Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-08-28

"Oh ! Judge she burst ont, with
a torrent Of sobs, "he is my hus-
band, my true husband But he
didn't do it Oh, Judge God knows
he is innocentl'
\ buzz of excitement spread |
through the room.
"Silence - said the Judge, rap
ping his desk sharply.
Then it was found the witness
had tainted in her chair. Present
ly she recovered, and eventually |
the story of her first marriage and |
the recent discovery of herself by |
the prisoner was wrung from her.
Only once the prisoner spoke.
"Tell the whole truth, Amelia,
and fear nothing" he said.
She said the prisoner had been
to her house the day of the murder.
Her husband-the deceased-was
off on the farm at the time. She
had decided to break the news to
him that night and 60 of with her
first husband the accused the next
day, and would have done so but
for what had occurred.
Medical evidence was given to
prove that the deceased had not
committed suicide.
Then the policeman was called.
lie testified to the steps taken to dis
cover the murderer. He discover
ed the fact of the prisoners visit 10
Chapman's house, and on this
ground had made the arrest. The
prisoner had freely told the story
of his marriage, and that his busl-
ness here was to get his wife, who
was living with Chapman. The only
money the prisoner had on his per
son when arrested was about S25 in
greenbacks and silver and GAO IN
gold certificates. lie had neither
pistol nor watch.
Then the prisoner was asked TO
testify. In simple, homely language
he told of his search for his wife, his
visit to the village after receiving
the letter, his meeting with her
not knowing or caring whether her
second husband was at home or
away-and of receiving her prom
Use to meet him at the railway
station and depart with him next
day. At the hour the IN urder was
committed he was alone In his
bedroom, trying to pass away the
time with pipe. He asserted he
never saw Chapman in his life, and
had no desire to do him harm nor
any enmity whatever against him.
He simply wanted his wife. lie
would have been willing to tell the
story to Chapman, but his wife
prefered to tell it herself and lie
was satisfied.
The landlord of the hotel where
Hermann had stopped said he did
not know whether the prisoner was
in his room at the hour of the mur-
der. epaid little attention to his
guests except about meal hours.
He remembered sending up some
beer, but did not know what hour
it was at the time.
Here the case rested.
Some of the men III the crowd
dropped out with a hard look IN
their faces. 1t was evident Her
mann's doom was sealed.
lie was certain of a few hours
respite, but once the sun went down
those men would surely gather
around the prison, the doors be
burst open, and within a few min
utes the victims body would be
dangling from the limb of tree,
while his soul winged its flight to
= the great Judge of all. 1t had oc
CURED so often before that every
ono knew what the departure OF the
"vigilantes" meant for the prisoner
I Probably the latter guessed it HIM
self. but if so his looks did not be-
tray the fact. lie was apparently
/. cool and self-possesSed--certalnly
q neither dazed nor frightened.
o He was led back to the prison
t while the Judge went through th'
G form of preparing an indictment
8 No one knew better than the Judg'
:. himself that this was but a farce.
n The sun was beginning to sink be
r. low the Western prairiOs when
n man rushed into the Ju dge's resI
q dence in state of wild c xcltemen'
!. II was the constable VIII had al
II rested Hermann.
I. "FOr heavens sake, j Judge, h
h exclaimed, "come with me to tn
prison! That man is innocent
D. The real murdered has been arrest
le ed-one Of the Buzzard gang, wh0I
ID we have been hunting for month";
Of Chapman's money and watch hav
g. been found on him"
H. Judge AMI constable rushed
it the prison. twas rapidly grown
,e dark, and already little knot .
10 men were gathering around. "I Ia
IN 10 !" he shouted at the top Of II
id voice, 81 want to speak to all Q
" YOU
er The fast increasing crowd gatl
Is- cred near. Then the Judge Orde
ii. ed the constable to tell the stOr!
10 "Duck Buzzard jugged-hurrah
la shouted the crowd. "Lets go fo
he him, boys"
ay Hermann was liberated there an
L H.. LII Ln..A niAirna fnr ln ~