The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-29
an INNOCENT MN HUNG


has few parallels. More than a dozen
suspicious circumstances pointed to the
quit OF persOns-accused, and one fact dove
tailed into the other with the utmost neat
ness and accuracy.
On the 5th of June, 1860, Robers Bell. a
farmer residing in the neigh5orhood of
Norwich, England, was fonnd murdered
and robbed in an unused by-road leading
from the highway TO his house. Two
iaoorers going ut daybreak 30 a small
coppIce near by, saw.
THE BODY IN 4 DITCH,
and, recognizing the farmer, notified his
family, which consisted of a wife and one
daughter. The proper authorities we're
summoned, and careful examination
begun. MIR. Bells skull was cut i'm two
places from the blows of blunt weapon.
and there was one stab wound in his heart
and another in his throat. In the mud
near by were the marks of Mr.. Bells boots,
and OF the bare feet of another party
Lying in the ditch a large iackknife was
found, with which the stab wounds had
been inflicted. The marks of Mr.. Bells
boots were visible from the road up to
where the body lay, as was also
THE PRINTS OF NAKED FEET.
These latter were traced along The road
leading from Norwich for about a quarter
OF a mile, to a stone by the roadside. Here
murderer had sat upon the stone and put
his boots on. Between the stone and the
hedge Mr.. Bells hat was found The lin
ing was wanting. On the top of the stone
there was thin layer of mud, and in it
was the impression of corduroy trowsers
In the yard of an inn about two miles
further ON the lining of Mr.. Bells hat was
found.
Itwas evident that, after committing the
crime,
THE ASSASSIN HAD VISITED THE INN.
Inquiry showed that Mr.. Bell Quilted
Norwich about o'clock in the evening to
walk home, distance of about three miles.
The probability was, therefore, that he
was murdered between s and 8 O'Clock
while it was still daylight, About 10 o.
clock the same night a Jewish peddler
called at the inn, in the yard of which the
hat lining had been found. He wore long
boots and corduroy trowsers. He ate a
little bread and cheese, drank a glass of
ale and quilted the place, remarking that
he had a long journey before daylight
That was all that was known about him at
the inn, but the wife aud daughter of the
murdered man had
AN IMPORTANT FACT TO RELATE
Between and 10 O'Clock the same night
the peddler called at the farmers house
and informed Mrs. Bell aud her daughter
that MIR. Bell had sent him with a message
to the effect that he had forgotten some
important business and had returned to
Norwich, and that probably he would not
return home until the next morning
These facts clearly pointed to the peddler
as the guilty man. After numbering and
robbing the farmer he concOcted the plan
of pretending to be a messenger from him
wi Ia the view of relieving his family rrUm
ali fears at his prolonged absence, thus
securing.
TIME FOR HIS OWN FLIGHT.
Officers were sent after the peddier, and
next day he was arrested, examined and
committed for trial as the murderer of Mr.
Bell. When the tIial came on the peddler
whose name was found to be Abraham
Lewis, told a most extraordinary and, as
was generally believed. artful story. Be
fore this, however, additional testimony of
most startling nature was produced for
the prosecution. In the peddleT's box, in
which he carried the goods which he Of
fered for sale, was found small parcel
containing ten shillings, the wrapper being
a piece of n newspaper. In the farmer 5
pocket was found the newspaper from
which the piece used as a wrapper had
been torn. 1t fitted exactly. The bostler
of the inn at Norwich, AT which the farmer
stopped on the day he was murdered,
IDENTIFIED THE PEDDLER
as having been in the inn yard Ou the day
in question, and as having asked mum
Der of questions about the farmer. The
hostler also swore that the knife found by
the dead man belonged to the peddleT.
He knew it from the fact of the peddler
having loaned it to him that very day to
bore a hole in strap Of harness be was
fixing. None of the money which the farm
er was known to have bad abou. him was
found on the peddler, but it was supposed
that be had hidden it someW here before he
was arrested,
THE PEDDLER IN HIS DEFENSE,
proved, first of all, that he was a nlan of
good charac er, bringing up his family in
respectability. Then he told his story
He said that on the night of the murder lie
was on his way from Norwich To the mid
land counties. About hundred yards
from the stone above referred to he met a
man well muffled up; the man passed him,
and the peddler walked ON. He sat down
on the stone to rest, and filed his pipe.
The paper in which he carried his tobacco
was worn out, and he looked around 10 see
if there was anything lying near he could
substitute for it. ~
BETWEEN THE STONE AND THE HEDGE
he saw what he supposed was an old hat
tie picked it up, zone out the lining. and
wrapped his tobacco in it. As he did this
he saw the man whom he had passed Just
before coming toward him. When the
man got close tp him, he said
'FrIend, do you want TO earn a couple
Of shillings?"
Il always want to earn money" the
peddler replied.
eff you will carry message tn the house
on the hiil there,' the man said, Il will
give you ten shilhngS."
'Nhat Is the message the peddler
asked.
81 live there" said The man. eco and
tell The felix's that have forgptten some i'm
portant business, and am going back To
Norwich, and won't be home, perhaps,
until tO-moi row.
The peddler agreed 10 GO aud carry tl,.
message, and the man gave him IA 81. $
wrapped in y piece of newspaper. hNt
was the money aud The paper found ia hi
box. He tork the message, as before
sworn to- in the evideuce by.
MRS. BELL AND HER DAUGHTER.
After eating his supper at tie IAN tine
peddler, according 20 his story, went int
the yard and filled his pipe. Then Ia
transferred the rest of his tobacco To his
waistcoat pocket and threw the wrapper
the lining which he had taken out of tie
hat he found by the stone-upon the