Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-17
CONDEMNED BY A CLOCK.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

The name of the field was Parlon's
Piece"
The man was q small carpenter and
builder in the town who bore an in.
different character. On the evening in
question distant relative of his, en-
ployed as farm bailiff by n gentleman in
the neighborhood, happened to be pass
ing a stile which led from the field into
the road, and saw gentleman leaving
the Geld by way of this stile rather in a
hurry. He recognized the gentleman
(whom be knew by sight only as MIR.
Dubourg.
They passed each other on the road
in opposite directions. After a certain
lapse OF time-estimated as being a
half hour-the farm bailiff bad occasion
TO pass back along the same road. On
reaching the stile he heard an alarm
raised and entered the field to see what
was the matter. He found several per-
sons running from the further side OF
Pardon's Piece toward boy WHO was
standing at the back of n cattle shed, in
a remote part of the enclosure, scream
ing with terror. At the boys feet lay,
face downward, the dead body of man
with his head horribly beaten in. His
watch was under him banging out Of his
pocket by the chain. II had stopped
evidently in consequence of the concus-
sion OF its owner fall on it-at $50. The
Body was still warm. All the other
valunbles, Ike the watch, was left on il.
The farm bailiff instantly recognized
the man as the carpenter aud builder
mentioned above.
At the preliminary inquiry, the stop.
page of the watch at 80 was taken as
Offering good circumstantial evidence
that the blow which had killed the man
had been struck at that time.
The next question was, if any one had
been near the body al 8 80? The farm
bailiff declared that he had met Mr..
Dubourg hastily leaving the field by
the stile at that very time. Asked Il
he had looked at his watch. he owned
that he had got done so. Certain pre-
vious circumstances. which he men
toned as having impressed themselves
on his memory, enabled him to feel
sure Of thetruth OF this assertion without
having consulted his watch. He waa
pressed on this important point. but he
held to his declaration. At $50 he had
seen Mr.. Dabourg hurriedly leave the
field. At $50 the watch of the mur-
dered man had stopped.
Had any other person been observed
in or near the field at that timel
No witness had been discovered who
had seen anybody else near the place.
Had the weapon turned up with which
the blow had been struck II had not
been found. Was any one known (rob-
berry having plainly not been The mo
tive of the crime) to have entertained q
grudge against the murdered man7 II
Was no secret that he associated with
doubtful charat ters, male and female;
but suspicion failed to point TO any one
Of them in particular.
In this state of things there was no
alternative but to request Mr.. Dubourg
we'll known in audort Of the town as
young gentleman OF Independent for.
tune, bearing an excellent character
10 give some account OF himself.
He Immediately admitted that he Ind
passed through the field. But, in con-
tradiction to the farm bailifI, he declared
that be bad looked at his watch at the
moment before he crossed the stile, and
that the time by ii was exactly S.15.
Five minutes later, that is to say, ten
minutes before the murder had been
committed, ON the evidence of the dead
mans wstch--he had paid visit to
lady living near Pardon's Piece, and had
remained with her until his watch, con-
suited once more on leaving the lady's
house, informed him that ii was 8.45.
Here was what the defence called an
"alibi." IL entirely satisfied Mr.. Du-
bourg's friends. To satisfy justice also
IL was necessary TO call the lady as
witness. In the meantime another pureIy
formal question was put to Mr.. Du.
bourg. Did he know anything of the
murdered manG
With some appearance OF confusion.
Mr.. Dnbourg admitted that he had been
induced by friend to employ the man
on some work. Further Interrogation
extracted from him the following state.
ment Of facts
That the work bad been very badly
done that an exorbitant price had been
charged for ID; that the man, on being
demonstrated with, had behaved In :
grossly impertinent manner; that an al.
tsreation bad taken place between them:
thai mf. Dubourg bad seized the man
By che collar of his coat, and had turned
him out of The house; that he had called
the man an internal scoundreI (being in
passion 81 the time) and threatened 10
"thrash him within N inch Of his life "
(or words 10 that effect). II he ever pre-
suned 30 come near the house again
that he had sincerely regretted his own
violence the moment he recovered his
self posssssion and lastly, that. on his
oaih tho alteroation having occurred
six weeks sgo), he he'd never spoken 10
The man, or set eyes on tho man since.
As The matter there stood, these CIR
eumztsnces we're considered as being
unfortunate circumstances for Mr. Du
boug-nothing more. He bad his
"slibi 10 appeal 20. and hts character
b sppesl 10; and nobody doubted the
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