Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-05-13
DOUBLE PLEA OF
GUILTY.

CNOi DOhA bhA LIZ NANON hS' :
self. She, poor, simple body,
never suspected that day when
he took her hand and asked her
TO be his, that he had any other
object than the avowed ones-of
deyoting himself to her happi-
ness and being a father to her
little boys.
The widows fortune was in
really money, from all care of
which her new husband soon re-
lieved her; and before the hon
eymoon was oyer, Mr.. Talbur-
ton entered on his paternal du-
ties with AN energy which soon
convinced Charlie and Robbie
Bamlord how exceedingly loose
had been their previous notions
Of family government.
Mr.. IalDurton's s5 stem was "A
combination OF those Of Solo
mon and Mr.. Murdstonc, pro
ceeding on the theory that tine
two most potent>instruments for
the expulsion of folly from the
heart OF a child are rod Of cor
rection and the Latin Grammar.
The elder boy, Charley, was
a warmhearted, spirited lad; a
boy to go through fire and wa
ter for those he liked, but with
a temper that rebelIed against
injustice OF unkindness.
1t soon became a state OF con-
stant war between Charley and
Mr.. Talburton. The former
grew relentless III his punish
ments.
Charley's mother ventured to
intercede for him once; but
her husband read her such a
lecture on the sin Of finconsider-
ate mercy that she never dared
renew the subj ct.
Bobble who was over a year
younger than his brother, got
along much better. There were
Two reasons for this: he had his
mothers gentle disposition, and
secondly, Charlcy's transgres-
sions were SO numerous that
they kept Mr.. TaIburton's atten-
lion fully occupied.
At sixteen. Charley was a
strong and we'll grown youth.
More than once, after receiving
chasIisement, he had been heard
to utter threats; and one day he
struck back. A violent battle
ensued, in which he was badly
worsted but not rntil he had left
on his adversary's face divers
marks Of the fierceness o. the
l'contest.
That night the household was
aroused by the report of pis-
tol. Mr.. Talburton was found
weltering in his own blood just
outside his study door, and the
servants who first reached the
scene, as they afterwards testifi-
ed, found Robbie standing near
the body holding a pistol. The
gas light in the hall way had
been turned up and the wild
and dazed expression of the
boys face was plainly visible.
The wounded man died be-
fore assistance could be sum-
moned; and the terror and fright
threw poor Mrs. Talburton into
"a swoon, which happily, TO" a
season rendered her unconsci-
Gus.
The police came and searched
the premises. One of the first
di discoveries made was that Char
Iley's room was vacant. His bed
bore traces of having been re-
Gently occupied. But CHARLEY
himself had not been seen re-
firing to bed early in the eve
ming.
Robbie when questioned, ap-
lpeared stupified, and returned
no answers. The commission
of an act Of violence seemed so
foreign to his character, chat in
lspite OF appearances few were
disposed to regard him with sus-
picion. Still it was thought
prudent to detain him till the
tragedy should be fully cleared
fup. =
Next day the coroner's jury
began their Investigations. In
addition to the facts already re-
counted, it was shown that inn
mediately after the murder all
the outer doors and windows
were found closed as usual-a
fact which pointed to an inmate
of the house as the author of the
deed.
II a dealer of fEearms testified
that on the day preceding the
murder he had sold the pistol,
E6nhd with one chamber dis
charged in Robbie's hand to
Charley Bamford.
At this evidence Robbie start
ed up excitedly and spoke for
1.-THE first time.
Il tell you my brother is not
guilty!" he exclaimed.
"Perhaps then, you can tell
us who is,' ''lsaid the coroner
I 1,.rlx-