, which
ended in the young mans promising to
abstain from his evil habits and resign
his position as member of the secret
society. But, alas the temptation
was too strong. For several days he
did not touch card or drink drop Of
spirituous liquor. Nor did he enter the
mysterious precincts Of the clue. But,
finally, in AN unguarded moment, one of
his former companions induced him to
take a. glass of wine. Phis aroused,
with renewed vigor, the appetite which
the young man had succeeded in part
tally quenching, and glass after glass
of the stimulant was consumed. Then,
winking to each other In c0ngratula>
ton OF their success. his " brothers" of
the club led their half-crazed comrade
TO the club room, and producing the
cards the play began. Rendered more
and more reckless by repeated draui hts
OF fiery brandy. young Fairweather
staked heavily, and almost invariably
lost, and, consequently, when he arose
from the table he was over ten thOus-
and dollars in debt to his friends. (?)
The next morning Falrweather awoke
with dull, heavy pain In his head,
the result Of his dissipation, and as he
gradually recollected the proceedings
of the evening before, and the large
amount which he owed TO his con-
paniOns, he bowed his head in despair
of ever being able to break from the
chains that bound him. And was
soon convinced that his creditors were
resolved to have the last cent Of his in
debtedness to them. They were angry
with him for leaving their society, and
had taken this method OF revenge.
Also, hoping by 1t to induce him to re-
Join them. And as soon as 1t was as
certained that young Fairweather was
| awake, his creditors came into the room
and demanded the amounts due them.
He informed them that he did not have
near that amount of money, ana had no
means Of procuring 1t.
"Write aud ask your uncle for 1t.
he will not refnse you," said one.
\ Ill i'm m
pay my gambling debts, after breaking
my promise To hln," answered the UNI
happy young man.
ali you do not we will" said anoth-
er. And we will not represent your
otfense in mild light, we can assure
you."
James saw that they were in earnest
and unless he succeeded in raising the
money which they claimed, they would
make application TO his uncle for 1t,
and would undoubtedly, greatly exag'
gerate his offence. 80 he arose, aud
Informing them that he would get the
money for them in one way or another,
went 10 the principal and asked and
obtained leave of absence, and then
started by the first train Tor Freeman.
L his was tuo tcutu VI VIC hOhehI Oh
the morning of the eleventh the usual
ly quiet village Of Freeman was start
led by the intelligence that murder
had been committed the night before,
and, on inquiry, l learned that the mnr.
dered man was Ralph Newcomb.
was about to start for his late residence,
when an officer OF the county jail,
which was situated at Freemen, aI:lv-
ed at my office and informed me that
james Fslrweather, who had been ar
rested for the murder Of Ralph New
comb, wished 70 see me in order to en-
gage me as his counsel In the case. l
Immediately repaired to the Jail where
the young man was confined, and was
speedily admitted TO his cell, and !
heard frou. his own lips this explana>
ton
He said that he had arrived at Free
man by the night train, and, not wish.
Ing TO disturb his uEcle's household had
proceeded to the village hotel, where
he had spent the remainder OF the
night. Early In the morning he had
repaired 10 bis uncle's mansion. deter