The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-13
VINO WAS rmE THIEF.


Thanksgiving for tho golden hours,
The early and the latter rain.
WHO WAS THE THIEF.
A STORY OF CIRcUMsTANTIAL EvI-
DENCE.
The following tale will be found to
be remarkable example of the sinu.
osities of circumstantiai evidence.
Two cousins, David and Josiah
Thomas, had been equally the neph-
ews of old Farmer Thomas. the IN.
married brother of their fathers.
In dying, be bad bequeathed his
hundred or so acres of land equally
to his nephews, with the proviso that
while they remained unmarried they
were to work the land for their own
mutual benefit; while if one or both
married, the eldest David, by about
month"; was to take the old farm
house and one-half the land designa-
ted; and the younger (Josish) was
to have q house built for him on his
designated acres, and which was to
cost $500, this sum to come equally
out of the profits of all the land
The cousins had received the land
when they were twenty y-one years of
age, and mad farmed it in all peace
and prosperity for six years. when
the following events occurred:
They were looked upon as equally
good, honest. straightforward men, as
honorable neighbors and pleasant
companions.
One clause of the uncle's will
should, however, be borne we'll in
mind. In the event of the death of
either, unmarried, the land was 10 90
to the survivor. This condition was
by no means inconvenient, for they
had positively no relations in the
world, and therefore, each was nstu-
rally the successor of the other.
They lived in perfect peace; and
the servants, men and women, found
them perfectly just and contented.
Things We're In that position when
it became known in the village that
David Thomas was engaged to the
only daughter of Mr.. Francis Hart
ley, at Silverton. People said it
was q very good match declared it
was time David--and Josiah, too, for
that matter-was settled in life; and
the people of the village had become
accustomed to SEQ the young farmer
and Ruth Hartley at Silverton church
together when the circumstances oc-
Cured which set Silverton and Bro
therip Barton taking.
Farmer Hartley was the guardian
of the son of an old friend, who came |
of age on q particular Monday, when
ne was to receive from the farmer the
sum of f300.
On the Saturday, Hartley, being |
in the next market town, brought the
sum with him ready for delivery on
the Monday.
On the intervening Sunday, the
cousins and his ward were ct the |
house to dinner, and the farmer did,
over bis pipe, 60 to his oak chest be-
fore them, open it, produce the roll of
notes, and display them. Then be
rolled them up, and fastened them
with wax. which be stamped with IN
old-fashioned gsvel seal, dangling |
from bis silver watch chain saying he
thought it would look better to hand
the lawyer the notes in sealed pack.
et
The family passed the day very
pleasantly, the cousins left about ten,
the ward remaining ct the farm. he
being on q visit from the neighbor.
ing town. where be hsd just compile.
ted his apprenticeship.
Next day, when the farmer went to
the osk-chest, it was unfastened the
packet of notes was gone.
The lawyer, who had arrived to
negotiate the cessation OF Farmer
Hartley's guardianship, had but one
course of duty to pursue. He inform
ed the farmer The money must be
paid and intimated the farmer himself
must bear the loss.
The local constable, Q keen-witted
old policeman, who had once been in |
the Metropolitan force. was consult.
ed.
He directly instituted . minute ex-
animation OF the premises.
He found boot marks in the flower
beds, behind the house; marks of
opening o window from without,
which lit the room wherein the oak
chest stood. and . fancy Waist-cost
button, which lay positively on the
window-sill-
The boot marks and that fancy
coat button secured the clue to the
thief.
The farmer having openly brought
home the money on the Saturday, it
was clear TO the meanest comprehen-
sion that the thief must have been
aware Of the existence of the notes 10
the chest.
Who was acquainted with the fact!
Five persons only, 1t vss evident
Farmer Hartley, his daughter. David
Thomas, j Josiah Thomas, and the ward
one VIM. Psllister.
Of those Eve, it was absurd to &C.
cuse the farmer, because no man can
rob himself; while it Was equally
impossible to suspect young Pallistsr
of stealing the money be Was about
to receive on the following morning
1.-The more especially - be vas %
shocked be begged nothing might b
done, and expressed . desire to let the
whole matter rest until It Vas ex.
planned by some extraordinary
means.
As to Ruth Hartley. il was felt
she could have no motive in robbing