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

In the year 1841, the now fourishing
&ty of Steubenville, Ohio, was very
q pail place. Its population was noted
r its quiet and orderly character, and
ere WIS not a single liquor saloon in
be place.
Crime was very rare, and the circuit
dges often had occasion to congratu-
te the people upon not having single
iminal case upon their calendar.
In consequence there was intense ex-
tement in Steubenville, when, at an
trly hour in the morning of the seven
zenith of November in the above men
oned year, the report reached the place
bat the corpse of man had been found
the woods within hundred yards of
be last house Of the town. and close to
be Pittsburgh turnpike, with every in
cation that an atroeious murder had
4 pen committed. The sheriff, accompa-
led by some fifty citizens, Immediately
hstened to the spot indicated to him by
be person who had discovered the re-
|ains of the murdered man. That per-
pm was decrepit old woman, who had
Pne out to gather brushwood. No one
ould have suspected her under any cir
INSTANCES of having had anything to do
18th the bloody deed, and, beside, she
|anifested such unfeigned horror in de-
tribing what she had seen at the dismal
pot in the woods, that she was unhesi-
(tingly allowed to go about her bust
ess.
Upon arriving at the scene of the sup
,osed murder, the sheriff and his COM
onions saw at a glance that terrible
lime had been committed. The dead
an was covered all over with frozen
pre-, and seven wounds, apparently in
lcted with sharp knife, were found
pon the body. His head was still Gov
,ed with nice felt hat. His face pre-
Pnted most ghastly aspect.
A terrible cash extended from the
ft temple to the right jaw. E Another
ash was in the forehead. The victim
as dressed in a substantial fur coat.
g was apparently forty-two years old.
When his pockets were examined they
ere found to be entirely empty. But
ose to the body was found an old fash
Pned wallet. 1t was still open, as if its
ontents had been taken from it, and as
he who had emptied it had afterward
brown it away. ...
At distance of about ten yards from
he corpse, near an old log, lay a pecu-
|arly shaped fur cap. It could not
ave belonged to the murdered man,
pr, as we have said before, he had his
at on his head.
The ground was covered with snow.
nd there were q number of light foot
Prints visible in it. These were the only
bdications of the perpetrator of the hor-
ible crime.
The coroner was sent for, and until
is arrival the sheriff and his companions
vent to the Ohio tavern, which was sit
lated at no great distance from the
Gene of the murder.
When the sheriff told the landlord Of
he murder, and described to him the
|ppearance of the corpse, the landlord
|xclaime d at once:
"Great God that poor fellow cannot
be anybody else than Mr.. Sammis, the
Pittsburgh cattle dealer. He was here
ast night, and took supper with another
nan from Pittsburgh, whose name was
3elson or Wilson, and who rode OF
oward Pittsburgh Immediately after ht
lad left the table. Mr.. Sammis sat il
he front room with me and Jack Capo1
or an hour, when the two went out to
kether."
Jack Capon was dissolute but yer,
good natured fellow, about thirty year
bid, who had decided aversion to work
md still more decided prediction TO
btrong drink.
He could not get any whisky at Steu
oenville, and hence he often walked TO
miles and miles in order to obtain
wee drop" of whisky. When he wa
successful he returned with his hat ful
bf bricks to Steubenville, where b
had frequently been punished by tn
squire for intoxication, with fine an
imprisonment. Still, everybody like
him because he had an excellent, unse
fish heart, and never forgot favor don
him.
"What sort Of hat did Capon wee
last night ?" asked the sheriff.
"WAy, no hat, but q fur cap--mad
. Of beaYer skip~~with two ess covers"