The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-04
CIRCUnsYANTIAL EVIDRNcR
Evidence Should be Conclusive-A Case
That Came Near Resulting In the Tax.
Ing Of an Innocent Persons
Life.

A very remarkable case occurred In
Connecticut. A lad by the name of Sage,
during one of the coolest mornings of tho
winter, was sent by his father to tho barn
to feed the cattle. Tho boy declined 90
ing because he had boon threatened with
violence ty an Irishman named Patrick
Nugent who kept his horse at tho barn.
The father thought the excuse frivolous
ono and compelled tho son to 90, who de-
parted In tears. This was the last seen of
HIM by the family. Suspicion of foul play
was at once aroused, and Nugent was ar.
rested. But the evidence was not then
deemed sufficient to commit him. A hole
was found in tho ice in tho river In she
rear of the barn, and it was suggested that
tho body of the boy had been put through
the opening into tho river.
Some lime after body was found ON the
river bank, and was beloved to be that Of
young sage. The father saw upon 1t sew
cral marks which correspondent with those
upon the body OF his SON. The height was
precisely the same, and piece of the coat
was recognized Us resembling the coat
worn by his son. In tho spring, the lining
OF an oyercoat, corresponding with that
of young Sage, was found on the banks OF
the rivor Still there was no positive evi.
dence against Nugcnt; but suspicion grew
stronger daily, until at length all doubt
was removed by the appearance OF sailor
named John Amos Benson, whose tc.ti.
mony was direct and positive. Nugont
was then rearrested.
tho day of the disappearance of young
Sage. and when near the barn he heard
an alteration. Ho looked in and saw
Nugent aud his wife aud boy whom he
described, and whose description answered
perfectly to that OF young Sage. Nugcnt,
with an oaIh h. struck down tho boy with
club, and thon stabbed him with II knife
AS he looked out of the door he saw tho
witness Benson, asked him what he was
doing there, and finally compelled him to
come In and help him to remove tho body.
lie was asked what young Sage had On his
feet, and he answered pair of cowhide
boo6S, one of which was worn through at
the side and the other was worn
through on the ball. The father said that
was true, and that his son was about hay
ing The boots meudeu.
Blood was found on tho barn floor, and
pieces CT the floor were sawed up and saved
for tho trial. Tho jackknifo was also found,
or one supposed to be the knife used to
complete the murder. Benson described
tho gangway through which the body was
carried to the haymow in an adjoining
barn, and here tracks in tho snow were
remembered to have been seen from one
bal IL TO the other
Benson said he rIuvvr a,w tho boy before
the murder, but ho remembered his ap-
pearance He picked out IL man in the
room who had such hair, and tho father
said tho comparison was correct No
doubS now remained on tho mind of any
person In the room Of the guilt of Nugcnt.
When tic prisoner wa. bruug hit in he was
asked il he knew Benson. He said: "NO;
have never seen him before" Benson
replied: eyes you do, Nugent, and you
know you killed that hoy, and that |
helped to put tho boy under the hay"
Benson was then old to look Nugent in
the face and toll the whole story. IIo did
So, Nugent ali the while trembling like Il
condemned culprit. On being told that
he was in Il bad scrapc. he said:
Il know it, but God is my man-FIe will
get mo out of it," Nngent was thcn re-
mandeu to prison. Accidental circum-
stances delayed his trial Nutwithstand-
ing the direct character of the above teSli-
mony subsequent events showed that the
eye that never secps--thc Providence tina,
is ever active in all the affairs Of mankind
was walchful and viglant as ever to
bring out the Astounding truths that
seemed to lie SO far beyond all human
vision Tho missing lad, Sage, made III,
appearance, and tho sailor confessed tnnr
he picked up the faCts about tho town. and
then cUrclc eli the whole story for the
sole purpose OF oh aiming the 500 reward
offered.