The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-06-07


/ into town this morning, aud got a
! warrant out to arrest her cousin Ross,
! on suspicion of murder. She SAYS he
knew that the will was TO be made 10
his favor that day, aud s. the old
man had changed his mind So often,
: aud might do il again. she believes
that be waylaid and murdered him,
so as to make sure of the property
| You know Ross is called hard case
! It's suspicious"
J 1T locks bad, ! replied
!, at does SO. Well, | have war
rant for bis arrest, and | am going
to ride out to the Cross Roads. and
get him Will you 90 along! You
; are lawyer, and | would like yoa to
go along. You might notice things
J that | wouldn't"
Eyes, III go with you" | said;
"wait just minute"
! had horse, which soon sad
died and bridled, and in few min
utes Mr. Brush and | were gaIloping
} away over the country, towards the
Cross Roads. place that aspired to
be a village on account of its having
a postofliee, grocery store, and three
or four dwelling houses.
by the way" said the constable.
} as he rode along; did Edwards
leave his will in your eare?"
NO be took it with him. Was it
found 10 his pocket?'
I Il didn't ask the girl; but we'll
know when we get here. He won't
be buried until investigation is made
The coroner is coming today
We learned on the way that Ross
Edwards made his quarters at the
Cross Roads tavern; and when we
arrived at the little two-story build
ing. we saw him sitting on the porch
reading the county newspaper. He
/ did not seem to notice us dismount-
ing, and we had secured our horses
at the bitcbing-pOst and stepped upon
the piazza before be was aware Of
our presence.
Ross Edwards" +" said Mr.. Brush.
in verv impressive tone, as be laid
bis hand on the startled mans sboul-
der, "I arrest Tou for the murder of
your uncle. Stephen Edmonds: whom
YOU waylaid on Tuesday night, and
knocked from bis horse with a club.
to secure the immediate benefit of his
wilI.n
Grave as the occasion was, /
could scarcely keep from smiling at
this pompous speech: but I think Mr.
Brush had mentally prepared and
committed II to memory on the wav
Il was the FIRST time that be bad been
called upon TO arrest q man on charge
Of murder aud be evidently intended
to make the most of it.
Ross Edwards looked up into the
constabIe's face, then at me. with ap-
parent surprise: after which he turn
ed very pale. and seemed irving to
speak though unable 10 u;ter a word
'I'm sorry" said Mr. Brush, in
less official tone, ''aEd I hope the
charge NAV prove false, but l must
do nv duty Your cousin Lucy
made the complaint, and got the war
rant out. Here it is;'-a1d be began
10 resd-Commonwealth Of"
Never mind reading IT," inter
rupted Ross Edwards, recovering
bis self possession, and speaking verv
calmly Il know what q warrant Is.
and | know Won are the constable
| viii go with you at once: but rest
assured there is some mistake about
this.n
He arose and put on his hat as be
spoke.
81 hope it will turn out so,n said
Mr. Brush.
Ross" said for ! had often ad-
dressed him by bis first name-"do
You happen to know that vour uncle
made will in your favorg"
no" he replied, coollv.
! "You don't?"
"No. | don't know that he did so.
He told me few davs ago that be
would He BAD quarrel with Lucy,
who has a violent temper, and he
said that I should be bis heir. He
told me that she did not treat him
with either affection or respect. and
was determined that she should not
become wealthy at his death: that's
all | know about it,
''Tben you don't know that he made
willY'
"No; / never saw him alive after
tbat-Tuesday morning, | think
When the coroner arrived, we pro-
ceeded to Edwards house, where the
usual inquest was held.
/ The country physician testified I
that death had resulted from frac- /
ture of the skull with some blunt in
strument.
A neighbor-one or two men who 7
found the body-testiied that be 4
found it near by round stone, OF /
three poGnds weight, stained with I
blood
testified concerning the will
Ross Edwards again admitted that &
bis uncle told him that be would /
make such a will; that be knew be
often changed his mind; vet be de-
MED that he had any knowledge of
the murder
Where were you the early part of
Tuesday night!" asked the coroner
eyeing him sharply.
"Let me see took walk across
the fields TO the river, and had swim
| got back by 8, think"
'Did you meet anv one on the way
to the river or coming back2n
Not a souln
The verdict of the coroner's jury
was unfayorable TO Ross Edwards,
and he was taken to Wellington,
briefly examined by magistrate,
and committed to Jail
| remained behind to see if any
new facts could be learned: and it is
singular that the constable and the
coroner, with the prisoner, bad been
gone half an hopr before ] thought of;
the viii: then sought the two coun-
trymen who had discovered the body
of Mr. Edwards, and asked:
"Were there anv indications that
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