The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-02-12
CircumstantiaI Evidence.

o"uli BiuNOs ibp BOPpiob'ph "oo hOb'b
for its quiet and orderly character, and
there was not single liquor saloon in
the place.
Crime was very rare, and the circuit
judges often had occasion to congratu-
late the people upon not having Il sing
lie criminal case upon their calander.
In consequence there was intense
excitement in Steubenville, when, at
an early hour in the morning of the 18th
OF November, in the above mentioned
year, the report reached the place that
the corpse of a man had been found in
the woods within hundred yards of
the last house OF the town, and close to
the Pittsburg turnpike, with every in
dication that an atrocious murder had
been committed. The sheriff, accom-
panied by some fifty citizens, immedi-
ately hastened to the spot indicated to
him hy the person who had discovered
the remains of the murdered man That
was decrrpit old woman, who had
gone out to gather brushwood. No ore
would have suspected her under any
circumstances of having had anything
to do with the bloody deed, aud beside,
she manifested such unfeigned horror
describing what she had seen at the
dismal spot in the woods, that she was
unhesitatingly allowed to go about her
business.
Upon arriving at the scene of the
supposed murder, the sheriff and his
companions saw at a glance that ter
rible crime had been committed. The
dead man was covered all over with
frozen gore, and seven wounds, appar-
emily inflicted with sharp knife, were
found upon the body. His head was
still covered with a nice felt hat. His
face presented most CHASTITY aspect.
A terrible cash exten1ed from the
left temple to the right jaw. Another
cash was in the forehead. The victim
was dressed in substantial fur coat.
He was apparently forty.two years
old.
When his pockets were examined
they were found to be entirely empty.
But close to the body was found an old
fashioned wallet. 1t was still open, as
If its contents had been taken from it.
and as if he who had emptied it, had
afterward thrown 1t away.
At distance of about ten yards from
the corpse, near an old log, lay pecu-
liarly- shaped fur cap. 1t could not have
belonged to the murdered man, for, as
we have said before, he had his hat on
his head.
The ground was covered with snow,
and there were number of light foot
prints visible in it. These were the
only indications of the perpetrator of
the horrible crime.
The coroner was sent for, and until
his arrival the sheriff and his compan-
ions went To the Ohio tavern, which
was situated no great distance from the
scene of the murder.
When the sheriff told the landlord of
the murder, and described to him the
appearance of the corpse, the landlord
exclaimed at once
"Great God that poor fellow cannot
be anybody else than Mr. Sammis, the
Pittsburg cattle dealer. He was here
last night, and took supper with an
other man from Pittsburg, whose name
believe was Belson or Wilson, and
who rode on toward Pittsburg imme-
dately after he had left the table. Mr..
Sammis sat in the front room with me
and Jack Capon for an hour, when the
two went out together"
Jack Capon was a dissolute, but very
good natured fellow, about thirty years
old, who had a decided aversion to
work, and still more decided predilec-
tion for strong drink.
He could not get any whiskey at
Steubenvlle, and hence he often walk
ed fT miles and miles in order to OBJ
tain "wee drop" of whiskey. When
he wis successful he returned with his
hat fill of bricks to Steubenville where
he hid frequently been punished by the
esquire" for intoxication, with fine and
imprisonment. Still, everybody liked
him because he had an excellent, un-
sefih heart, and never forgot favor
done him.
"vhat sort of hat did Capon wear
lasthight ?" asked the sheriff.
why, no hat, but fur cap-made
of baver skin-with two ear-covers."
"vas this the cap9" said the sher-
in, Producing the cap which he had
found near the corpse OF the murdered
man and which he had thus far held
undr his cloak.
'Tes," exclaimed the landlord, "that
is Qpon's cap, and no mistake where
dldgo find it 2"
Tie sheriff told him. Everybody
seemed horror-struck at the idea that
poorJack Capon should have commits
ted 8 atrociOus crime.
Nh were Immediately dispatched to
huntup Jack Capon. They did not
find Inn at his wOnted haunts in Steu-
benvlle but man who was well ac-
quained with his habits, said II he
couldDe found anywhere 1t would be
at thecabin of old Sim Brooks.
Brooks lived in the woods on the
Pittsbrg side of Steubenville about one
mile finn the spot where the corpse OF
Mr.. Smmis was found. Like Jack
Capon BID Brooks was fond of whiskey,
and th(two would frequently drink to-
gether lntil they were oblivious OF the
cares AID SORROWS of this world, which,
as they.hought, had not treated either
of themtoo well.
So toBrooks' cabin went the men.
They kbcked at the front door, which
was Locked. For several minutes there
.,yoe 40 Ioet ola