South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-09-05

VIC Sbi"uSet teuaiuSU. OculnO 10 nave
supper and linger over his ale. At IL
O'Clock he went to the out-building. aud
five minutes later the landlord observed
the light put out.
Next morning neither the peddler nor
his friend appeared, and the landlord
went TO the out-building TO arouse them.
lie found the door open. and on en-
tering the room, discovered the peddler
IN his shirt, lying on the floor at the far
end, in pool of blood. His head was
battered in, and near him was lying a
hammer with blood and hair on the
head. He was dead and cold.
When the alarm was given it WAS
found that the man who had acoompa-
MED the peddler and occupied the same
room with him, was missing, and suspi.
cion AZ once fell on him as the murder
or. The authorities were notified, and
officers were in pursuit of the supposed
assassin before the day was an hour
older. They tracked him to Coninbro,
but lost trace Of him just outside that
town, on the road TO Sheffield. The
Keen eyes OF the officers, however.
caught sight Of horse among the
branches, in the valley to the left Of the
road, and there the man was captured
lie was terribly frighten ed-so much so
as to be unable to articulate for some
time. Strapped to his saddle bow was
q vaIise, and on opening it a heavily fill.
cd wallet, identified "a the peddler's 5,
was found.
Before the coroner, the prisoner. who
said his name was Henry Scott, told
most astonishing story. He said that
when he went TO the clubhouse the ped
dler had already gone to his bed. which
was high, old fashioned tent-bed, with
curtains. Scott took a bed at the OPP
posite end OF the room. This bed had
curtains also, as the room was large and
draughty. He placed his clothes on
chair and tlung his valise, or holsters, on
bit OF carpet ut the side of the bed.
When he put out the light he observed
That the moon was shining full into the
room. lie lay awake for some time
and presently beard footsteps in the
room. The next moment the curtain OF
his bed was gently drawn, and he saw o
face looking down upon him. He lay
quite still, though greatly alarmed. The
face disappeared. and retreating steps
were heard. He rose on his elbows and
peercd through the curtain. He distinct.
~ saw two men at the further end OF
the rooa near the peddler's bed. They
passed round the foot Of it and disap-
re2rei at the other side. That mo-
ment he heard n scream and saw the
iHce OF tho peddler protrude from the
curtains. Here was scuffle ant a
/ suppressed cr5, and the next moment
Lie peddler bounded from the he'd and
RAY, screaming murder !! toward SCOTS
bed, holding the va,ise at arms length
The two men followed tue fugitive, an d
Scott, Mortified and fearstr;clen. slip
ped from his bed on the other side and
MD himself in a closet. lie heard the
Sroans and blows, and the sound Of re-
treating footsteps. then all was still. -
Ehe next instant, however, the door
opened, other footsteps were heard
along the floor, and the curtains Of
SCOTS bed we're hastily drawn The
Vsiton. whoever he was. uttered al
oath OF disappointment and fed from
the room.
After waiting some time Scott came
forth from The closet and found the ped
dIer lying on the ground, dead. Scott
was in a terrible dilemma, and saw at a
glance that he would be suspected OF
having murdered the peddler. Panic.
stricken, he hastily dressed himself
picked up his vaise from the floor, took
his horse from Tie stable and departed
from tho inn, resolving To seek safety in
Gcht. twas day light when he reached
C"ninbro, and then for the first time he
discovered that the Yalise he had taken
from the floor was not his, bat the ped-
dler's which he hal no doub, dropped
when the murdercrs fell upon him, and
in place Of which they doubtless seized
and carried Off SCOTS which lay on the
carpet close by.
This extraordinary story was not he
lieyed by She cOroners jury in the face
Ot the damnng evidence against Scott.
II was shown that he hal seen the ped.
der produce his wallet from the valisc
in tho blacksmit b shop; that he offered
20 accompany the peddler TO Doncaster.
and that he bad taken up his quarter S
at the same inn, and slept in the same
room with the murdered man. Besides
this he vas captured with the valise i'm
his possession. and what better evidence
Of his guilt could be there?
oCOJJ was sent 10 jail, and IN due
course tried FOR wiful murder. Out OF
charity young lawyer undertook his
defense. The evidence for the'prosecu-
ton vas clear and convincing, and Mr..
OBricn. tie prisoners counsel, saw no
chance Tor his clients escape. The
/ principal witnesses against him we're the
+ blacksmith, John Steele, g. his son Rich.
ard, the men that wore in Che smithv
When the poddlor and Scott first met.
The landlord Of the inn. who swore that
Scott urged The peddler TO 20 to another
! inn, and tho officers who found Scott
With The pcIdler's valise in his possess
ion.
The hammer with which tho murder
was committed was produced on the tri
Al, and shown to tho jury. One ofthem
remarked 70 the Court that IL was n
blacksmith's shoeing hammer. Mr.. o.