The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-03-12

TO have been a woman of easy virtue, and TO
have made his home unhappy. But he de-
voted himself to the study of the classics
Hebrew, Chaldee and Arabic-and became
so much Of a philologist as to bestow much
labor in comparing these languages with the
ancient Celtic. While engaged apparently
in such honorable undertakings. he found
time, Feb. s, 1744, with the help Of a con-
federate, Richard Houseman, to murder one
Daniel Clark a shoemaker, and conceal his
body. His motive, as Aram alleged after
his trial, was revenge on his wife's paramour,
but it was in evidence that he got from his
crime the whole of Clark's wifes dowry, to
the amount of e16o. In fact, Aram looks,
when viewed in the most candid light, to
have been one Of those hypocritical and cold
blOoded villains Of ability who sometimes
appear to disgrace humanity. Fourteen
years after the murder, a peasant, digging
stones for lime kiln in the neighborhood,
found a human skeleton two feet below
ground, with the frame so well kept together
as to enable it to be seen that the body had
been bent and buried doubled. As Clark
had never been seen alive since 1874, and as
Aram's wife had formerly thrown out dark
hints that he had been murdered, public
suspicion was aroused, and an inquest was
held upon the bones. At this inquest she
was summoned, and testified that she
thought Clark was murdered by Aram and
HOusemau. When brought before the coro-
ner, HOuseman was in great confusion,
trembled, changed color, and faltered in
speech under examination. The coroner de-
sired him to take up one Of the bones before
him, thinking to see what further results
would follow. Taking up one Of the bones,
be said ''This is no more Dan Clark's
bone than it is mine" These words were
so pronounced as to convince those present
not that Housman believed Clark was alive,
but that he knew very well where his bones
lay. Of the reader will read Houseman's s
words aloud, with a strong emphasis on the
word this, he will see a little what they
might be made to mean.) After some eva
siOns, he finally broke down and confessed
that Aram and he had murdered Clark, and
though these were not his bones, they might
be found where they had buried them, at
dead of night, in st. Roberts cave, near
where the other bones were found, adding
that Clark's head lay to the right in the turn
at the entrance to the cave. Upon search a
skeleton was found exactly as described.
Aram himself was arrested while acting as
usher of a school at Lynn in Norfolk. Upon
trial, Houseman was used as kings witness.
Aram defended himself in written speech
full Of fact and antiquarian lore, in which,
with a skill beyond most lawyers, he prObed
into the weak points Of the ciucumstantial
evidence against him, urging the great un-
certainty Of its being Clark's body, since St.
Rob er:'s cave had been place of hermits,
who very likely, according to their custom,
had buried there. He was convicted and
afterwards confessed his crime. Failing in
in an attempt at suicide with a razor, he was
nursed back to life sufficiently to be hanged
and his body sent to rot in chains at KuaTes-
borough, near the scene of his crime So
perished one of the most learned criminals
of the world.
Crime comes and sometimes may strike
very close to anyone of US. 1t is, above all,
necessary that punishment also should be
made swift and sure. This result is reached
by careful and scientific study OF evidence
especially on its circumstantial side. Upon
a wide view of the history of crime in this
world, it may be safely said that punishment
though slow, is sure, and Of justice, what the
old Greeks said Of God, that he comes will
leaden feet, but strikes with an iron hand.
1t happens very curiously that, just a
present, English law circles are greatly eN
/ ercised over a pamphlet discussion between
Lord Chief Justice Cockburn and Mr.. Tay
I lor, author OF a standard treatise on the law
/ Of evidence, upon a novel decision Of hi!
J Iordsbin Iyz, which in A late murder trial il
London, q bit OF circumstantial evidence
was excluded on grounds that attack al
/ legal precedents His lordship, who i
known to have both the ordinary virtue
! and vices of beefeating, "by jingo' Eng
/ IshInan in excess, seems to have lost boil
( his temper and his case before the bar OF tn
legal profession. At least such is the opin
ion Of American lawyers who have read tn
pamphlets Of both disputants, just in hand
! -Boston Herald.