The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-02-11
4 IEAIR-BRE1DY,T ESCAPE.

In the year 1871 the now fourishing city
of Steubenville, Ohio, was very small
place. It's population was noted for its
quiet and orderly character, and there was
not a single liquo: saloon in the place.
Crime was very rare, and the circuit
judges often had occasion tc congratulate
the people upon not having Il single crimi-
nal case upon their calender.
In consequence there was intense excite
ment in Steubcnville, when, at an early
hour in the morning of the 18th of Novem-
Der, in the above mentioned year, the re-
port reached the place that the corpse of a
man had been found in the woods within a
hundred yards of the last house of the
town, and close to the Pittsburgh turnpike,
with every indication that an atrocious
murder had been committed. The sheriff,
accompanied by some fifty citizens, imme-
diately FASTENED to the spot indicated to
him by the person who had discovered the
remains of the numbered man. That per
son was a decrepit old woman, who had gone
out to gather brushwood. No one would
have suspected her under any circumstan-
ces of having had any thing 10 Go with the
bloody deed, and beside, she manifested
such unfeigned horror in describing what
she had seen at the dismal spot in the
woods, that she was uuhesitatingly allowed
to 90 about her business.
Upon arriving at the scene of the supposed
murder, the sheriff ard his companions saw
at Il glance that terrible crime had been
committed. The dead man was covered all
over with frozen gore, and seven wounds,
apparently inflicted with a sharp knife,
were found upon the body. His head was
still covered with nice felt hat. His face
presented most ghastly aspect.
A terrible cash extended from the left
temple to the right jaw. Another cash
was in the forehead. The victim was
dressed in substantial far coat. lie 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 afierwald thrown it
away.
At n distance of about ten yards from
the corpse, near an old log, lay peculiarly
shaped fur cap. T. could not have belong
ed 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 a number of light footprints
visible in it. These were the only iudica-
tions of the perpetrator of the horrible
crime.
The coroner Was sent for, and until his
arrival the sheriff and his companions went
to the Ohio tavern, which was situated at no
great distance from the scene of the muir
der
When the sheriff told the landlord of
the murder, and described to him the ap-
pearance of the corpse, the landlord ex-
claimed at once
s.Great God that poor fellow cannot be
ANYBODY else than Mr.. Sammis, the Pitts
buroh cattle dealer. He was here last
night. and took supper with another man
from Pittsburgh, whose name believe was
BeIson or Wilson, and who rode on toward
Pittsburgh Immediately after he left the ta-
bIe. Mr.. Saplmis sat in the front room
with me and Jack Capon for an hour, when
the two went out together"
Jack Capon was a dissclute, but very
good -natured fellow. about thirty years
old. who had n decided aversion 80 work,
and a still more decided prediction for
strong drink.
He could not get any whiskey at Steu-
benyille, and hence he often walked for
miles and miles in order TO obtain "wee