Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-07-08
SAVED FROM DEATH.


Wisconsin farmer named Throop,
who was widower, with a daughter
is years old. The man had good re-
putation, and his daughter was great
favorite in the neighborhood. For some
time previous to the occurrence which
Aused his arrest Throop had not been
on good terms with farmer named
McWilliams, living about mile away,
on account of damage committed by
cattle belonging to the latter. There
had been law suit, and the two men
had once come to blows, and Throop
had said in the presence of witnesses
that he would like to put bullet into
McWllliams. One day about noon the
cattle broke into the field again, and
the daughter notified the father
Throop was terribly enraged, and, as he
started to drive them out lie took his
rifle along. The back end of the field
bordered on o wood, and the daughter
saw her father disappear among the
trees after the running cattle. Soon
thereafter she heard a shot, and was
alarmed for fear that her father had
carried out his threat.
Irabout half an hour Throop came
home, pale and agitated, put up his gun
and sat down to his dinner without
word. The girl was crying, but he
didn't seem to notice it. After the meal
was eaten he hitched up horse to the
buggy and drove away, saying that he
might not be back before sundown. He
returned at o'clock, and the daughter
noticed that he was in much better
humor. Neither referred to the affair
Of the cattle, and the evening passed
off pleasantly. Two days later, Throop
meanwhile pursuing his labors around
home, the sheriff appeared and arrested
him. The farmer was at supper when
the officer entered, and it was afterward
put in evidence that Throop turned
deadly pale before the errand of the Of
,fcer was made known. When told to
consider himself a prisoner he asked
what was the charge, and the sheriff
replied:
"For the murder of Henry McWil-
liams. His body was found in the
woods this afternoon"
Throop was terribly agitated, but pro.
tested his innocence, saying he had not
seen the man for week. Ashe was
taken away he whispered to his child,
who was clinging to him.
"Say nothing Of my chasing the cat
tie out"
This was overheard by the sheriff,
and at the proper time was used, to the
prisoners confusion. The daughter
was convinced of her fathers guilt from
the first. The blundering sheriff did
not take away the rifle, and he had no
sooner departed than the girl inspected
it, to find that it had been recently dis
charged. In hopes to exculpate her
father, she set about and cleaned and
loaded the gun. In the course ofa few
hours she was put under restraint and
interrogated. Believing that anything
she could say in regard to the affair
would react on her father, she deter
mined on silence, and not one word
could be got from her as to the events
of the past three days. Throop vigor-
ously denied the killing, but was OBJ
stinately silent to all other questions
The prosecution then began to work up
its case of circumstantial evidence, and
was fortunate from the start. A person
came forward who saw 'Throep leave
his house, gun in hand, to chase the
cattle. Two persons affirmed that they
heard the report of rifle. Several
people had heard Throop make threats.
The cleaning of the rifle was charged to
. TROOP, and make to look ugly against
him. The silence of himself and
daughter was proof sufficient to most
people that he was guilty of murder.
Court was in session and the accused
was speedily brought to trial. To his
lawyer he divulged the episode ofpur-
suing the cattle. and he admitted firing
at an heifer and missing her. The shot
went over her and entered beech tree.
He gave his solemn word that he did
not see McWilliams that day. When
he left the house after dinner it was
with the intention of going to the town
several miles away to consult lawyer
in regard to new suit. He did not
find the lawyer in his office, and on his
way home he got to thinking the mat
ter over, and made up his mind that he
had been too hasty all along. He even
had some thought of going to his neigh
Dor, and holding out the hand of re-
conciliation, but he was restrained by
the lateness of the hour. This feeling
accounted for his changed conduct
when he came home.
The lawyer went to the woods and
found the beech tree, and dug out the
bullet. He also found that the lawyer
whom Throop went to see was out at
the hour specified. 1t was strange, how
ever, that while scores of men in the
town knew Throop, no one could be
found who remembered having seen
him on that occasion.
& Mrs. McWilliams affirmed that her
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