The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-10-26

rible discovery that the old fellow had
evidently been murdered. On the
floor Of his little cabin his body was
found cold and stark and with several
CHASTITY knife wounds In the region Of
the heart. any ono OF which would
have caused death There were also
evidences Of terrible struggle having
taken place; the few articles OF
l furniture In the room showing that the
two men-it was Of course assumed
that man had been his assailanf-had
fought all over II before the fatal
ARRAY had ended.
| The news was quickly circulated from
neighbor 20 neighbor. and before the
coroner. who had to be summoned
from the county seat twelve miles dis
tant. had arrived. the male population
Of the entire settlement were present.
and In little groups sat around and
discussed in subdued tones the terrible
| tragedy.
| Various were the theories advanced
To account for the crime which had
evidently been committed Some said
that they had always believed old Cor
bin was a fugitive from justice: that
he had done something for which he
was in hiding. and which accounted
for his strange disposition and his I'M
sociable ways
.'Tenny rate" said old Squire Chit
tick. ''rll bet hame-string that the
Teller who killed old Corbin has bin a
huntin' Of him all these years To my
mind" the old fellow continued. As he
climbed up on the top Of the rail fence
and seated himself as comfortably as
the nature Of the seat he had chosen
would admit ITO my mind it's the
settlin' Of IN old grudge; and when
that's said it's all said. That's my
ideer.-
To the little group that stood about
him this view Of the case seemed con-
elusive enough. and was received with
approval The old Squire. however.
was something Of Hawkshaw in his
way. besides being man looked up
to in the community. was bound to
preserve the reputation he had 50 long
held for his depth Of Judgment and
soundness OF opinion on matters gen.
orally. So. after his first views had
been unhcsitatingly acquiesced in. he
hedgingly added: Course be might
been robbed-he might a had money
in there" jerking his thumb over To-
ward the cabin, ssbut faint hardly
likely. Still it might be. But he
added. conclusively. its either one or
tother. an know IL as well As III old
Corbin itself had told me just how it
happened"
Finally the coroner. himself a ply
stefan, arrived. and soon impaneling
jury from those present. entered into
an investigation Of the mystery. With
the meager facts bearing upon the
tragedy and which have already been
stated. the jury was not long IN reach
ing the only verdict possible under the
circumstances. which was that the man
had been killed or came to his death
BY wounds inflicted BY person or per-
sons to the jury unknown.
Uncle Archibald Wilson. By virtue OF
his acquaintance with the deceased.
was given charge Of the remains. and,
with the assistance OF his neighbors.
had them conveyed to his own home
and In due time deccntly Inferred in
the neighborhood burying ground He
was also made. or appointed By the |
court. administrator OF the estate A |
the murdered man had no legal heirs !
In that country. it became the duty OF 4
Mr. Wilson to advertise. so as 10. il /
find any who might be living |
In other parts Of the United States. To
this end he inserted the usual notices
In the leading papers. and a month or
so afterward received the following
letter. The epistle bore the post-mark
Of a small village in Western New
York. and was dated July 5. 1854. II
ran as follows:
Mn WILsox-Dsar Sir: I have
just seen your ad in a New York pa
per. and replying thereto think can
give you the information you desire
ls to the heirs OF James Corbin: and
-~~1 t.-ttW NttAAsA - ~ vi tllE IIINr-
lcrious manner in which he met his
ieath- IL i a long story and must
begin a; the beginning.
Thirty years ago James Corbin
md myself were friends and school
mates His fathers farm joined ours
ae was an only child. while l was the
Youngest Of a family Of FIVE. In the
'illagc where we both attended school
n the winter. and where we went to
'hurch every Sabbath with our par
'nts for years, lived Mary Dean. a
'eautiful girl and the only daughter Of
sev. Mr.. Dean. pastor Of the little
hurch where our families both wor- ,
hipcd- Mary. as l have said. was
beautiful girl. and As good a. she
ras beautiful. IL
James and /. both thcn entering
pom manhood. became rivals for
larry hand and affections. Ii
1T was not long until ii became ap- Z
aren't that ! was the farorite one. and '
rom that time the intimacy which had i