The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-12-19

gate to the woods, down to the spot
where the murdered man lay, and back
again and Dan came into a fortune on
Mr. HardbuTn's death.
During the trial his manner. his
words, his. pallid face, his evident terror.
even before Mr.. Hardburn had been
found, were all described, and set down
against him. One of his brothers was
in prison for manslaughter, and the race
was bad
The jury only brought in the verdict
all expected when the brought in that
of Guilty of murder in the first degree -
and when asked what he could say in
his own defense, Dan only answered
''How could any one believe that l
could kill him ?''
So Dan was condemned to be hanged
by the neck until he was dead. and all
the world said it was only what might
De expected of Malone's boy-that he
should turn and bite the hand that fed
him. Even when the dreadful day came
there was little pity felt for him. Such
a traitor, every one felt. deserved hang
ing.
Simon and Betty both came in for a
comfortable legacy, and the property
went to charity in case of Dan's death ;
and Simon took his legacy aud lived in a
little house that he bought, and for a
man of humble station was very well off
He lived thus ten years, adding to his
means 10y driving people to and from the
station when he felt like it, and married
a buXOm wife.
One day, however, the wagon of which
he was so proud came to grief. Simon
was thrown out and taken home in dy-
ing condition. As ne lay on his bed,
attended by his weepingwife, more than
bodily tOrments seemed to rack him,
and he begged for a priest. The priest
came, and at the end of the confession
to which he listened summoned the
magistrate.
This is what was taken down in his
presence and that of the priest from ST.
mons own lips:
Father Steck says l must tell the
truth before 1 leave the world, or l can
have no absOlUtiOn. | wouldn't tell it
if had chance of life, but it doesn I
matter now.
Il lived with the old Mr., Hardburn
ten years ago. I'd lived with him quite
time, and he thought a good deal of
me. At. last he took boy to live with
him. Dan Malone, a lame fellow-and
he thought of no one else after tbat.
hated Dan he was no better than ],
and the old man made a will leaving
him all he had. He put me in the Will
for three thousand dollars. too. but
WASH satisfied. One day the old man
got lot of money paid him. 1t was a
mortgages, he put it inshis pocket and
went to fish. | knew he was down in
the woods alone, and l thought if any
one could knock him senseiess he could
get the money and then I thought OF
my legacy. If he was dead | could have
that too. Dan was sick that day;
saw him in bed he was asleep. I went
and got pistol there was in the house.
and then | saw Dams cUutch outside the
door; he'd got so he could walk about
the house pretty well without il. He'd
had costly doctors called in to him and
] thought minute, and | took it.
wasn't going to have my shoe measured
if anything happened the old man. and
the crutch seemed to Oe a good thing tC
knock him on the head with. too,
tied my leg up with a handkerchief and
went down into the woods. leaning OF
the crutch as if ] ,rdS lame. No one
saw me- The old man was fishing.
went behind him and hit him on the
head and took his money and his watcl
as he lay senseless. ! wouldn't have
killed him if he hadn't come too and
called out, -GOOO heavens II ) simon .
Then ] had to- | hid the watch in The
tree, meaning to get it some day, and
limped home as had come. If anyone
saw me from q distance. they thought j
was Dan. | left the crutch where Il
found it. No one was near. No OnC
suspected me. Dan was arrested, anC
tried and hung. ! would have saveC
him If I could, without hurting myself
but that was not possible. ! here Swea
that he was as innocent as babe, anC
that | did the deed he was hung for
Simon lived just long enough to sigl
this confession. and long ago, repentant
hands set Il stone over poor Dams ne
elected grave with his sad story upon it
1t was Door atOnement to the victim
of circumstantlal evidence.
The moral is don't blame people to-
quickly, either in law or in practice, 70
many an innocent man has been mad
the victim of circumstances and She
his last drop Of blood for the crimes o
the guilty.