The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-26

until he turned AMI saw the fatal chair
that any terror seemed to possess him
He trembled violently, his teeth chat
tered and falling on his knees he ap
peared to ask for mercy. But not s
sound issued from his lips; he made only
the most tincomprehensible gestures.
"The boy was not dumb before p
asked the chief. "He spoke without
doubt?"
Perfectly replied Bloch.
"Go ahead, Jean, aDswerl Tell us who
killed your master, the old Jew"
The domestic did not reply.
"This man appears to be unable tc
speak," said the surgeon, who examined
Muller attentively. "lt may be that
this murder has struck him in terrible
and unexpected manner. We have
celebra ed examples of such cases among
the witnesses of narrowing scenes"
THAT is well enough for witnesses,
but do you think the same effect can be
produced ON an assassin once his crime
is accomplished?
"That, do not know"
"But will the law admit this weak
circumstance? We can judge of it very
soon. You must know that mental de-
rangement and dumbness are two great
ways of vindicating culprits. have
seen criminals pretend insanity for en-
tire months, in such manner as to
defeat science and physicians and to
avoid thus the capital punishment that
they merited.s
F" [ cannot, however, believe it a
crime" responded the surgeon.
" In waiting the trial, the law which
represent, and which ought to protect
society, arrests and jmprisons Jean
Muller, accused until further proof OF
the crime of homicide, intentional and
perhaps premeditated, on the person of
mis- master, Samuel Staufer, merchant
and broker is obtained"
The domestic suffered himself to be
led without manifesting the least emo
ton. The police surrounded him to
protect him from the insults of the
mob.
The cuchoo to which the unfortunate
man was hung was carried to the prison
and disappeared behind the heavy door
and massive bolts of the Jail.
On the day after they buried Samuel
Staufer, his goods were sold at auction,
for he left no will or heirs. But they
could not find purchaser for the house,
which was closed, and passed imme-
diately for a sinister and dangerous
dwelling. 1t was strictly avoided when
night fell, and often the grocer Bloch,
who dwelt opposite, would shiver with
agony between his sheets, believing he
heard sounds behind the blinds of the
late Samuel Staufer.
Two months sped by two long
months, during which life had retaken
its habitual lcourse-two months in which
a thousand incidents of the act had &C
cumulated slowly on the terrible event
which took place the night of the storm.
The little house at last found pur-
chaser, when they had almost despaired
of ever finding one. 1t was an old Jew,
a peddler, who announced his intention
to take the business of Samuel Staufler.
But he had rot opened shop yet.
The little town of H was in psr-
feet f1utter of excitement. The people
crowded and pressed around the court
house. Jean Muller WAS about to be
tried, and the curiosity which had been
increasing day by day had now reached
it's eliminating point.
Jean had not yet spoken. His lawyer
himself had not been able to draw him
from his obstinate dumbness which
seemed almost supernatural. What
could he hope for? The law face to
face with the horror of the crime would
be pitiless toward such stubbornness-at
least unless the insanity of the unfortu-
nate man could be proven, and it was
this course which had been adopted by
his lawyer, who not only saw no other
way to save him, but he had come to be-
liave it himself.
The trial began; the judges and jury
men took their places. Hanging on the
wall was the fatal cuckoo. 1t had be-
come an instrument of death-a certain
proof of the crime. There it was, a
silent, sinister witness marking the hour
of three. This clock was little larger
than are usually made, which explains
how it could support the weight of a
man. A sort of niche in the woodwork
hid the bird from sight, who sung the
hour. The public could not look at it
without fear. Every one felt the in
fuence of the mystery, and all thought
that the trial would not throw much
light on it, unless the accused coulo be
made to speak.
The prisorer was ordered to appea ar.
The crowd swayed like field of wheat
in the wind. All heads were turned to-
ward the same place-the little door by
which Jean Muller entered. Every
sound ceased and a silence like death
weighed on this multitude so restless, &c
tumultuous but an instant before.
Muller advanced between two guards
tall, thin and fair, with a gentle look
his eyes troubled and his head lowered
He walked without knowing what be
did. Not a sound escaped his lips; hi!
movements were those of an idiot! hi!
glance was fixed on the ground.
The witnesses gave their testimony
it all tended towards a crime. He wa
alone in the house with bis master; b,
was hidden when they made the di
covery he had neither confessed nor de
MED the murder. One question alon
remained to decide his fate. Had h,
commits ed the murder in cold blood o
in fit of insanity.
Jean Muller had not raised mis- eyes
He seemed neither to hear nor under
stand. 1t was like a torch extir
guished.
Suddenly in one corner of the hal
there arose murmur, which increase
little by little till it reached the fron
ranks.
A man traversed the crowd, using hi
fists and elbows to make himself fre
passage, and arriving near the prisone
he looked at him with strange snee
then leaping lightly over the railin
VIII ch separated the tribunal and til
public he addressed himself to tt
judges:
Gentlemen, will you permit me
make test to recall this unfortnna
man to reason? l am called Eli
Wolfmann, Your Honor. sold tn
clock to the late Samuel Stauffer, n
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