The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-07-01
Perhaps They Were Twins.

About twenty years ago robber en-
tered the farm house of John West in
Indiana, and, being discovered while
prowling around the house, he shot West
in order that he might make his escape.
The hour was midnight, and there was
bright harvest moon lighting up the
room in which the shooting took place.
West had a club beside his bed, and he
gave the intruder powerful blow with
this before the shot was fired. The bul.
let entered the abdomen and he lived
about three days and was perfectly con-
scious all the time. He declared on his
dying bed that his murderer was young
man named Solomon Richards, lawless
character who hung about the village
two miles away. Mrs. West recognized
him as we'll, and when Richards was ar
rested and charged with the crime he did
not deny it. There wasn't the slightest
doubt of his guilt, and but for the firm
ness of the sheriff the fellow would have
been lynched. He had been in jail two
weeks before be declared his innocence.
As he had no money he could not engage
lawyer, but he made statement to the
sheriff, which set that official at work to
prove an alibi for him. On the night Of
the shooting, Richards had sat in the
village tavern from nine to ten O'Clock.
This could be verified. When he left
the tavern he visited two saloons, but
this could not be verified. Several per.
sons were almost sure of having seen
him, but no one was positive. At 1920
o'clock he went to livery stable and
climbed up on the hay to sleep. He
claimed to have spoken to hostler
named Warner, but when Warner was
consulted he could not be sure whether
it was that night or the one proceeding
it. On his way from the saloon to the
barn Richards encountered person who
was dressed like himself, and whose gen.
eral resemblance was very striking.
Both halted and looked each other over
as if astounded, but neither spoke.
Not one man in hundred would have
taken any stock in such story, but the
sheriff, singular as it may seem, believed
that Richards. was telling the. truth.
West had struck the man with club.
Richards had notthe slightest, wound or
bruise. The pistol with which the shoot
ing was done had been left behind. No
one about the village had ever seen it
before How could Richards, who never
had dollar at time, have purchased
it2 He was on the street, perfectly un-
concerned, when arrested. If he was
guilty why had he waited right there to
be taken into custody, when the farmer
ii oo1lod o,,t. VCo1 Pinho ordc vou
have shot me, but I'll live to see you
huogw
All these points were overlooked by
everybody except the sheriff. Mr.. and
Mrs. West declared that Sol Richards
was the man; that was evidence enough,
especially when Sol was good-for moth
ing. Three weeks had passed when the
sheriff got track of man who had
passed toll gate at an early morning
hour, carrying bundle. Further on he
found that the man with the bundle had
a bloody ear. Five miles further and he
had entered farm house, alleged ne had
met with an accident, and had scalp
wound dressed. He had journeyed q
hundred miles before the sheriff overlook
him, but here and there he had sold frag-
ments of his plunder. When finally
oyerhauled and arrested he admitted his
crime almost before question was asked.
He was professional tramp, and rob-
berry was nothing new to him. He was
not only dressed precisely like Richards,
but lie resembled him so closely in height,
build, weight and facial expression that
people came to the jail and called him
Richards. egave his name as Terry,
but as he could remember little or moth
ing of his childhood, and as this was also
the case with Richards it was generally
believed that they were twin brothers,
The one was released as an innocent man,
and the other was sent to prison for such
a long term as practically assured his
death within the gloomy walls.