The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-10-22


prehension of criminal, who CAV
us the slip little while ago. III
bolted for the river, aud We saw bin
landed on the other side by sculler
who was dressed just as you youn,
gentlemen are. II it was one of you
it will be only duty for him to ste!
out"
What had the fugitive been do
ing 7" asked, with an air of iudif
ference.
"He is suspected replied the Off
Ger, solemnly. ''of being murderer. >
Bless me |! l put him across"
exclaimed. suddenly, horror stricken.
He said the bailiifs we're after him.
81 dare say" cried the officer iron
ically. II suppose you didn't see
which way be went ~
"No,n l answered, disconsolately
HE disappeared 10 the woods direct.
ly after landing. By Jove. I'll do
anything to rectify my error
though p
"should you know the mar
again ?n
Yes, / watched him narrowly as
be sat facing me- said l. II noticed
among other things, that be had lost
two front teeth. and that be had an
India ink star tattooed on his left
wrist"
"Did be throw anything into the
river ?n
started as sudden recollection
flashed across my mind.
"Yes, now | am sure he did,"
cried, though at first l thought the
circles saw astern might have been
caused by fish jumping"
Gould you point out the spot?n
Within yard or two"
And now, sir" continued the Off
Ger, Il must ask your name and ad-
dress.n
complied readily enough, though
not without secret shrinking. Then
Sergeant Dobbs, as the chief officer
was called, went away with his COM
rade, after promising to lst me know
from time to time how be succeeded
in bis search.
A week passed without my hearing
anything OF the case, and l had
grown So nervous and sleepless with
thinking about it that l at last sought
relief by hunting up the Sergeant at
", q little seaport town not
far away, st. which be made bis
headquarters.
He was glad to see me, saying l
had just arrived in the nick Of time,
when be was about to write to me /;
and be cordially accepted my invita-.
tion to dine with me at "The Red
Lion" inn where l was stopping in
v"
lie was as good as his word; we
enjoyed an excellent repast; and, sf-
ter the cloth was removed, and we
were sitting together over our wine
and cigars, be made the following ex-
planation
"The man we are sftsr. and the
same you undoubtedly ferried across
the river, is one Jack Barstow, who
Is accusdd of being the murderer of
the old toll-gate keeper and his wife,
at Liscombe Crossroads, over q
month ago. You remember the sf-
fair ? 1t took place not dozen miles
from your school house. and made a
big sensation at the time.n
| nodded in q bewildered way, too
much surprised, in fact, to resent
his disparagement of my college by
calling it school house.
"Well, the inquest after the mur.
der was az open one but there was
sufficient evidence developed later to
cause an issue Of warrant for Jacks
arrest, which was placed in my hands.
He had been employed at the toll
house, had disappeared directly after
the discovry Of the murder, and Of
the robbery that had accompanied it,
and there 'Fas other evidence against
him. / hai never seen the fellow
when the warrant was given to me,
and only got near enough to see him
ind;stinctly for the frss time on the
day be gave Us the slip oct of the
hiding place into which we had track
ed him, and when you unwittingly
blocked our game by ferrying him
across the river. But, though you
spoiled our business for us that day,
l think you eau make good the blum
der by identifying the man for US. /
have every reason to believe that be
is now in this town, intending to ship
for Calcutta tomorrow. Here it is,
10 nutshell. If you can swear be
is the man you put across the river,
| can swear that the man you put
across is the man we chased; aad
there is evidence to prove that the
maa we chased is Jack Barstow.
Whether he committed the murder or
not lie another question
"Pot me to the test at once ~ /
cried eagerly.
Your powers of Identification will
be put on trial very shortly" said
the Sergeant, smiling The suspect
ed man goes every night to Q public
house here called The Peaceful An
gler," which / keep well watched,
with sufficient force at hand for all
emergenciee- He gives a sort of sup
per there TO some of his new acquaint-
ances g, nine o'clock tonight. You
and ! viii have to mingle unconcern-
edly with others in the tap room If
you succeed in spotting your man
give me the tip, and III have the
place stuffed with constables in less
than 8 minute"
l expressed my sequiescence 10 the
scheme, and shortly before nine o.
clock we sauntered along 70 The
Peaceful Angler"
The place was pretty vel! throng-
ed with rather rough looking seaside
characters, but as the Sergeant was
disguised as droTer, and / had fort
unaielT retained my coarse boating
costume, We failed to attrac. any
special attention.
Dobbs exchanged q significant
glance with the bar maid, and then
posted me so that / had not only .
full view Of the tap room and its in
mates, but also of 9 side room, CON-
municaied with by wide, folding