Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-04-01

pTOuuCluR bu6 IuT cap WHICH ne nHQ
found near the corpse of the murdered
man, and which he had thus far been
holding under his cloak.
Yes," exclaimed the landlord, "that
is Capon's cap, and no mistake; where
did you find it2"
Tho sheriff told him. Everybody
seemed horror-struck at the idea that
poor Jack Capon should have committed
so atrocious crime.
Men were Immediately dispatched to
hunt up Jack Capon. They did not
find him at his wonted haunts in Steu-
benville ; but a man who was well ac-
quainted with his habits, said if he
could be found anywhere it would be at
the cabin of old Sim Brooks.
Brooks lived in the woods on the Pitts
burgh side of Steubenville about one
mile from the spot where the corpse of
Mr.. Sammis had been found. Like
Jack Capon old Brooks was fond of
whisky, and the two would frequently
drink together until they were utterly
oblivious of the cares and sorrows of
this world, which, as they thought, had
not treated either of them too well.
So to Brooks cabin went the men.
They knocked at the front door, which
was locked. For several minutes there
was no response. At last old Brooks
himself opened the door. They saw at
a glance that he was in an alarming state
of intoxication.
els Jack Capon here 2" they asked.
"Ye-ye yes" hiccoughed Brooks he
is lying asleep yonder, behind the
stove"
Then the drunken old fellow went
back to his lounge, and a minute later
he was found asleep again. The men
stepped up to Capon. He was drunk
also. His coat and shirt were covered
with blood. They exchanged significant
glances, and aroused him not without
considerable difficulty.
"What do you want2" he asked,
yawning.
"The sheriff wants you, Jack"
"The sheriff What fora 1 hain't
done nothing"
"You are suspected of having muir
dered Mr.. Sammis, of Pittsburgh"
SEQ away l murdered Mr.. Sam.
misS You must be loony."
"Look at yourself"
Capon looked at his clothes. The
sight of the bloody stains on them
caused him to sober up at once.
How did I get these stains on my
coat and shirt2" he stammered out at
last.
Don't you know anything about
them9" they asked. q
"No-no You say murder was
committed ?"
Come-come, Jack Capon," they
replied, "you can't fool anybody by
pleading ignorance. What did you do
with your cap3"
He looked about the room.
"Some one must have taken it away"
he said, at last.
"You left it near the corpse of the
murdered man.
"Was it found there? Great God
great God!"
He buried his face in his hands, and
begun to cry.
Then he followed the men, who also
took old Sim Brooks along, willingly, to
the Ohio tavern, where the coroner had
meanwhile arrived. The sheriff appear
ed soon afterward with some men who
were carrying the CORY, frozen corpse of
the victim. Jack Capon was conducted
to the corpse. AS he caught sight of it
he recoiled in horror.
"It's Mr.. Sammis," he gasped out.
=" Poor Sammis, who has murdered
him2"
"You were the last seen in his COM
said the sheriff "your cap was
found near the corpse your clothes are
blood-stained who but you can be the
murderer
"I am innocent |" cried Capon, des-
perately. 81 got tight at Brooks. I
don't know how got this blood on my
clothes, nor how my cap got near the
corpse. l have even forgotten that I
was with this poor gentleman.
The coroner impaneled jury, AID, in
the first place, took them to the spot in
the woods where the murder had been
committed. Jack Capon, who had been,
meanwhile, heavily ironed, was also con-
veyed thither. Tho footprints near the
point where the corpse of the murdered
man had lain were not very distinct, but
they seemed to correspond exactly with
the soles of Capon's shoes.
Returning to the Ohio tavern, the cor
oner swore Sim Brooks, who by this
time had become perfectly sober, aud
who stated that last night, about half
past ten, Jack Capon had come to his
cabin and asked him if he had any whis-
ky. He had given him half dozen
drinks, whereupon Capon had wanted
still more, but he had no more. Capon
had then shown him ten dollar gold
piece, and asked him if he knew where
any whisky could be bought. He had
answered if he would go to Mike Perry's
he might get some. There Capon had
gone, and returned with whisky, but
without his cap, and with his shirt and
the front part Of his coat all bloody.
Brooks added that he had asked Ca
pon how he got the blood on him. Ca
pom was so drunk that he could not give
very Ineligible account of what had
happened to him, but he had said some
thing about having had fall and hurt
himself.
Upon hearing this evidence the pris-
oner exclaimed:
"Yes-yes, that's true-I do remem-
Der it now. made a short cut through
the woods to Mike Perrys house, where
l got the whisky, and returned by pretty
much the came route, when stumbled
over something and fell"
The jury rendered verdict against
him, and he was committed for trial.
His pockets were then examined, and
the ten dollar gold piece, which Sim
Brooks had mentioned, was found.
Capon said that Sammis, who had
taken an interest in him, had given it to
him. This was considered fimsy false