Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-03-13
A PECULIAR CASE.

haven't bit of patience with that
class of men who are always shaking
their heads in a solemn way and de-
claring that many an innocent man has
been sent to State Prison on circum-
stantial evidence. Such instances ha~2
been known, of course, but they are
very rare, and it is then the fault of the
accused. | am about to narrate the par
ticuIars of case which excited wide
spread interest in 1863, and I ask the
reader to follow the situations closely,
and to see what curious combinations
can arise through circumstances.
James Stowe was a merchant in the
village of c., Illinois. He had
been there fifteen years. He was a
church member, had no vices, and while
accounted rather ciose-fsted, he was said
to be strictly honest. A year before the
mystery occurred he had taken a boy
named Robert Lisle into his home, the
boy being an orphan and his nephew.
Bob, as we all called him, was thirteen
years old when he came. lie went into
the store as clerk, and a bedroom was
made for him up stairs
[ was a boy of Bob's age, and we came
to be chums. It thus came about that |
learned the cause of certain welts and
bruises on his legs and body. His uncle,
while pretending to feel a 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 SO 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 23d Hay of
June, 1868, as was sworn to in court, T
was in the alley back of the store, and
heard Stowe whipping Bob in the store
room. l heard him charge Bob with
stealing some money, but the boy vigor-
ously denied it. After the whipping
Stowe told three different customers that
he had caught the boy stealing, but sup
pressed the fact that he had whipped
him. | saw Bob about an hour after the
affair, and he made his denial in such a
manner that [ felt sure of his innocence.
then advised him to run away, but as [
had no money to give him, and as he
had not penny of his own, he did not
think 1t best to go. He wanted me to
come and share his bed with him that
night, as had often done before, but
circumstance prevented. Stowe saw us
together, and ordered me away from the
store.
At seven o'clock that evening a man
named Chadwick arrived in the village
from Chicago to visit a sister. He had
S2OOO IL money with him, and he asked
Stowe to keen It in his safe over night
At eight o'clock the store was closed and
stowe went home. At nine o'clock I
lett home to 60 to the store, calculating
10 call Bob up by throwing pebbles
against his window, signal often made
before. AS I passed the alley saw a
man skulk away. I afterward swore in
court that l believed this man to be
Stowe. The sight of him frightened me,
and | returned home at once. Next
morning 1.-The mystery opened with a
grand blast of trumpets. Bob Lisle had
disappeared during the night, and the
safe had been robbed of Chadwick's
$4,000. Investigation heightened the
mystery.
There was blood on Bob's pillow. A
trail of blood led from his bedside to
the back door of the store The safe
had been opened in the regular way and
Stowe claimed that $500 of his money
had gone with Chadwick's, The town
was at once alive, and the village con-
stable proved his enthusiasm and worth
by arresting two strangers. One soon
identified himself as all honest man,
while the other admitted that he was a
deserter from the army and tramp.
On searching him S12O in greenbacl1s
was found in one of his pockets. He
declared that he found this money in
the alley in the rear of Stoves store
snat morning about daylight, he having
passed the night in astore shed fuEsher