The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-09-03

tlOn one acknOWleugeu tnat sne loved Alb
| ner Tenney-hence her reluctance to testify;
and after the preliminary examination, she
said that she regretted having revealed the
secret.
But it was out now, and the young man
lying in the country Jail reiterated his inno-
cence, but still he refused to make known his
whereabouts and occupation on that night.
1t was strange that Ellen Milliken's testl-
mony should remain uncorroborated in its
essential particulars; but there were several
parties who had seen the accused near the
scene of the crime at late hours of the night
He did not deny this, but persistently re-
fused to explain his presence there. His
| father visited him and begged him to un-
burden himself; but to him he invariably re-
turned the same reply
"Were to tell you, you would feel as
badly as though / committed the murder"
The young man was visited by many ac-
quaintances, to whom he would not reveal
his secret, and it at last became more than
half suspected that he had accomplices who
had concealed the money, not one dollar of
which as yet had been found.
Ellen Milliken continued to reafirm her
statement. She was confident that she had
heard Buskirk call on Abner Tenney in
tones that left no doubt on her mind that he
had addressed his murderer. As the time
| for the trial approached, she lost her reluct-
ance, and openly declared that she knew that
the sccused had committed the crime
Her brother not having been at home on
the night of the murder, was not summoned
as a witness. 1t was known that he had
visited the Buskirk homestead as a suitor for
Evas hand but that of late he had turned
his attention to another lady, to whom he
was paying his addresses
The excitement consequent upon the
20
arrest did not for one moment abate during
his sojourn in Jail. To young man who
visited him he said:
'Spare me, John. You know where l was
that night; you know what was doing. If
l escape this time, / will be better man.
The murder of my honor would send my
| father to the grave as quickly as the shedding
| of my blood by the law. Do not come for
| ward and try to save me by sacrificing my
honorl"
"They will hang you if you do not tell ALL
was the reply. "Let US swear to the truth.
| Do not let Eva believe that you killed her
father"
The last sentence drove Abner Tenney to
the wall of the cell with groan. 1t seemed
| to unnerve him. Then he cried a moment
afterward
"She will never believe It'll In her eyes 1
| will ever remain guiltless of her fathers
murder, even though they hang me for the
| crime"
| The young mans visitor left, and joined
| two other men of his age in the corridor of
| the jail
| "What does he say now7" was asked, with
| eagerness.
"He is still obdurate and declares that we
must not expose him.
"Can we save him without the exposure?"
ave mustl We shallr'
| The trio were youths of respectable parents,
but considered fast young men. They had
of late been Abner Tenney's companions,
much to the regret of the few pious people
who had observed the familiarity.
| "Look here" said one, addressing his COM
panions, q hold myself in part responsible
| for Abner's present situation. We led him
into the habits that have fastened themselves
| upon US. We must save himl"
| The spokesman of the dissolute party was
| young student of medicine, and it was not
long afterward that learned medical gen.
tleman of Cincinnati came to the country.
| The body of Zimri Buskirk was exhumed
and examined.
| John French stood and watched the pro-
fessor.
'You say that she swore to hearing Mr..
Buskirk cry out after the thud of two
blows?"
$50 she swore.'
ssThe first blow must have produced in
slant death. 1t drove pieces of skull into
the brain. A stab in the heart could not
prove more instantly fatal than the initial
blow
"That is your opinion?"
al will swear to it"
The young man was satisfied, and the
| body, minus the head, was returned to the
grave.
1 s.Tr L a L. L
his neck will save it for him, and his father
need not know the truth
These words passed from John Frenchs
lips as he passed from the house with the
professor.
From that day the young student and his
two friends were not idle They made many
trips from the country, and compared notes
on their return.
The trial came at last, and the accused
plead "not guilty" in firm voice. Ellen
Milliken repeated her testimony, so damag-
ing to the defence, and adhered to it through
a rigorous cross-questioning to which she
was subjected. She had heard the cries after
the blows; she was positive OF ti.at.
The other evidence offered by the State
was merely circumstantial. The defence in
troduced the professor, who explained the
nature of the wounds, and swore that the first
blow had produced instant death. This pro
duced a sensation in the court; it staggered
Ellen Milliken's testimony, until that hour
believed invulnerable. The blows that now
followed from the defence were hard and
telling ones.
No alibi was attempted. The accused had
{ forbidden such plan, on the ground that il
would reveal the secret he was guarding SC
closely; but the defence became aggressive
1t proved that Hiram Milliken, Ellen's
brother, was not where he said he was on the
night of the murder. As the young man was
not under arrest, the court forbade the intro
, duction of such testimony, when John French
, rose and exclaimed: