The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-04-26
Found Dead.

of Elmdale had been shocked by the
discovery of a great crime in their
midst.
Seth Drlscoll well.known citizen
was found, at early dawn, lying dead In
his own garden. A ghastly bullet
wound In the back of his head left no
room to question the cause of his death
and any suspicion of suicide was rebut-
ted, as well by the position of the wound
as by the discovery of footprints lead
ing back and forth from near the body
to the garden wall, at point where the
latter bore evident marks of having
once been scaled.
But the crowning evidence was that
of a pistol recently discharged, lying
near the base of the wall where the
murderer had clambered over. 1t was
picked up by Jonas Wenlock, DR.. Dris-
coils nephew, who gave start of sur
pris at the sight " know who owns
this weapon !" he exclaimed.
Who who 7" questioned a dozen
eager voices.
"Volney Kendall" he answered.
Had thunder clap fallen upon the
listeners the effect would not have been
more startling. The young man whose
name had just been uttered was the last
person to be suspected of an atrocious
crime. At the first instance the very
thought was repelled with adherence;
but at the second came strange revo-
luton. 1t was remembered that Volney
Kendall had been an earnest suitor for
the hand of Kate Dunseth, Mr.. Dris-
coils ward, and had received from the
naughty guardian a supercillious rebuff
which he had bitterly resented. Here
was motive for the deed which coupled
with the circumstances of the pistol,
awakened conviction in the very minds
where, moment before, the slightest
shade of suspicion had been Indignantly
secuted
Within an hour young Kendall, pale
and agitated, was dragged prisoner to
the scene of the tragedy where fresh
evidence was speedily added to that
already accumulated. His shoes were
found exactly to fit the tracks in
the garden, even to the print of the
nails.
He acknowledged to the ownership of
the pistol, but declined all explanation
of its presence at the place where it had
been found or of his whereabouts on the
previous evening.
None longer doubted the prisoners
guilt and he was placed in close confine-
ment to wait the coroner's inquest.
Next day 1 was retained for the &C.
cused but from an interview with him
permitted by the jailer, L came away
without shadow of hope for although
he asserted his innocence, he persisted
in maintaining silence on points the
clearing up of which were vital to his
defense.
The inquest was held at the house of
the deceased. The facts already stated
were laid before the jury; but when
the prisoner was questioned, save ac-
knowledging the ownership of the
pistol, and denying all knowledge of the
murder, he declined to answer.
Once he looked appealingly to Kate
Dunseth, who was present, summoned
as witness with the rest of the house.
hold. She met his look with fearful
bewildered gaze, and he turned away
and bowed his head in silence.
drew from Jonas Wenlock, whom
was permitted to cross. examine, that he
had heavy insurance ON his uncle's
life, and from another witness who had
under taken the duty of investigating
the condition of Mr.. Driscoll's affairs,
that they were in very embarrassed
state. But the Coroner cut me short:
SIT is hardly proper Mr.. Wilson lin the
face of the evidence, to insinuate either
that Mr.. Driscoll committed suicide, or
that Is nephew murdered him."
All the witnesses had been examined
but the gray. haired doctor who had
made the autopsy, and who now took
bis stand. He was one of your grave
taciturn men, who keep their own coun-
sci till the fitting time comes to speak.
"Tell us, Doctor" continued the cor
oner, after few preliminary questions
"what, If any, wounds did you discover
on the person of the deceased ?"
With minute precision the witness
described the bullet wound in the head
giving the diameter and depth to the
fraction.
"In your opinion, was the wound the
cause of death ~