Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-10-15
Ths Stnrw Teller.
A HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPE.

WV q" ""
A HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPE.
In the year 1S41, the now flourishing city
of Steubenville, Ohio, was a very small
place. Its population was noted for its qui-
ct and orderly character, and there was not
single liquor saloon in the place.
Crime was very rare, and the circuit judg-
es often had occasion to congratulate the
people upon not having single criminal
case upon their calendar.
In consequence there was intense excite
ment in Steubenville when at an early hour
in the morning of the 18th of November, in
the above mentioned year, the report reach.
ed the place that the corpse of man had
been found in the woods within hundred
yards of the last house Of the town ana
close to the Pittsburg turnpike, with every
indication that an atrocious murder had
been committed. The sheriff, accompanied
by some fifty citizens, Immediately hasten
ed to the spot indicated to him by the per-
son who had discovered the remains OF the
murdered man. That person was decrep-
it old woman who had gone out to gather
brushwood. No one would have suspected
her under any circumstances of having any
thing to do with the bloody deed, and be-
side, she manifested such unfeigned horror
in describing what she had seen at the dis
NAL spot in the woods, that she was unhesi-
tatingly allowed to 60 about her business.
Upon arriving at the scene of the sup
posed murder, the sheriff and his compan-
ions saw at glance that terrible crime
had been committed. The dead man was
covered all over with frozen gore, and seven
wounds apparently inflicted with a sharp
knife, were found upon the body. His
head was still covered with nice felt hat.
His face presented most CHASTITY aspect.
A terrible cash extended from the left
temple to the right jaw. Another cash was
in the forehead. The victim was dressed
in substantial fur coat. He was apparent
ly forty years old.
When his pockets were examined they
were found to be entirely empty. But close
to the body was found an Old-fashiOned
wallet. It was still open as if its contents
had been taken from it, and as if he who
had emptied it, had afterward thrown it
away.
AT distance of about ten yards from the
corpse, near a log, lay peculiarly shaped
fur cap 1t could not have belonged to the
murdered man, for as we have said before,
he had his hat on his head.
The ground was covered with snow, and
there were number of light footprints in
I. 1Q6S6 W0T6 GuC Ouly VI lilO
perpetrator of the horrible crime.
The coroner was sent for, and until his
arrival the sheriff and his companions " ent
. to the Ohio tavern, which was situated at
no great distance from the scene of the
murder.
When the sheriff told the landlord of the
murder and described to him the appear
ance of the corpse, the landlord exclaimed
at Cnce:
"Great God that poor fellow cannot be
anybody else than Mr.. Sammis, the Pitts
burg cattle dealer. He was here last night,
and took supper with another man from
or Wilson, and who rode on toward Pitts
burg Immediately after he had left the
table. Mr.. Sammis sat in the front room
with me and Jack Capon for an hour, when
the two went out together.
Jack Capon was dissolute, very good
natured fellow, about thirty years old, who
hada decided aversion to work, and still
more decided prediction for strong dri nix.
He could not get any whisky at Steuben-
Vile and hence he often walked for miles
and miles in order to obtain "wee drop"
of whisky. When he was successful he re-
turned with his hat full of bricks to Steu-
ished by the esquire" for intoXication, with
fine and imprisonment. Still, everybody
liked him because he had an excellent un-
selfish heart, and never forgot favor done
him.
'sWhat sort of hat did Capon wear last
night ?" asked the sheriff.
"Why, no hat, but cap-made of beaver
skin-With two ear-covers."
"Was this the cap?" said the sheriff, pro-
ducing the fur cap which he had found near
the corpse of the murdered man, and which
ho ho1 fhrc for
cloak.
"Yes," exclaimed the landlord, "that is
Capon's hat and no mistake, where did you
find it?"
Thesheriff told him. Everybody seemed
horror-struck at the idea that poor Jack Ca
pom should have committed so atrocious a
crime.
Men were Immediately dispatched to hunt
up Jack Capon. They did not find him at
his wonted haunts in Steubenville but a
man who was we'll acquainted with his hab-
would be at the cabin of old Sim Brooks.
Brooks lived in the woods, on the Pitts
burg side of Steubenville, about one mile
from the spot where the corpse Of Mr.. Sam
mis- had been found. Like Jack Capon, old
Brooks was fond of whisky, and the two
would frequently drink together until they
were utterly oblivious of the cares and sOr-
rows of this world, which, as they thought,
had not treated either of them too we'll.
So to Brooks cabin went the men. They
knocked at the front door, which was locked.
For several minutes there was no response.
At last old Brooks himself opened the door,
They saw at a glance that he was in an
alarming state of intoXication.
'Is Jack Capon here?" they asked.
"Ye-ye-yes," hiccoughed Brooks che is
lying asleep yonder, behind the stove"
Then the drunken old fellow went back to
his lounge, and minute later he was sound
asleep again. The men stepped up to Capon.
He was drunk also. His coat and shirt were
covered with blood. They exchanged sig
nifcant glances and aroused him not with
out considerable difficulty.
"What doyou want?" he asked, yaWning.
"The sheriff wants you, Jack"
"The sheriff! What for? / haln't done
nothing.'
"You are suspected of having murdered a
Mr.. Sammis, of Pittsburg."
$50 away! 1 murdered Mr.. Sammis ?
You must be looney."
"Look at yourself.'
Capon looked at his clothes. The sight of
the bloody stains on them caused him to So
ber up at once.
"How did get these stains on my coat
\ 1.-A