The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-01-03


earth. It was a question that vexed mo
many days and nights, and the only way
I could satisfy myself was by ilgurlng
that Talbot had a confederate All
things considered, this did not seem
likely. And again remembered his
words and his conduct when arrested.
He was almost terrified when charged
with murder, but rs soon aA said that
It was the murder OF Nathan Chase he
exhibited great relief. There was some
thing queer about that, and it bothered
me.
Talbot had lawyer from Richmond,
who defended him ably and we'll, but
without hope OF success. The young
man claimed to him that he found the
money, and that he spent the day In tie
woods. hurther he could not or
would not go. Previous good char
aoter and general reputation we're Of
course urged In defense, but the lawyer
might az well have kept silence The
jury was out only fiftecn minutes, ard
when a verdict OF guilty had been ron
dered the Judge sentenced the prisoner
to be hanged. The day of execution
was got about eight weeks ahead 1t
was plain as day that the verdict and
sentence were stunning surprises 10
Talbot, though expected by everybody
else. A guilty man could not have
eonnterfsited HE amazemont. He acted
ne one just aroused from sleep. bad
worked mp the case for the State Goa
scientiously, and with a feeling that
Talbot was a red-handed murderer. lie
had no sooner been convicted than be-
gan to doubt his guilt. His lawyer and
his unole. and great many others had
their doubts.
II Talbot didn't murder Chase who
did2 Having gone on the theory that
Talbot did, all other olues hos been left
unworked. / fret began Inquiries ~
10 who might have been in the neighbor-
hood that day. After considerable time
found that houseboat, In which we're
several eolored men, had tied up to the
bank Of the Kanswha about half mile
from where Chase was shot. Ii cams the
| day before he was shot and left the
evening Of the tragedy. Some Of tho
occupants of tho boat had been seen
chasing hog in the woods. II theae
people had done the killing there we're
enough OF them to carry the body to the
thickst. The boat had gone down the
river, and at once procesded to Point
Pleasant, In hopes Of hearing Homethir I.
This was three months after tae muyder,
but almost Immediately struck clue.
The housebost had stopped there. and
In fight on board a colored boy nbout
sixteen years old had been shot In the
knee aud flung overheard He was
rescued by a passing sklf and given up
to the authorities. His ley had to come
OF, and he was still on his back In jail.
ascertained his name, learned that he
was cool and close mouthed. and then
went to SEQ him. As loaned over hls
cot, said
g Sam, ! have bpgged tho whole crowd
and got most oisAhA2-sss+soJ.- sfS'ssfry ara
going to swear the murder ON TO you"
"Swar It on to me ~ no exclaimed,
rousing mp In an instant. why. sir, !
didn't eben dun know about 1t till arteT
we had showed of. :"
"How much money did YOU getr'
"Not = two-bit pieoe. sab. Ole Pstei
an dat man Hutehins dun said dey would
keep II all deirselves, Dst's Whist De row
WAS about"
had found who killed Chase. The
boy in jail, who answered to the name o.
Sam, sald that two Of the men we're after
. pig, when Chase came in sight, and the
plan to kill and rob him was formed In 4
moment. They despoiled the body, hic
It in the thicket, and got away unseeI
and unsupported. followed down th'
river after the houseboat, but heard Of /
at Parkersburg, only 20 lose IL forever
It had been run down by steamer ius
above that town In the night and It wa
} believed that all the crew we're drowned
I eam, however, was oil the witness
! needed on the stand.
! was now sure that Talbot did no
murder Chase, Then where and hoy
did he get that money, where was he OF
the day Of the murder, and what Grim
had hs committed to betroy such slgn
OF guilt 1t was OF no use to go to hir
for pointers. Even VIXEN | told hlr
a / could clear him OF the charge of mul
dering Chase no would glvo me nothln
to work on. I therefore sent out on
0NN
u seen. entered the woods, beat thei
$ up for two miles on each side OF the roa
and was about giving up the searc
y when my dog made e discovery. In
), thieket to the left of = hog path whic
9 led of the highway, and on broken an
d stony ground, found lot Of hums
: bones. They had somewhat being pulle
q about but tho skeleton Of ma
Il was there. There where shreds an
d patches OF clothing, q dozen buttons, r
4. mains Of a pair Of bOots, and the ira
IS frame Of a satehel was close at hand. II
It hogs and the buzsards had eaten \
70 everything which they could swallow.
" Who waa the man. No one was mis-
J. ing. No one had gone out from the b
" tol and failed TO return. In those on
pet bag days there were many strange
ID coming and gelng, and It was no one
9, business to watch over them. Wheth
ID this poor fellow was going into Charlie
ls or leaving Il could not be told, II mig
ls have been that Talbot had decoyed hi
le out there on pretense OF selling hi
~ land, or he might have accidentally m
le him. The prisoner awaiting execute
Va uloMa4 uir 0NAnoaA0A NAeAN hn "
e. the murderer OF the man whose homes
y had found, but he would not lot fall
q word In admission. Here was q curlo'
q. stats Of aifairs. had worked up O.
at denos 10 prove him guilty OF murder
ds did not commit, and for a murder he "
90 really and truly guilty Of, / could furni
lat no proof Whatever. The Governor h
re 70 Interfere and the courts had to
M atm liberty.
no The end Of the affair was no l.
no tragic. Within two weeks aiterwa
he Talbot had rsgained his liberty
,m started TO leave the county, but had I
ed proceeded down the river hve miles wi
nd the boat blew up, and he was number
et with the lost.--N. Y. Sun.
er.-U. 8. Govt Report, AuV. ~. iSB