The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-03-19

said. "Tbe name heard was Alb
ner Tenney's.n
If q thuDderbolf had fallen into tht
breathless crowd, as.onishuent woule
not have been more complete. Mel
started at the name, and yomen ut
tered cries that added to the confu
sion
Standing near the witness was 4
yonng man Of Eve and twsEty, ths
only son Of minister who watched
over the little flock of believers thai
worshipped in the church hard by,
and youth of exemplary habits ie
the outer world. His face was a:
pale as death, and at the mention o.
bis name be started back With cry
aud found the eyes of all fixed upon
him.
His name was Abner Teany.
He made 40 effort to fly, end when
strong hands we're laid upon bin, be
smiled and told the people be would
face the accusation.
The young man was formally ar.
rested ON Ellen Milligen's statement,
and brought to the bar Of justice He
denied the crime, but astonished ev-
erybody with bis answer TO the in
qGiry concerning his whereabouts on
the night of the crime.
IL admit that | was not 1t home
but where | was that night will
not tell J"
This answer was twisted, as ii
could easily be by the excited com
munity, into broad strands Of guilt,
and the young man was remanded
by the magistrate for regular trial
at the next term of court.
There were q few who believed
that be might be innocent. When i,
became generally known that ne had
been a suitor for Eva Boskirk's hand
without the sanction of her father,
revenge was added to tie motive of
the murder. Ellen Miligeu's word
was believed; she was a girl Of vio-
lent passions, but her yeraci,y in this
case was not dragged into question.
She acknowledged that she loved
Ahner Tenny-hence ber reluctance
to testify and after the preliminary
examination, she said that she regret
ted having revealed the secret.
But it was cut now, and the young
man lying in the county jail reittera-
ted his innocence, but still he refused
TO make known mis- whereabouts aad
occupation ON that night.
1t was strange that Ellen Mill
gems testimony should remain un-
corroborated in its essential particu-
lars; but there were several parties
who had seen the accused near the
scene of the crime at that late hour
of the night.
He did not deny this, but persist
emily refused 10 explain his presence
there
His father visited him and begged
him to unburden himself; bat TO him
he invariably returned the sass re-
ply:
"Were | to tell you, you would
feel as badly as though had com
mitted the murder
The young man was visited By
many acquaintance, TO whom be
would not reveal bis secret, and it
at last became more than half sus-
peeted that be had accomplices who
had coudealed the money, not one
dollar of which had, as yet, been
found.
Ellen Milligen continued to reaf-
firm her statement She was conf
dent that she had heard Buskirk call
on Abner Tenny in tones that LETT no
doubt 10 her mind that be addressed
bis murderer. As the time for the
trial approached, she lost her relnc-
tance, aud openly declared that she
k-He,0 that the accused had commit
ted the crime.
Her brother not having been at
home on the night of the murder was
not summoned as witness It. vas
known that he, too, had visited the
Buskirk homestead as. suitor for
Eva's hand, but that OF late be had
turned his attention to another lady,
to whom he was paying his devoirs.
The excitement consequent upon
the farmers violent death and Abner
Tenny's arrest did not for one mo.
ment abate during his sojonrn 10 jail.
To young man who visited him, be
said:
"Spsre me, John. You know
where was that night; you know
what ! was doing. If escape this
time i will be better man. Tie
murder Of nv honor wonld send nv
father 10 the grave as quickly as the
sheddi1g OF nv blood by the law.
Do not come forward and try to save
nae by sacrificing my bonorlr
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 his cell with
groan. 1t seemed 10 unnerve him.
''She will never believe itir be
cried. moment after@ard. 'sIn her
eyes 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 10
the corridor Of the jail.
What does be say now ?n was
asked with eagerness.
'He is still obdurate, and declares
we must not expose him"
Can we save him without ne ex
posure ?n
I'VE must We shall ~
The trio were youths of respecta.
bic parents, bat considered fast young
men. They had of late been Abner
Tenney's companions, much to the
regret oftbe few pious people who
bad noticed the familiarity.
Look here,p said one. addressing
his companions, 81 hold myself 10
part responsible tor Abner's present
situation We led him into the hab
It's taat have fastened themselves up
on Us. We must ssvesbim -
TIE spokesman of the dissolute
party was a young student of medi-
cine. and it was not long sfterward
that learned medical gentlemen