Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-02-28
A PECULIAR CASE.

haven't bit of patience with that
class of men who are always shaking
their heads in solemn way and de-
clariug that many an innocent man has
been sent IT, State Prison on circum.
stantiat evidence. Such instances have
been known, of course, but they are
very rare, and it is then the fault of the
accused. | am about to narrate the par
ticulars of a case which excited wide.
spread interest in 1868, and ask the
reader to follow the situations closely,
and to see what curious combinations
van arise through circumstances.
James Stowe was 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 close listed, 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. He went into
the store as clerk, and bed room was
made for him up stairs
was boy of Bob's age, and we zane
to be chums. 1t 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 day of
June, 1868, as was sworn to in court,
was in the alley back of the store, and
heard Stowe whipping Bob iu 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
iiult uutt liC ittlNAC HIS dttltl III SuCu u
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 it best to go. He wanted me to
come and share his bed with him that
night, as l had often done before, but a
circumstance prevented. Stowe saw us
together, and ordered me away from the
store.
At seven o'clock that evening man
named Chadwick arrived in the village
from Chicago to visit sister. He had
$4,000 il money with him, and be asked
Stowe to keep 1t in his safe over night.
At eight o'clock the store was closed and
Stowe went home. At nine o'clock
left home to go to the store, calculating
to call Bob up by throwing pebbles
against his window, signal often made
before. As | passed the alley saw a
man skulk away. | afterward swore iu
court that believed this man te be
Stowe. The sight of him frightened me,
and | returned home at once. Next
morning "the mystery" opened with a
grand blast of trImpets. Bob Isle had
disappeared during the night, and the
safe had been robbed of Chadwick
$1,000 Investigation heightened the
mystery.
There was blood on Bobs pillow. A
trail of blood led from his bedside 10
the back door of the store. The safe
had been opened in the regular way, and
Stowe claimed that S400 of his money
had gone with Chadwick's. The town
was at once alive, and the village con-
stable proved his enthusiasm aud worth
by arresting two strangers One soon
identified himself as an honest man.
while the other admitted that he was a
deserter from the army and tramp.
On searching him 1920 in greenbacks
was found in one of his ckets. Hd
declared that he found this money in
the alley in the rear of Stoves store
that morning about daylight, he having
passed the night in store shed further
down the alley. If he expected any one
to believe such thin story as that he
was sadly taken back. 1t was believd
by all that the right man had been
arrested, and the constable at once be-
came the hero of the hour A Chicago
detective, who happened in the town
that same day, looked the ground over
and declared the arrest to be slick
job.
There had not only been a robbery,
but murder had been done, aud there
was no doubt that both deeds had been
accomplished by the same hand. Every
body turned out to look for Bob Isles
body, and every spot where it could have
been concealed within "a radius of three
miles was carefully examined. 1t could
not be found, but this fact only strength
ened the general belief in the deserter's
guilt. He had, by the by, given his
name as William Davis, and had vigor-
ously and continually asserted his IN
nocence of any crime whatever. A war
rant had been issued, charging him with
robbery and murder, and inside of q
week he had been examined aud held t.
the higher court without bail.
On the very day that this occurred &
Down East Yankee with a patent churr
arrived in town, and, Of course, he soor
heard all about the mystery. To every
body's surprise he declared Davis limo,
cent, and argued as follows:
GLOW was the store entered9 As the
doors and windows were all right, il
must have been entered by one of the
doors, with key. How was the safe
robbed2 By some one who knew the
combination and opened it. The boy