The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-09-16
A Case of Circumstantial Evidence

L Wisbeach, England, In 1923, pre-
sented some very unusual points of cir
cumstantial evidence. DIR. Hunston was
a physician and naturalist, and was
wealthy. He lived alone, and was of
somewhat miserly habits. He had an
illegitimate son, whom he had brought
up with care, who was apparently a
worthy youth.
DIR. Hunston's house stood In the
suburbs. of the rural town, with trees
around It, Very near to 1t was the resi-
dence of a lawyer named Terwhit. DIR.
Hunston was originally very success
ful surgeon in London, but during an
autopsy he cut his right hand with an
operating knife, and to prevent fatal
consequences Immediately submitted to
the amputation of the arm. The dwell
ling occupied by the doctor had been
purchased many years before the date of
the crime to be narrated. From time
to time he added TO it, until it was n
peculiar structure. In ring, reached
by five steps from the parlor, was the
DOCTORS bedroom beyond that was his
workshop, and beyond that again, in an
odd angle, his study. Jammed into
what appeared a passage just begun and
left unfinished, was the desk in which
the doctor always kept quantity of
loose cash and some old jewels of great
value, heirlooms of the Hunston fami-
ly, from which he was descended. A
coachman, a gardener, and q groom
lived in the yard right below the win
dows of the DOCTORS apartments, and he
was in the habit of saying that they
gave ample protection to the dwelling
in that direction.
In his workshop large blood mastif
always slept, and the windows of the
parlor were supplied with strong shut
ters, closed every night. When Lawyer
Terwhit joked with DIR. Hunston about
his chances of being robbed, he was
wont to laugh and say that it would re-
quire very expert thieves to get an en-
trance, or, having got an entrance, to
get out again safe and sound.
1t was the 18th of August, 1922
Young Hunston had returned from col
lege and gone to London for visit to
friends. Lawyer Terwhit had sat with
the doctor until nine o'clock. Then the
latter saw that his servant closed up the
house, and soon afterward retired.
DR.. Hunston was an early riser, and
when he failed to be stirring at eight
o'clock, surprise was excited among the
domestics. BY nine o'clock they were
alarmed, and by ten resolved to send for
Lawyer Terwhit and ask his advice
The lawyer suggested the forcing of the
door leading from the parlor to the bed
room of the doctor. This was done,
and the lawyer and domestics entered.
A dreadful spectacle was disclosed.
DR.. Hunston lay on his bed in his night
clothes. His arm was thrown out so as to
hang out over the side of the bed His
head lay over the bolster, and his throat
was cut from ear to ear. An ordinary
kitchen knife, sharpened like razor,
lay on the left side of the bed, and in
the bolster on the same side was cash.
The doors through the workshop into
the doctors room were open. The dog
lay peacefully sleeping. The desk in the
study had been ransacked of every thing
of any value. There had been difficult
ty in opening, and the person forcing
the lock had worked to the right side of
the desk as it stood, for there were
marks on the wall showing where he
had rubbed off the whitewash. The
window of all the rooms were exan-
ined. All were fastened except one in
the workshop. OF this the cords had
been broken, for when the broken sash
was raised it fell with crash.
Right below the window was flow
er-bed. In the soft mould there were
prints of a mans knees and his left
hand. There were also marks as though
his toes had struck the soil. The servant
men who slept near the spot had heard
no noise in the night except what
sounded like the banging of shutter,
and as there was wind they thought
nothing of that.
Lawyer Terwhit was very shrewd
man and clever criminal expert. The
authorities were duly notified of the
dreadful crime which had been perpe-
trated, and measures Were taken to find
a clue to the guilty person or persons
The motive was clearly plumber. The
perpetrator or perpetrators knew that the
doctor kent Vnlnahles in his nnartnnants