Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-14
VOL. 71.--3635. NO. 35.

urged the peddler TO 60 to another inn and
the officers who found Scott with the ped
dlers valise in his possession.
The hammer with which the murder was
committed was produced on the trial and
shown 10 the jury. One Of them remarked
~ the court that IL was a blacksmith's shoe
ing hammer. Mr.. O'Brim quietly asked u
be allowed to look at IT, aud he examined il
closely Then he stood up and handed 1t to
the prisoner. Scott glanced his eye over IL
Tor a moment aud then handed it back to
his counsel The next instant he clutched
IT, drew It from O'Bnen's grasp, and scru.
tni1ed 1t with the most intense interest.
Then he leaned on the dock aud spoke in a
hurried tone to his counsel The latter, with
flushed face and hasty movements made his
way to the side Of the prosecuting officer,
then spoke to the judge, aud after few
seconds beckoncd an officer aud whispered
to him few words. Mr. Steele, the black
smith, was recalled TO the witness stand by
Mr.. O'Brien. who said
Mr.. steele, You are an old andexperieuccd
blacksmith, are you not 2"
Yes, sir" Steele answered with per
ceptible tromor ia his voice.
" Did You work at your trade in Holder
ness 2'
Yes sir, when / was a young man.
Anything peculiar in the manufacture Of
horseshoe nails in that district, Mr.. Steele Y'
think there is, sir"
Pray tell us what that peculiarity is, Mr.
steele 2"
"The head is divided like in the middle
Anything like the head Of that nail useC
as a wedge in the handle of that hammer
Mr.. Steele 2" the counsel asked, handing the
witness the weapon found near the body OF
the murdered peddler.
The witness hand shook like leaf as he
reached 1t out for the hammer, his cheeks
grew deadly pale, his lips became parched
and though lac held the hammer ia his hand
his starting eyes were fixed on his questioner
Anything like that nail 2" Mr. O'Brien
repeated calmly looking at the witness.
Yes, sir" steele replied at length, with
difficulty.
" Should You say that nail had been made
in lloldcrness, Mr.. Steele 2'
1t looks like it, sir" was Steele's reply
Mr.. Steele the counsel said. moving
almost close up so him, and standing so thai
judge and jury could see both witness and
interrogator distinctly, "did You ever Sc,
that hammer before you saw it in this court 2
The witness gave a gasp, and then rccoy
ering himself, said
Yes sir; saw it in the hands of th,
coroner"
At this iuucture there was disturbanc,
IN the court, and the officers were seen striy
ing TO prevent a young man from quitting
the room.
The young man was Richard Steele, tn,
blacksmith's son.
Let me CO." he said, that's the ole
scoundrel that did it. lie knows that ham
mer's his, well enough. lie knows that h,
planned the whole thing and led me into il
I'll turn Kings evidence I'll blab the who'll
story. Let me go, and III hang the old vii
lain, though he is my father"
The scene that followed cannot he de
scribed. Suffice it 10 say that n0le prose
qui was entered, and Scott was transforme,
into an important witness, Steele and hi
son being duly indicated and tried for th'
murder OF the peddler. Scott swore to TIA,
blacksmith's having taken the nail from tn,
old horseshoe, remarked that it had beer
made in llolderness, and driven it into thu
hammer-head as a wedge. The hammer wa
furthermore identified as having belonget
TO Steele, and testimony was given which
showed that the blacksmith and his sor
were absent from home the night of tn,
murder marketman swearing he passe,
them near Doncaster, going in the direction
of Nickhill, at three o'clock on the morning
of the 2lst of June. But the evidence tina
settled their fate was furnished by Scott
valise which they had taken at the time o
the murder of the peddler. 1t was discoy
cred in the ash heap at the back of tn
smithy. Steele and his son We're convicted
and sentenced to be hanged, and both mad
a full confession to the following effect
Steele, senior, resolved on the robbery an,
murder If need be, of the peddler immedi
ately after he discovered that the man wa
possessed of a large sum of money. Afte
the peddler and ms companion had quitte'
the smthy, Steele closed it, and communi
Gated 10 his son his design respecting tn
! peddler The son, who was a profigat
man, assented to the scheme. Both wcr
about to start after the two men and &c
ahead OF them bya bridle-path, but the smiti
changed his plan. II they did they woul'
have to attack them both IN the open roa'
and on horseback. The smith knew the inI
to which they were going, and was well ac
| qnainted with the outbuilding in which the
were to sleep. lie proposed, therefore, tina
they should rob the peddler in his sleep, an'
only use violence in case it was necessary Z
secure their safety. When they entered th
outbuiding the senior Smith went toward