West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-03-28
TWO NARROW ESCAPES.

An English lawyer once said that cir.
cumstantial evidence would hang the
King of England. While that was put
ting 1t pretty strong, it is admitted that
chain OF circumstantial evidence has
often sent men to the gallows. II cir
cumstance can be explained away, it is
but mere shadow. II it cannot be ex-
planned away, it becomes n menace to
the prisoners life. A witness may be
bribed, abducted, or impeached. A cir
cumstance is lion in the path demand
ing blood.
1t has often been asserted that innocent
men have been hung on circumstantiaI
evidence. There may have been such
instances, but they have been rare in
deed. In my own experience in law and
detective work have seen some curious
things about circumstantial evidence. 1t
IS, in one sense, the strongest chain
which can DC forged, IN another the very
weakest
About twenty years ago was detailed
on a murder case in "a Kentucky town.
1t was not TO work up the case, but to
save II possible the young man arrested
Tor the crime. When got the facts and
details felt hopeless to accomplish any
thing. He was a young man of 28.
named Graham, aud was of respectable
family. He had been engaged to a
young lady of the highest respectability,
but they had quarreled about sometime
Common friends had brought about q
reconciliation, but a new suitor had ap-
peared upon the scene, and Graham's
jealousy had provoked another quarrel.
lie had not visited her in two weeks.
when, on the evening Of Sunday, Octo-
Der 30, one of Graham's friends met him
and said:
"Your rival is up at LosSing's, and
seems bound to cut you out. Adele
seems very sweet on him"
Graham truly loved the girl, and this
speech made him wild He turned pale.
trembled, aud finally said:
she is an adyenturer and an inter
loper. Let him look out for himselfr,
An hour later he started for Lossing's.
He passed several people who saw that
he was excited. The house stood back
from the road in n grove OF trees, and
was approached by two paths or drives
from the front. Graham fully intended
to enter the house. but when he came
upon the grounds his courage failed him.
He was afraid he might say or do some
thing rash in his present mood, and very
sensibly decided to return to town and
1NASA AAth NAiA htii ADG utAk uhN. Next
morning his rivals dead body was found
on one of the drives, about half way be.
tween the house and the fence. He had
been struck down with bludgeon. Con
clusions are always jumped at in murder
cases. Two OF the servants were at once
arrested, but before noon they were set
at liberty and Graham was taken into
custody. The chain already contained
several links. Others were added the
moment he was arrested. lie was dread
fully agitated, hesitated to acknowledge
that he had been near tho place, and a
blood stain was found on the right
sleeve Of his coat. Before he had been
IN Jail one day even his own father be-
lieved him murder He was examined
and bound over, aud II was only after
that event that no began 70 protest his
innocence. The girl who had been the
cause Of IL came nobly to his rescue.
While she truly loved him, she had been
willing 20 make him jealous, and when
murder had come Of II, as she believed.
she felt terribly conscious striken and
anxious 70 believe IA bis pro.estation OF
innocence.
When came upon the ground, the
state had its case all worked up, and
when ] went over IL 60 look for a flaw
teAAA hAA hvuos 4 uaA 70 ACKNOWLEDGE
that was without hope. Indeed, ] be-
heyed Graham guilty. His own expla-
nations rather strengthened that belief.
Lossing's house faced the east. The
highway In front ran north and south.
The lawn was twenty yards wide. aud
one drive led from the north and the
other from the south end Graham an.
preached from the north. lie would
naturally turn m at the first drive, but he
claimed 70 have gone on TO the second.
He followed Il TO the house. passed
around IL, played for two or three min
ntes with the dogs, and then circled
about the fish pond, and took short
cut across the grove and struck the road.
not hitting the north path at ALL The
dead man had come from the village as
well, and on foot. He had come and at
tempted 70 return by the north drive.
II Graham was innocent who was
guilty.
Not the slightest suspicion had been
directed elsewhere. 10 seemed homeless
% look. I questioned and cross-oues
toned him, but he could not give me
Tho slightest foundation for a clue or y
theory. What 7 got came by accident
] asked 70 see the blood stained cloth.
ing, and found IL TO be q single daub