Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-02-14

aid ard care Tor them now, Wnen
they need aid and care the most.
Whether You are guilty or innocent,
I will do all in my power for them"
"Heaven bless and reward you,"
he said, fervently and, then, in
company with the constable, he left
his home for Millyille, where he was
placed in prison to await his eXamin-
alton.
That morning Mr.. Meredith had
been found in his bedroom, cruelty
stabbed to death, and lying in one
corner of the apartment was his
plundered strong box, where he al
ways kept considerable sum of
money and some valuable iewelry.
For two or three hours on the pre-
ceding night, Frank Waldron had
been seen.prowling around the resi-
dence of Mr.. Meredith, but nobody
had perceived him enter the house.
On being searched after arriving ut
Millville prison, bag of gold was
found,on his person, and his hat
had also been found lying on the
floor Of the room which opened out
of Mr.. Mere9Nh's, and through
which any person would have to
pass to get out of the house on leav-
ing the murdered man'S sleeping
apartment.
Such, including Mrs. Sameson's
account of Franks startled and pc
culiar appearance on his arrival
home, and the words she heard him
utter to his wife, with which the
reader is already acquainted, con-
stituted the chief evidence against
him but ciIcumstantially, it could
hardly have been more damaging.
Most people believed even those
who knew him well-that he was
guilty Of the horrible crime. The
theory was, that driven to despera-
tion by his poverty, he had resolved
to only rob his wife'S uncle but
| that the gentleman had been arous-
cd from his slumbers by the noise
made by the robber, and the latter
| fearing arrest for his attempt at
bHrglarg, had rashly killed Mr..
Meredith. 1t was well known that
Mr.. Meredith had been on bad
terms with his niece and her hus-
band since their marriage, and many
persons had often heard Frank say
that he hated the mlserly, selfish
old man.
Well, three weeks after Franks
arrest and commital, his trial took
place. His. .testi nOny on his behalf
was as follows
Having but little faith, in Mr..
Meredith's assisting him and his
family, and being depressed and
low-spirited, he, on the evening in
question, lounged about the formers
house for two or three hours before
he gained sufficient courage to en-
ter. He at last went in by the
front door, and found Mr.. Mere
dith iG the library, The old man
received him coldly ; and when he
stated his errand, Mr.. Meredith
said he would furnish the aid he
solicited, but only or. n.certain condi-
tions. lie must leave his wife and
children, 60 to Australia, cand. stay
while his loved ones must live with
Mr.. Meredith. He had no choice,
his family being put on the verge of
extreme destitution /; so he pledged
his word of honor that he would
comply with Mr.. Meredith's heart
less conditions. The latter gave
him the bag of gold fonnd on his
person to pay expenses to Austria
liza, and to enable him to live there
until he found employment.-He
had then hurriedly left the house !;
SO it was rot surprising thai, being
confused by what he had just done>
he should forget his hat and walk
home bareheaded !; though it was a
mystery to him how it had got into
the room where it was found, for he
lad not been. in the room at ALL
Was it not natural under the CIR
cumstances that he should arrive
home looking startled and pale, and
that he should use just such express
sions in speaking to his wife as Mrs.
Jameson had overheard Yes, it
was indeed fearful cost at which
he had procured bread for his starry
ing familY-at the cost of exiling
himself for years, perhaps forever,
from the cnes he lOYed the best in
all the world.
John Noble, Mr.. Meredith's only
servant, except an old charwoman,
who came in the morning to do the
housework and cooking, and then
departed in the evening, I stated
that, about s O'Clock he had seen
Frank walking up and down in front
of the house. At 10 O'Clock lie
John NoDle). after going to his