The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-09-07
A STRANGE MURDER TRIAL.
A YOUNG EMBELLISHMENTS DOWNFALL
IN FLORIDA.

Arrested for the Murder of n Miser--An
Unexpected Witnessed Drop of BlocI
md n Red Hair.
Archibald w. Newton, a young man
who belongs to a wealthy family which
stands high in England, has recently
been convicted in Orange county, Flor
ida, of the murder of Samuel McMil-
Ian. The case was sensational, and
when the jury brought in the verdict,
We find the prisoner guilty as charged
in the Indictment" there was much
excitement in the courtroom. In the
spring of 1881 Newton appeared at
Sanford, Florida. He was a youth of
fine appearance and pl asing manners,
was popular at first, but his good repu-
tation was soon blasted. There were
reasons to suspect him of forgeries,
and then cane news that he had left
England because of an assault upon
Miss Polly BowrCn. subsequently he
sent money to England for Kate Bow
ron, a sister of his alleged victim, and,
meeting her in New York, married
her, and the couple returned to Crystal
Lake, Orange county.
While this was going on another
topic of suspicion presented itself.
There lived in Orange county, nea
Crystal Lake, a man named Samuel
Mcmillan, who bore the reputation OF
being a miser, and was supposed to
carry a large sum of money on his per
son. On Saturday evening, Septem-
Der 30, Mcmillan was last seen alive
half an hour after sunset in company
with Newton. He never returne to
his home, and on October II his head
less body was found in Crystal lake,
partly consumed by fishes. Around
the waist was a rope, to which was sus-
pended a sack, in which was found an
iron pot full of nails. A few days
later the head of the murdered man
was found near the same spot, and a
bullet-hole was discovered in the back
of his skull. On the brains being re-
moved a bullet dropped out, which ap-
peared to fit exactly a pistol Newton
had borrowed from a neighbor named
True.
About that time Newton became
flush Of funds. lie said that his wife's
brother, James Bowron, hal sent him
$4,000 with which to buy an orange
grove on the lake. He was suspected
of the murder of Mcmillan. lowever,
and was brought before Judge Cooke,
a man noted as a member of the
Florida returning board of 1876. The
sensation of the trail occurred when
counsel for prose ution walked down
the aisle, FOLLOWED by a medium-sized,
dark-haired woman, evidently a
foreigner. AS the stranger got abreast
of Mrs. Newton she turned and peered
into her face, saying "Why, Kate"
The prisoner, as he looked up and
recognized the woman. flushed until it
seemed the blood would burst from his
neck and cheeks, while Mrs. Newton
several S conds with upturnei face
and ~half-opened lip, as if petrilied by
amaZement.
The presence of this woman in
America was a complete surprise to
the defense. Her testimony was to
the effect that the Bowron family had
not e25 in the world, much less $25,-
OOO, to invest in orange groves. That
had been the main point # the defense
to account for Newton's money,
alleged to have ben sent by the
wealthy brother-in-law.
Mcmillan, the murdered man, had
coarse red hair. At the trial DR.. King
Wylly testified that he had found in
blood spots on a handkerchief found
in Newton's pocket the morning after
the murder a single red hair. lie tes-
titled that at the first examination he
found a single blood crystal. Sup.
posing that he might have scratched
his finger and caused the crystal to get
on the handkerchief, he would not ac-
cept it as evidence that there was
blood there. His last examination re-
vealed the blood corpuscles very dis
tinctly, and under the microscope he
discovered a single red hair-a coar. G
red hair. The defense fought the case
point by point, but the drift was
against them, and when Newton said
that he had borrowed True's pistol to
shoot an alligator the audience
laughed.
When the jury came in and gave the
verdict one could have heard a pin
drop. All the while Newton had been
%nervously twitching his mustache.
When the verdict was read out lie
dropped his head and turned deathly
pale, while a slight tremor passed
through his frame. He then suddenly
jumped up and seized his hat, for.
getting that the court had not adj
journed, but presently controlled him
self and resumed his seat. His wife
remained quiet fer a few moments,
then a few tears trickled down her
cheeks and she grasped her husbands
arm convulsively, but beyond this she
showed no emotion. Judge Cooke
pronounced the verdict of death.