The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-16

God help him and pity mel she
said. The name | heard was AbBel
Tenney
Ii a thunderbolt bad fallen into the
crowd, astonishment would not have
been more complete. Men started
at the name, and The women uttered
cries tnat added greatly to the con.
fusion.
| Standing Eesr the witness was o
lyoung man of FIVE aud twenty, the
Ionly son of minister who watched
over The little & OK of believers that
worshipped in the church hard by,
and youth Of exemplary hatits to
The outer world. His face was as
pale as death, and at the mention Of
his Rsue he started back with a
cry aud found the eyes of all fixed
upon him.
| His name was Abner Tenney.
He made no effort to fly, and when
strong hands were laid upon him, be
smiled aud 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 sstonisbed
every body With his answer to the in-
qniry concerning bis Whereabouts on
the night Of the crime.
4 admit that was not at home,
but where | was that night | will not
tell 2
This answer was twisted, as it
could easily be by the excited com
mnnity, Iuto broad strands of guilt,
aud the young man was remanded
tY The magistrate for regular trial
at the next term OF court
There were few who believed
that be might be innocent. When it
became generally known that be had
been "a soitor for Eva Buskirk's hand
without the sanction of her father,
revenge was added 10 the motive Of
be murder. Ellen Millgen's word
was believed sne was girl Of vio-
ient passions. but her veraciIy in this
case was noi dragged iDto question.
she acknowledged that she loved
A bHer TeARey-henee her relucIsnce
10 testify aud after the preliminary
examinations, she said that she re
GREETED having told The secret.
Bat II Was our now, and the young
maa lying 10 toe equity jail reiler-
aled bis lnnoceuee, boL still be re-
fused TO make kno an his Whereabouts
and occupation on the night Of The
murder.
Ii was strange that Ellen MilIi-
gems testimony should remain un-
cgrrobOrated ia its essential p4rticu-
lars; ou, there were several parties
who haG sen TIE accused near the
sceGe OF the crime az mat late hour
ottbe hight.
lie did not deoy this, but persist
entity refused to explain bis presence
there.
His flther visited bim and begged
biuI 10 unOurden himself; but 10
nim De invariably returned the same
repiy; zA--
Were | to Iell you, you would feel
as badly as though had committed
the murder
The young man was visited by
many acquaintanees, 10 whom be
would not reveal his secret, aud it at
last became more than half suspected
that be had sccomplices who had
concealed the money, not one dol
lar of which had, as yet, been re-
covered.
Ellen MiIligen continued to re-
afiirm her statement. She was conf
dent that she had heard BGskirk call
on Abner Tenney ia tones that left
no doubt 10 her mind mat be ad-
dressed bis murderer As the time
for the trial approached, she lost her.
reluctance, and openly declared that
she knew that the accused had com
miyted the crime.
Her brother not having been at
home on the night of the murder was
not summoned as witEess. Ii was
kao En that be, TOO, had visited the
Buskirk homestead as a suitor for
Ega's hand, but that of late be had
turned his attention TO another lady,
to whom he was paying his de-
voirs.
The excitement consequent upon
the farmers violent death and Abner
Teaney's arrest did not for one mo-
ment abate during bis sojourn 10 jail
To young man who visited him, be
said !:
Spare me, John. You know where
| was that night you know what |
was doing. If | escape this time j
will be a better man. The murder of
my honor would send my father to
the grave ss quickly as the shedding
of nv blood by the law. Do not come
forH ard and try to save me by sacri-
Gcing my honor
They will hang you if you do not
tell oil, was the reply. Let Us swear
to the truth. Do not let Eva be-
Iieye that you are the murderer Of
her father
The last sentence drove Abner
TenDey to the wall in his cell with
c groan. 1t seemed to unnerve
him.
She will never believe itp he
cried, moment afterwsrd. in her
eyes | viii ever remain guiltless OF
her fathers murder, even though they
hang me for the crime
The Young mans visitor left, and
joined two otter men of his age in the
corridor Of the jail
What does he say now?' was
asked with esgerness.