Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-07-21
Who was the Thief.
A STORY OF oIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.


Two cousins, David and Josiah Thom-
as, had been equally the nephews of old
Farmer Thomas, the unmarried brother
of their fathers.
In dying. he had bequeathed his hun
dred or so acres of land equally to his
nephews, with the proviso that while
they remained unmarried they were to
work the land for their own mutual ben
eft; while, if one or both married, the
eldest David, by about monthly was
to take the old farm house and one-half
the land designated F; and the younger
(Josiah) was to have house built for
him on his designated acres, and which
was to cost e3OO, this sum to come
equally out of the profits of all the
land.
The cousins had received the land
when they were % years of age and had
farmed it in all peace and prosperity for
six years when the following events oc-
CURED:
They were looked upon as equally
good, honest, raight-forward men, as
honorable neighbors and pleasant COM
panions.
One clause of the uncle's will should,
however, be borne well in mind. In the
event of the death of either, unmarried,
the land was to 60 to the survivor. This
condition was by no means inconvenient,
for they had positively no relations in
the world, and therefore, each was natu-
rally the successor of the other.
They lived in perfect peace and the
servants, men and woman, found them
perfectly just and contented.
Things were in this position when it
became known in the village that Da-
vid Thomas was engaged to the only
daughter of Mr.. Francis Hartly, at Sill
vertown.
People said that it was a very good
match declared it was time David-and
Josiah, too, for that matter-was settled
in life, and the people of the village had
become accustomed to see the young far
mer and Ruth Hartly at Silverton church
together when the circumstance occurred
which set Silverton and Brotherip Bar
ton taking.
Farmer Hartley was the guardian of
the son of an old friend, who came of age
on particular Monday, when he was to
receive from the farmer the sum of three
hundred pounds.
On the Saturday, Hartley, being in
the next market town, brought the sum
with him ready for delivery on the Mon
day.
On the intervening Sunday the cousins
and this ward were at the house to din
ner, and the farmer did. over his pipe,
60 to his oak chest before them, open it,
produce the roll of notes, and display
them. Then he rolled them up, and
fastened them with wax, which he
stamped with and old-fashioned gravel
seal, dangling from his silver watch
chain, saying it would look better to
hand the lawyer the notes in sealed
packet.
The family passed the day very pleas
antly, the cousins left about ten, the
ward remaining at the farm, he being
on visit from the neighboring town,
where he had just completed his appren-
ticeship.
| Next day when the farmer went to the
oak-chest. it was unfastened; the packet
of notes was gone.
The lawyer, who had arrived to nego-
tiate the cessation of Farmer Hartley 8
guardianship, had but one course of duty
to pursue. He informed the farmer the
money must be paid and intimated the
farmer himself must bear the loss.
The local constable, keen-witted old
policeman, who had once been in the
Metropolitan force, was consulted.
He directly instituted a minute ex-
animation of the premises.
He found boot marks in the flower.
beds, behind the house marks of open.
ing window from without, which lii
the room wherein the oak chest, and q
fancy waist-coat button, which lay pos.
ltively on the window-sill.
The boot marks and that fancy button
secured the clue to the thief.
The farmer having openly brought
home the money on the Saturday, it was
clear to the meanest comprehension thai
the thief must have been aware of the
, existence of the notes in the chest.
Who was acquainted with the fact p
Five persons only, it was evident-Far
mer Hartley, his daughter, David Thorn
as, Josiah, Thomas. and the ward, on,
VIM. Palliser.
) Of those five, it was absurd to accuse
t the farmer, because no man can rob him
; self; while it was equally impossible t.
suspect young Palliser of stealing tn
) money he was about to receive on tn
T; following morning-the more especiall
l as he was SO shocked he begged nothin
!. might be done. and expressed desire t
! let the whole matter rest until it wa
!. | axnlained hv soma aYtranrd;nn-., aa..,.