Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-10-09
KING SOLOMON'S TOMB.

The little fishing village of Rockport, on
the coast of the state of NJ, was strange
ly silent and almost deserted. 1t was not
that the men were at sea engaged in their
usual avocation, for their boats were drawn
up in a long line on the sands and their
nets were drying in the sun. All who
could be spared from their homes had that
morning travelled over the rocky road that
led to Sedgwick, the county town, situated
some miles in the interior. They had gone
to attend a trial which was to take place
In the court, then in session.
Part of those who made this unusual
journey were s%ubpWnaed to appear as wit
nesses, while the others were drawn by "A
natural interest in the case. One of their
townsmen, a fellow fisherman, stood
charged with the highest crime known to
the law, that of murder. And the victim,
while not a resident of the village, had
lived near at hand, and was well known to
every man, woman and child in the neigh
borhood.
Yes, Jack Hastings, the bravest, biggest
hearted, handsumest of the young men of
the village, was accused of taking the life
of old Jasper kIrch. Not one of the fisher
folk but would lave staked life and honor
upon the innocence of Hastings, while,
aside from the natural horror inspired by
his violent death, little sympathy was felt
for the murdered man.
Jasper Karch, the miser, usurer and
grasping landlord, was the evil genius of
his simple hearted neighbors. Impelled
by his greed for gain, he schemed and
saved, stinting himself in the necessaries
of life, until at the age of fifty he was pre-
maturely aged and decrepit. He had never
married, and having no relatives in the re-
uion ive1 in a horfsn fast flI1iuo into min.
without even a dog to share his cherries
home. On the morning of the day on
which the alleged murder was committed
che two men were seen upon the beach Ell
gagged in al angry c%olloquy. The roar of
the surf and a stiff breeze that was blow
ing prevented the other fishermen who
were at work upon their nets and boats
from understanding the subject of their
conversation. Bat Jack was seen to shake
his fist in the face of his companion, and
was heard to shout, 81 would drown you
in the seal"
y few minute later both men entered
their boats, sailing away as if bound upon
a ommOn erraud.
That evening Jack Hastings returned as
usual, but the boat of Jasper Karch was
cast up empty upon the shore, a hole in it's
bottom seeming TO indicate that an unsuc-
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tno YDN9'" We" ''PP0'e' '' julio" III
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Jack had his little romance. Pretty
Polly Anderson was his betrothed wife,
and it was the intention for the young
couple to be married before the spring
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Io'iS' WIN crimson cneeAS an hashlhE
e9es' hurIIcu III II ailehce' si'u 10 escape
y ~ "lo'n " oo'n ie"reu anu ue-
UeSte't ~ HeaIuliy'
JACK was nl5hIy indignant over ehis IN,
SUIT au'res9V" az 1t was 10 MS petrothei
anu himself Nu"IhG thdu on the nrsI OPP
portuhity Ne W"uI" teach the olu man d
lesson NE would never 7
Inc younS fisherman was lar TOO chlval-
iou9 10 luHicl houliy INJURY upon one so
greatly LIS senior put Instead spoke TO
MN IN WORDS 'haI s'uhS Ola Jasper lhto a
IearIuI paioAyslh OF rage
Inc vengeance OF Jasper Karen was pro
verbal 40 man crossed ms pain win I'M
punitS' he no" began a system OF perse,
cntlon whIch became the source OF untold
trouble anu sorrow 10 the young couple
anu thelr friends
IL was peIleNeu outside or the village
that, driven 10 extremity, Jack hastings
hau destroyed ms m
The accused Young man was able to rem,