The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-02-02

what time she sent Thomas to the bank
the night her father was murdered.
81 did not send him at ALL" she re-
Piled, evidently surprised at the ques-
tion.
"Well," said I, "we are going to
aquit Howard Burton, and to take his
place we want to find out who did COM
NIT the crime. Now, Miss Clara, are
You sure you did not send Thomas to
the bank the night of the murder 2''
"l know very we'll I did not" was
her answer.
"Then," 1 replied, "either the keep
er of the cigar store is mistaken, or your
servant Thomas is the murderer of your
father"
told her to treat Thomas as usual,
and not to speak of our conversation to
any one. After receiving a letter she
wished to send to Burton, I took my
departure to G.. Immediately on my
arrival there 1 went to my client, and
communicated to him all I had learned,
and delivered the letter. I took the
first real nights rest that night I had
since the death of Mr.. Richards. I had
previously sworn out warrant for the
arrest of Thomas, to be served as soon
as the jury should pronounce my client
not guilty.
Thomas, the servant. was first called.
He swore to the quarrel between MIR.
Richards and Burton, and that he heard
Burton threaten Mr.. Richards life.
Notwithstanding I closely cross examin-
ed him, L failed to make him contradict
himself, and when he retired nearly
every one in the court room was doubt
less certain that Howard Burton was
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 G. at about half-past six o'clock.
Then followed the examination of the
bank cashier, who swore that the pack
ago of $4,000 found on Burton at the
time of his arrest was deposited in his
bank on the afternoon of the murder.
After calling several other witnesses,
whose testimony was of minor import,
the prosecution rested. 1 then followed,
and after brief opening address, called
the 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 OH the evening of the
murder. When I had finished with him
he was submitted to severe cross
examination, in which he acquitted him
self very creditably. Then 1 called the
conductor who swore to seeing Burton
on the srain on the night of the murder;
he also swore that the train left on time
six O'Clock. The cigar store man was
next examined, who swore to talking
with MIR. Richards at quarter past six,
also to seeing him leave for the bank
with Thomas.
Witnesses were all cross examined
thoroughly, but did not contradict them
selves in any particular. I then closed
my case, and after a few remarks from
the prosecution, the Judge charged the
jury, who retired, and in fifteen min
utes returned with verdict of not
guilty.
AS soon rs quiet was restored. the
sheriff approached Thomas, the servant,
and said in q loud voice:
"Thomas Healy, arrest you for the
murder of Mr.. Richards"
The excitement in the court caused by
this unlooked-for and sudden proceed
ing was most intense. The prisoner was
taken to Jail, followed by n
crowd that were loud in their express
sIons of dennnciation-the same crowd
that little before had marked Burton
as the murderer.
Well, to finish the story, 1 have little
to add. was retained by the bank Off
GERS TO prosecute Thomas Healy, and he
was convicted of the crime. He pro-
tested his innocence almost to the last,
but the night before he was executed he
made full confession, stating that he
had determined to rob the bank some
evening when Mr.. Richards was there
alone. 1t was Mr.. Richards custom, he
explained, to 60 to the bank in the even
ing, and when he and young Burton
quarreled, he (Thomas) saw his oppor-
tunity. His determination was strength
ened by hearing Mr.. Richards remark
on the day of the murder, 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 Clara had
given him to take to her father some
days before, but Mr.. Richards coming
home before Thomas found him, it had
not been delivered as intended. BY the
aid OF this note he had got MIR. Richards
i'll tho 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 yatllts
had been locked.
The night Thomas made his confes-
sion he committed suicide, thus cheat
ing the gallows tree of its just due.
Howard Burton was made cashier of
tho bank and married Clara Richards
within year.