The Van Buren press., 1878-04-30
MISCELLANY.
The Miller of Tewkesbury.
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When the list of men hung by clrcum
stantial evidence is complete, the name o
Calvin Tyler, the miller Of Tewkesbury
will be found thereon. One hundre,
and two years have passed since the oc
currence Of the particulars we are abou
to relate, and the mill which achieve,
such anotoriety long ago has been swep
from existence by the fiery breath of tn
demon.
On the night Of October Goth, ITS, %
several persons affirmed on solemn oath
Calvin Tyler entered his family circle ant
said that the faithful watch dog Of thu
mill had died in a lit, and was buried il
the cellar, whose walls were washed or
one side by the water of the race. TIL,
miller furthermore said that the dos
exhibited symptoms of having beer
poisoned, and when his daughter aske.
him if he suspected any one he said
mop and almost Immediately went to
bed.
This very simple oecurrence-the death
of dog-was TO be commented upon
and very generally disbelieved by the
highest in that portion of the realm.
One month afterward Mrs. Marble gave
notice 70 the proper authorities that her
husband, prominent merchant, had
been missing for six and twenty days,
and that she feared that foul play had
befallen him. The lady said that on the
23rd of October her husband had left
home at eight o'clock in the evening,
saying that he Yves going to Tyler's mill,
the owner of which, Calvin Tyler was
to pay him six hundred pounds of Dor
rowed money. and the interest thereon.
With the intention of collecting the debt.
as she supposed, Mrs. Marble saw her
husband quit the house; but his alb
sense for the following several days oc-
casloned her no uneasiness, as he had
been in the habit OF making nnannoun-
ced journeys to London, where he some
times remained for week. 1t was sup
posed that Mr.. Marble had a love there
which was destined to estrange him from
his family.
After three weeks Discontinued absence,
and no return, Mrs. Marble questioned
the miller concerning her lord, and was
informed that he (Tyler) had paid the
'ShNJ tSSp''i w hSltClltuI, anu
that the merchant had left the mill by the
back door, with the intention of paying Il
visit to man named Gordon, well
known poacher who had upon several oc
casions furnished the merchants table
with the best oil water fowl
Mrs. Marble did not prosecute her
search further until she lodged informa-
ton with the authorities, She afterwards
had passed from Gordon's to the coach
station, she resolved to wait while Ion
ger for his return.
The authorities deemed the merchants
absence an affair of moment, and at once
resolved to fathom it, If he had left
the mill with six hundred pounds or
more, it was possible that it had attrac
ted the attention of some evil doer, who
had forcibly made away withe the mer-
chant.
Calvin Tyler again asserted that the
merchant had met him on the 23rd, by
appointment, and that he had there paid
him the borrowed money and interest.
His story, told in straightforward man
ner, impressed every one, and no one for
the time suspected him.
Gordon, the poacher, declared that
Marble had not been to his hut for two
months. The merchant was traced to
the mill, but no one saw him beyond it,
and the Bow street runners reported that
he was not in London. His disappear
ance now began to assume serious
aspect. There were several people
who testified that the merchant and his
debtor had quarreled several days prior
to the meeting at the mill, AMI according
~ Calvin Tyler was arrested for MUIR
der
From the moment of his arrest chain
or damning circums tances began to wrap
itself about him He most strenuously
denied his guilt, declared that he had
paid Mr.. Marble the sum of six hundred
pounds, and parted with him in the best
of humor, He opened the mill for in
spcctlon, aud the constables spent sever
al days in their examination, which ex-
tended from cellar to attic. They even
probed the darkness of the wheel house.
but found nothing to reward their pains,
But while the rigid search'was going on,
evidence was entanglng the unfortunate
miller in network of ultimate convic
ton.
A man was found who happened to be
slyly fishing in the mill race before the
mill on the night of the 23d He said
tnat a man whom he recognized as Da-
yid Marble, the merchant, approached
the mill that the miller met him at the
door, and that the two men went int
the structure together. After q while the
fisher saw light in the mill, and heard a
voice like the miller's say, "We'll settle
all our scores here" Then followed two
deadening blows, and all was still. Up
| to eleven o'clock Mr.. Marble did not
leave by the door which he had entered,
but near that hour Calvin Tyler came out
alons, locked the door and went home
ward.
This, in brief, was the evidence of the
fisherman, a hale wittea fellow, who said
that his fear of being punished for sleal
ing fish from the race had kept back tho
testimony. Other persons deposed tC
havdg seen the missing man go TOWARD
the mill, but the declaration of the mil
Ter, that he had departed by the bach
door, was not confirmed. No person
had seen Marble after he entered thu
mill