Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-02-14
In the Shadow Of the Moose.

thriving business.
The president of the institu-
ton, who also filled the position
of cashier, was Jasper Trent
ham, who was well up in the
seventies, but still! possessed of
much physical and mental
strength.
His family consisted of a rath-
er beautiful daughter named
Amy. She did the honors of
the bankers house.
Those who pretended to be
well informed, said that a great
deal of love was being wasted
between Amy and Mr.. Walters,
the corporations teller.
At the same time others de-
clared that the teller had been
supplanted in the girls graces
by Jerome Mcdonald, a dark
faced ex-army officer, who had
lately taken up his residence in
the place. This latter person
age had served with some dis
tinctio1 in the late civil war be-
tween the States, and was re-
ported to be worth considerable.
He seemed to WOO Amy Trent
ham boldly and in the face of
the gossips, and there were not
a few who openly said that she
had best capture the major while
the opportunity remained.
But Amy appeared to know
what was best, for she suddenly
broke off with Mcdonald, AID,
much to his chagrin, smiled up
on the teller.
About this time a new patent
chronometcr lock was attached
to the safe in the vault of the
bank, and proved a nine days
wonder to Liberty. Such pre-
caution had been deemed nee
essary by the robbery of the
banks in neighboring towns,
and as that of Liberty contain
ed great deal Of money, many
depositors did not feel safe.
But the new lock brought Sc
curity to their thoughts, and all
fears cf bank breaking were a.
bolished.
1t was quite late one cold
night when Amy Trentham had
occasion to enter her fathers
slecping-room. She entered on
tip-toe, believing that he slept
! and proceeded to complete hcl
errand.
| But all at once she stopped,
and the next moment wild and
despairing shrek welled from
her throat. A horrid sight had
j encountered her gaze.
In the strip of moonlight, OF
the floor near the desk, lay the
!. body of a man, and the ghastly
q face in the light instantly pro-
claimed his identity.
The girl swooned upon the in
, animate form, and the frighten'
ed servants that had heard hel
cry found her senseless there.
The banker was dead: and the
knife wound in his breast TOLD
d the story of assassination.
: Liberty was startled to its ut
most suburb by the fearful
E crime, and despite the bowling
!; winds of winter and the colo
d snow drifts, an excited crowc
, assembled before the house ca
: ger to catch at every report.
D Amy was unable to give any
: information concerning th'
I death of her father that night
owing to her critical nervous
;. ness; but on the following morn
9 ing she made a statement which
coupled with the reports already
in circulation, caused the arres
of the teller. The young mai
was charged with having takel
the life of the banker. Their
: seemed to be evidence enough
t. against him TO warrant his ar
s rest, and it amounted to this:
/ For several months prior t
lo the murder the banker and hi
! l. teller had not been sociable, an
d a report was current that tn
ID removal of the latter was nc
- among the improbable things
ID The teller was the last man see
= ! with Jasper Trentham,and Am
e. said that he had accompanle
at her father to his bedroom a ie'
"a q hours prior to her discovery o
his dead body, and she further
at more said that the teller had lie
e. the house alone, while her pa
IT. ent had remained in the chan
, Der. Added to this was I'll
es testimony of no less an lndlylt
!, ual than Major Mcdonald, WI
d deposed to having seen the tel
es er emerge from the President
n residence in an excited manne
is and that he heard him say: :"
Q is all over; we have settled q
3 counts at last"
The tolls were tightly draw
around the young man, and
found public sentiment decldel
Ily against him. 1t was WI
great difficulty that the me