The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-12-20
THE SHADOW ON THE WALL.
+, CASE OF CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

l OhOE Of ADENSIs
Captain James Stuart, who had gone
all through the Mexican war, was a man
of great great force of character and of
un6inching bravery. He had win
ming address and the most placid tenn
per have ever known, but his princi.
pies were as fixed as his feelings were
lofty.
He went to California in 1849 and set
tling in Tuolumne county. then one Of
the principal mining counties Of the
State, was elected sheriff, an Office in
those days, when they were far removed
from State or Federal aid, carrying
with it all the dignity and responsibility
which that ancient title implied. In
conversation with him he interested one
byrelating many "reminiscences of scenes
in his early life whilst in that State, one
case particularly, of positive and cir.
cumstantial evidence against an innocent
man, which give you in almost his
exact words.
James Lyons lived on q farm near
Sonora, and many were the stories OF
persons baving disappeared after having
been seen near his place for the last
time. A roadway up to the mountains
had been made across the land of Lyons,
but he was always displeased about it.
He cut down trees and let them fall over
the road he built barricades to prevent
people from passing, although not
blade of grass ever grew upon that part
of the farm thus used. One morning a
well-respected teamster was found near
the Lyons obstruction riddled with bul.
lets.
A short time after this Jim Lyons
went to the mountains to take charge of
water ditch he gave his farm to his
brother, who afterwards sold part of it to
the Morrison brothers, who paid one
thousand dollars down, giving their
notes for the balance, payable in one
year.
At the expiration of that time Mike
Lyons came back to collect the notes.
The Morrisons seemed very willing to
settle they figured up the interest, and
thumbed over the notes, told Lyons
they would have to go to Sonora to get
their money to settle, that they would
go down with him in the morning, he
could have his papers with them and
they would figure up a little more on
them aud settle next day in Sonora.
Lyons left his papers, and the Morri
sons destroyed them. Lyons called on
them for his money, they told him to go
to the deuce.
Stung by this piece of sharp practice
Lyons hurried to Sonora and laid the
matter before lawyer named Watson.
The lawyer told Lyons he had no case
as there was no evidence at all to sus-
tain it, but said he, we will bring the
suit anyway. 81 want to get chance at
the Morrisons, and will give them the
best blackguarding they ever got in all
their lives, and before I get through
with them they may wish they had paid
the money to the persons entitled to it. "
The suit was brought. the trial came
on, and as expected Lyons lost it. He
had no evidence to show there was any
amount coming to him, and the Morri-
sons swore point blank that they had
made payment in full.
Then rueful mutterings were heard on
all sides as to the danger of the Morri-
son brothers. 81 would not live on that
farm for all the money in California"
said one. "Nor i, nor +" repeated
others. Thus it went from lip to mouth
with shake of head which brought to
mind all the old troubles of the Lyons
place, the mysterious disappearances
and the horrid appearances of all the
unfortunates connected in anyway with
that fatal locality. I was at the trial,
said Captain Stewart, and remember
well these fearful prophesies.
1t was not long before terrible
tragedy was enacted. in return for the
mocking farce that had been put off on
the Lyons. The trouble predicted by
those who knew the desperate character
of Jim Lyons, was not long delayed.
"But few days after the lawsuit,
says Captain Stewart, 81 was aroused
by man saying the Morrisons had all
been murdered and their house burned
down."
mounted my horse and went imme-
diately to the spot. AS 1 approached, i
saw crowd of miners looking about the
ruins by the light of pine knots which
they carried in their hands. L dis
mounted and went close to the smoking
ruins. They had found the bodies Of
two of the Morrisons. the third was
missing.