New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-09-11

young Fergus going to his aunt S the
evening previous they reasoned it
out that he must have returned dur
ing the night for Miss Moore, she
perhaps being wanted for an emer-.
gency. This theory satisfied them
until TOUR in the afternoon, when one
of them returned to gather bou-
quet of flowers. She then noticed
bloody fnger-marks on the back
door, and, trying the door, found it
unlocked. She dared not enter the
house, but two or three men were
summoned to make an Investigation,
and in a few moments it was discov-
cred that murder had been commit
ted. The dead body of Miss Moore
was found in the sitting-room at the
door of her bedroom. She had been
struck three terrible blows with a
club or other blunt weapon, each one
breaking the skull.
/ was visiting the sheriff at this
time, and we were driving through
the village when the first alarm was
sounded. I was, therefore, at the
house among the first, and being
placed in charge by the sheriff / kept
the people out until I could make an
investigation. The murderer had not
obtained forcible entry to the house.
Not a single article ofvalue had been
removed, nor had any ransacking
been done. The woman had been
struck down where the body lay, but
her hands were clenched asst she had
grasped the weapon of death and it
had been pulled away from her. The
palm of one hand was torn and bleed
ing. I did not know either the dead
woman or Fergus, but / wanted au-
thority to arrest the latter. When
this fact became known Twas regard
ed as an idiot or Tunatic. Agener-
al cry went up that Fergus could no
more be suspected than an angel in
Heaven, but while the sheriff was left
ia secure Unnecessary papers drove.
out to interview the young man and
break the news to him. If Fergus
was guilty his defense would be an
alibi, and he carefully arranged the
details. He would be expecting the
news, and he would be braced up to
play a part.
I found him making ready to hitch
up to drive back. He had never seen
me before, and he did not know my
profession. AS I entered the barn he
looked startled and turned pale, but
recovered himself after a'minute, and
asked the nature of my business.
"You know, of course, that Miss
Moore is dead?" I carelessly replied.
''HoW-how should [ know it!'' he
exclaimed, turning very white.
s'Well, she is dead, Door thing"
"And do they charge me with it?"
with what?'
''Her murder?"
II hadn't said she was murdered.
I told you simply that she was dead.
How did you know she had been
murdered?"
He saw the trap he had fallen into,
and he gasped and stammered and
did his best to smoothit over Ipre-
tended not to lay it up as point
against him, and speedily arranged
that he should return in my vehicle
and leave the cooper's rig where it
was. After the first shock he braced
up wonderfully, and his demeanor
on the way home was entirely that
of an innocent man. He expressed
great willingness to give us all posi-
BILE information, but at the same
time advanced and chung to the
theory that no one buta tramp
could have been guilty of the crime.
Upon reaching home he displayed
considerable grief and emotion. In
fact, he rather overdid it, 1t was
more like acting out a part. The
people were indignant that he should
be suspected, and he was not put
under restraint. Indeed, no warrant
had been issued for him.
Early the next morning, satisfied
in my own mind that Fergus was
the murderer, / drove out to his
aunt's. I found that he arrived
there at seven o'clock Saturday
night. Half an hour later he com
planned of headache and went to bed.
saying he would be down again by
nine o'clock. AS he did not Keep his
promise, the hired girl knocked on.
his door at that hour, but receiving
no reply, was told not to disturb
him. He was not seen by the in
mates of the house until seven O clock
Sunday morning. The girl was up
at five, and as she crossed the yard
she saw that his window was up,
and some of his clothing was hang
ing in the sun. At the barn / found
the cooper's buggy washed clean.
Fergus had done this Sunday fore
noon. He had not made good Job
on the horse, however, and | found
plenty of mud on his fetlocks. AS it
was dusty Saturday night when he
was driven over. this mud must have
been picked up after the storm. I
found the harness stiff and damp
from being wet, and the cloth cushion
of the buggy was still damp. Hunt
ing further, / found the fresh tracks
of horse and buggy turning into the
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