Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-02-26
CONFESSED TO A MURDER.


class OF men who are always shaking
their heads in solemn way and de.
clar1ng that many an innocent man
has been sent to State prison on cir
cumstantial evidence. Such instances
have been known, of course, but they
are very rare, and it is then the fault
OF the accused. l am about to mar
rate the particulars of case which ex-
cited widespread interest in 1863, and
l ask the reader to follow the situs-
tions closely and to see what curious
combinations can arise through cir
cumstances.
James Stowe was q merchant in the
village of G., Illinois. He had
been there fifteen years. He was a
church member, had no vices, and
while accounted rather close-fsted be
was said to be strictly honest. A year
before the mystery occurred he had
taken boy named Robert Lisle into
his home, the lad being an orphan aAd
his nephew. Bob, as we all called
him, was thirteen years old when he
came. He went into the store as a
clerk and bedroom was made for him
upstairs.
| was q boy of Bob's age, and We
came to be chums. 1t thus came
about that ! learned the cause of Ger.
tain welts and bruises on his legs and
body. His uncle, while pretending tc
feel q great interest in his welfare
and while speaking to him in the
kindest manner before others, was
beating him on the slightest excuse,
and seeking TO make the place SC
warm for him that he would run
away. Some boys would have gone,
but Bob hadn't the courage to get up
and face the world without shilling
in his pocket
On the afternoon of the 23rd day oi
june, 1853, as was sworn to in court,
was in the alley back of the store,
and heard Stowe whipping Bob in
the store room. / heard him charge
Bob with stealing some money, but
the boy vigorously denied it. After
the whipping Stowe told three differ
ent customers that he had caught the
boy stealing, but suppressed the fact
that he had whipped him. l saw Bot
about an hour after the affair, and ht
made his denial in such q manner tha
I felt sure of his innocence. ther
advised him to run away, but as I had
no money to give him, and as he hac
not q penny of his own, he did no
think it best to go. He wanted me tc
come and share his bed with him thai
night, as had often done before, but
a circumstance prevented. Stove saw
us together, and ordered me away
from the store.
At seven o'clock that evening 6
man named Chadwick arrived IN the
village from Chicago to visit sister
He had $4,000 in money with him
and he asked Stowe to keep it in hil
safe over night. At s o'clock tn
store was closed and Stowe went home
At 9 o'clock l left home to go to thu
store, calculating to call Bob up b,
throwing pebbles againts his window
q signal often made before. AS
passed the alley I saw q man skull
away. [ afterward swore in court
that l believed this man to be Stowe
The sight of him frightened me and
returned home at once. Next morn
ing the mystery opened with a grant
blast of trumpets. Bob Lisle hac
disappeared during the night, and tn,
safe had been robbed of Chadwick
$4,000. Investigation heightened tn
mystery.
There was blood on Bob's pillow
A trail of blood led from his bedside
to the back door of the store. TIL
safe had been opened in the regula
way, and Stowe claimed that $500 O
his money had gone with Chadwick's s
The town was at once alive, and th'
village constable proved his enthusi
asm and worth by arrestipg tw
strangers. One soon identified him
self as an honest man, while the othe
admitted that he was deserter fror
the army and a tramp. On searchin
him $l20 in greenbacks was found i
one of his pockets. He declared tina
he found this money in the alley il
the rear Of Stoves store that morn
ing about day light, he having passe
the night in store shed further dow
the alley. II he expected anyone t
believe such thin story as that h
was sadly taken aback. It was be
heved by all that the right man ha
been arrested, and the constable a
once became the hero of the hour.
Chicago detective, who happened i
the town that same day, looked th
ground over and declared the arres
to be slick job.
There had not only been robbery
but murder had been done, and ther
was no doubt that both deeds ha
been accomplished by the same hanc
Every body turned out to look 70
Bob Lisle's body, and every spc
whore it could have been conceale
within radius of three miles wa
carefully examined. It could not b
found, But this fact only strengthene