The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-06-09

eu Ills slsler anu niece JnaU ne would
arrange about the property early in the
month of August, which had already
begun; but when, two days after, he
called at Mrs. Conway's house, he al
lowed that he had totally forgotten all
about it. This confession was, of
course, all made by dumb show, as
from his birth he could not utter
word, and Mrs. Conway's discourse, as
she scolded him, fell upon deaf ears.
Thomas was good-natured soul, and
his sister carelessly thought it did not
matter how she rated him; but although
he heard never word, poor Toms
heart was grieved, for he knew that he
had vexed his sister.
Mr.. Ellwood of course could not re-
ply, although, with the usual tact of
afflicted people, he made shrewd
guess at what his sister said. He car
ried little tablet and pencil always
about with him, and now he wrote:
"1'll go to Woodley tomorrow, Jane,
the stage from Oakbourne to Woodley
starts at 6, and I'll go over"
Mrs. Conway read the sentence and
then smiled and nodded assent. The
two were reconciled, and the rest of
the evening passed off pleasantly
enough. James lover, Fred, had to 90
early, but Uncle Tom had to go to
supper. Jane and her mother went
with him to the gate, and there bade
him good night.
Mr.. Ellwood then went straight
home to his lodgings, and after ar
ranging with his landlady to rouse him
early the following morning he went
to bed. When the morning came he
packed up few neccssaries, directed
his luggage to Woodley--for he was
punctual man-and then, after telling
the landlady that he was going to that
town for a day or two, he left. He
booked from Oakbourne by the 6
o'clock stage and arrived early in
Woodley. The next day his sister re-
ceived letter from that town, stating
that after seeing his lawyer he found
it necessary to go on to Bellair, but
would return the next day.
The next day and the next came,
but Thomas Ellwood never came back
again. In his letter he stated that the
business in question might have been
done by an agent, but Mrs. Conway's
impatience and angry words had so
agitated him that he had resolved to
go on at once and do everything him
self He finished his letter with an ex-
preston of love, but Mrs. Conway
never forgot or forgave her own hasty
words to which he alluded
As day after day passed, Mrs. Con
way, finding her brother still mystcri-
ously absent from home, and that, as
far as she could learn, he bad not only
been away for much longer time
than business could require, but had
never been seen since, began to be
much agitated, especially as every one
was talking of horrible murder in
the Bellair coach.
| At last she went to Bellair, and
when she learned how the victim had
said this and that, she thought little
about it, for she knew poor Tom had
no power to speak. One evening,
however, she saw drunken man roll
ing home. Like other fools of his
class, he scattered all he had about
him, and Mrs. Conway's eyes fell upon
a small letter case which she knew
belonged to Ellwood. She picked it
up, followed the drunkard, saw where
he lived, and then applied to the Mag
istrate. The drunkad was arrested
He proved to be none other than the
coachman, John Rush, who could not
however, account fairly for the case
Drunk as he was, he was too sensible
to betray himself He was, however
held to bail, which, as he could no
give, he was, of course. locked up.
| The next day he was brought befor,
the Magistrate and examined. Mrs
Conway swore that the letter cas-,
belonged to her missing brother. Th,
coachman swore that he bought it
with some other trihes, of peddle
whom he met in the street, and a
there wa, no evidence to refute thi
statement he was at once discharged
Rush now saw that he was likely t,
become an object of suspicion, an,
prepared 10 nee.
Meanwhile the detective police
having at last clue which even
: blind man could not help but follow
set to work again in earnest. The,
saw Mrs Conway and suggested t
her that it was her brother Ellwoo
who had been murdered, and that pei
) haps the coachman knew more of tn
affair than he chose to allow. Thi
suspicion she of course at once declal
ed to be groundless, as her brother
being deaf and dumb, could not hav
spoken as the coachman asserted. .
l warrant, however, was obtained fo
1 exhuming the body of the murdere
man. Mrs, Conway at once recogni
$ ed her brother
Rush was now again arrested, a
g though the Magistrate was greatly OF
posed to the proceeding, as he justl
n stated that there was not suficiel
s evidence to justify an arrest, A wei
I known lawyer, Mr.. Chancery, howeve
l. came forward and clearly showed th
VI if Rush, having every facility f,
ioiih'hS PioPeii JuuS'heht, Hal sWol
u solemnly that the deceased had sa
such and such things, the deceast
s. being-as was now fully proved-de
II and dumb from birth, he must eth
y have deliberately committed perjur
'r or else he must have some compiled
d in the bloody deed, or possibly
rs might be guilty of both. This arg
ment, coming from a man like n
IT Chancery, was listened to with prop
g attention. The coachman was aga
t. taken into custody and committed
10 trial.
" He was arraigned at the next Sc
10 ions, Had he only murdered the U
"a fortunate Mr.. Ellwood and said not
d. ing about it he might possibly ha
an escaped. But he condemned hims
a out of his own mouth by swearing
,e, the inquest that man, now proved
be born dumb, had said certain thin
ot to him. When brought up for trial
,o- came in with an air of defiance a