The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-04-14
witnesses of narrowing scenes.


Is ACCOMPLISHED 90 fe sa'.-.-gT s7esa ~s @
"That, / do not know.s
"But will the law admit this weak
circumstance? We'can Judge of it very
soon. You must know that mental de-
fangement and dumbness are two great
ways of vindicating cr1lprits. have
seen criminals pretend insanity for en-
tire months, in such a manner as to
defeat science and physicians and to
avoid thus the capital punishment that
they merited.' ,; -. ........ ---
81 cannot, however. believe it a
crime" responded the surgeon. .-
" In waiting the trial, the law which
l represent, and which ought to protect
society, arrests aud imprisons Jean
Muller, accused until further proof of
the crime Of homicide, intentional and
perhaps premeditated, on the person of
his master, Samuel -StaRffer, merchant
and broker is obtaineI I.".l~|a Fl J..
The domest ic suffered himself to be
led without manifesting the least emo
tiOn. Ihe police surrounded him to
protect him from the insults of the
mob. ..af --aaz-s7.z .rr s-.. ..
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
Staufier, his goods we're sold at auction,
for he left nj VIII or heirs. But they
could not find a purchaser for the house,
which was closed, and passed imme-
diate,y for a sinister and dangerous,
n Oh tDyi 4T1iy laI ykav n
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-t two long
months, during which life had retaken
its habit usI IcOurse-twO months ID which
a thousand incidents of the act had ac-
cumulated slowly on the terrible event
which took place the night of the stor N.
The little house at last found a pur-
chaser, when they had almost dsspaired
Of ever finding one. 1t was an old Jew,
peddler, who announced his intention
to take the business of Samuel Staufer.
But he had not opened shop yet.
The little town of H was in a per-
feet futter 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 byyday had now reached
its eliminating point. ....-
Jean had not yet spoken. His lawier
himself had not been able to draw hym
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
least unless the insanity OF the unto -tu-
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 % be
liRve it himself. s.
IB!I4 9qI began; the judges and jury
men took their places. Hanging on the
wall was the fatal cuckoo. It had be-
come an instrument of death-a certain
proof of the crime. There it was, q
ilent, sinister witness marking the hour
# three. This clock was little larger
han are usually made, which explains
low it could support the weight of q
nan. A sort Of niche in the woodwork
lid the bird from sight, who sung the
lour. The public could not lock at it
without fear. Every one felt the in
iuence of the mystery, aud all thought !
hat the trial would not throw much !
ight on it, unless the accused could be |
made to speak.
The prisoner was ordered to appear. |
The crowd swayed like field of wheat |
Il the wind. All heads were turned to-
yard the same place-the little door by |
Which Jean Muller entered. Every !
ound ceased and a silence like death |
Weighed on this multitude so restless, so |
but an instant before,
Muller advanced between two guards,
all, thin and fair, with gentle look; !
lis eyes troubled and his head lowered. |
lie walked without knowing what he
i'd. Not q sound escaped his lips; his
novements were those of an idiot! his
lance was fixed on the ground.
The Uiiaesses gave their testimony
all tended towards a crime. He was
lone in the house with his master; he
yas hidden when they made Che dis
Overy; he had neither confessed nor de-
led the murder. One question alone
emained to decide his fate. Had he
Ommitted the murder in cold blood or
= 81 nf insanitu
Jean Muller had not raised his eyes.
Te seemed neither to hear nor under
tand. It was like a torch extin-
Uished.
Suddenly in one corner of the hall
here arose a murmur, which increased
title by little till it reached the front
anks. ..-,e.. t.....-. ..-.... .....
A man traversed the crowd, using his
sts and elbows to make himself a free
assage, and arriving near the prisoner
e looked at him with strange sneer,
hen leaping lightly over the railing
-hich separated the tribunal and the
ublic he addressed himself to the
ldoes: .--l- rs a.l'--7E 'L
tfGentlemen, will you permit me to
lake q test to recall this unfortunate
ian to reason? / am called Elias
Volfmann, Your Honor. Isold this
lock to the late Samuel Staufer, my
'orthy co-reLgionist." rzf.-
A shiver ran through his hearers at
his declaration; the curiosity was re-
oubled every ear was wide open.
The Jew Wolfmann was tall, angu-
IF parsonage, with q, a,yellow beard float
lg in two points from his chin; his
ose was sharp and his small gray eyes
ere hidden beneath the bushy eye
rows; a continual sneer lowered
round the corners of his mouth. He
ore a.lopg coat reaching TO his ankles,
altered at the waist with a wide belt I
nd immense brass buckle. His cos
lme was not flattering and the resi- :
snts of H--iid not associate with
Inn willingly. It was with great in
,rest-that they looked at him, detailing
is dress and scrutinizing his features.
-e appeared false and Perfdious.
" I ask but ole thing, said he, "the
emission to put in motion this clock"
1t was. granted. Then mounting a
lair he put in mntion the pendulum.
t the fourth stroke the niche opened
nd the cuckoo appea~ed on the thres-
DID, and singing three times announced /
le hour Hardly had it finished when
usic hidden in the body Of the clock
ayed the 'Rdaiz des aV0ehcs,P but in