, 1882-11-24
CIRCUNSTINiIIL PRDOT.

CIECCWSTINiI PRbON.
"Never condemn person on circum-
stantial evidence; it is unreliable, even
when the circumstances seem to TIT into
each other like couple of cog-wheels, y
said John I. Norris, who is an expert.
enced detective Of Springfield, OHIO.
"Give us the story Uncle John"
"Not long ago there resided in Frank
lin county wealthy old maid, Miss Sa.
bine Smith. By Inheritance she was the
possessor of large farm, on which WAS
an old.fashioned though comfortable
dwelling house. She was reputed to
have good square bank account"
How old is sbG?
"Well, on the shady side of 70, but
she had weakness like all old maids !;
not for kittens, poodles or canaries, but
children. She had raised several orphan
girls, who are now well settled in life.
In 1865 she adopted q 6 year.old black
eyed girl, bright as button, named
Mollie Mccain, whose father had
fallen in battle fighting for his flag
and country, while her mot er, crazed
with grief, pined and fa led away. Mollie
soon learned to love her new mother,
and from prattling maid in short clothes
and pinafoles she soon bloomed forth
into gushing school girl, and at IS was
the belle of every rustic gatLering-the
pretty Miss Mollie McCann, over whom
the boys raved and the girls envied. TO
oil her admirers she turned deaf ear,
and with pretty toss Of the head and a
merry twinkle of her roguish eye, badc
them off and not bother her.
"Miss Smith was sensible; knew that
Mollie would probably marry and have
a home of her own some day, 30 she
neither discouraged her fondness for
society nor harped upon the miseries of
welded life in the maiden's eur, but
when she came back from the state
Fair at Columbus in 1878, and told her
adopted mother about the young gen.
tleman she had met, his attentions and
good qualities, Miss Smith was not
pleased, nor did she hesitate to frown
her displeasure and advise her ward to
turn willing ear to the many suitors of
the neighborhood instead OF seeking in
far-off fields that which was nearer
home.
"But Mollie was like many another
struck on a travelling man, and she car
ried on a secret correspondence with
him through lady friend for a long
time, until at last they were engaged.
Miss Smith and Mollie were the sole
occupants Of the house. The bedrooms
were four in number, two OF which were
used as spare rooms, one occupied by
Miss Smith and containing two beds,
Mollie occupying one, Miss Smith the
other, The fourth bedroom was called
Mollie's, but was only used by her when
lady friend was visiting her. In one
OF these spare bedrooms was an old.
fashioned bureau and bookcase com.
oined, the top drawer Of which could be
converted into desk. The back part
OF this drawer was fitted up with small
drawers. One Of these small drawers
had from time immemorial been used az
money drawer. In the summer O.
1879 the sum Of 1855 was missed from
the drawer in the summer Of 1880 5000
",ystericuslv disappeared. together with
Aquantity OF gold coins which had been
in the family for over q century. On
the Goth day Of May, 1881, Miss Smith
loaned to a aneighbOr $500, giving him
her check and he signing q note in her
favor. Sickness prevented his present
ing the check at the bank Of Columbus,
and learning that Miss Smith was going
to that city on the Both, he requested
her TO get it cashed. She did so, and
returned with Mollie about dark on
that day. having the money all in slOO
bills.
1.-THE house was all securely locked
down stairs, and Miss Smith deposited
the $500 in the secretary drawer. closed