Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-10-18
CHAPTER VIII.


ming and Spears and their prisoner.
The coroner and his jury Of six chosen
men were already convened in the library.
and TO that room the officers at once re-
paired with their prisoner.
number OF persons were already pres
ent in the spacious rooms, among them
being Attorney Dobbs and his son Arthur.
a rising young lawyer of near Roberts
age Or. Norcum was present, and De
tective Sellars sat near one of the library
windows, gazing apparently out on the
lawn.
The prisoners sister and a number OF
other ladies were on the floor above with
the bereaved daughter of the murdered
man.
Sheriff Cobb stationed Lanning at the
front door of the residence. with orders
to admit no one else to the house without
his approval. why" he observed, ''curi.
osity will bring so many that they will
overrun the house.
Attorney Dobbs had visited Robert II
Jail and assured him that he had faith in
his innocence. He also bore message
from his son to the effect that be would
undertake his defense.
When all was in readiness the sheriff
threw open the door leading to the cham
ber of the murdered man and the jury
viewed. the remains.
Dr. NOrcum was duly sworn and depos
ed that the bankers death was caused by
the blade OF a knife or sharp instrument,
which had been thrust in his breast with
such force that the heart was unQuestion-
ably pierced.
Would his death have necessarily beeh
instantaneous asked Arthur DObbs.
Nearly so," was the reply: there
might have been groan, perhaps cry
of help. but nothing more"
There was, for / heard distinctly the
last words he uttered. They were these:
Help. MUed ederv"
The one who made this assertion was
Herman Craven, who had entered the
room unobserved and stood motionless
near the door.
You will be examined later, Mr.. Cra
ven," said the coroner. Then turning to
the jury, he said: Gentlemen Of the jury,
are you satisfied as to the cause of
deathY'
All expressed themselves as thoroughly
20, and after viewing the orifice left by
: the Keen blade of the knife, the party re-
paired to the library.
Now, Herman Craven, il you will be
sworn, we will hear your testimony"
The coroner administered the oath, and
as Herman's statement was merely a
repetition Of the words he used on the
night of the murder, in the presence Of
the sheriff, DIR. Norcum and Detective
Sellars, it is useless to chronicle it fully
here.
Are you certain, Mr.. Craven" asked
Arthur Dobbs, that the cries you heard
emanated from the lips of your uncleT
Absolutely certain" was the reply. 1T
Is impossible that / could be mistaken
there. And those Two words l supposed
indicated that he had been seized with a
sudden attack of acute pain from which
he sometimes suffered. His rheumatism
was of the inHammatory order. When my
cousin and l entered the room he was
gasping his last. His murderer stood be-
fore us with that bloody sheath knife that
Coroner Field has, clutched in his hand. y
'Did you not know before you descend
ed the stairs, Mr.. Craven. that Robert
Campbell was belowY'
II did not, sir"
Had not your uncle informed you that
be was expecting him, and with money
with which to take up certain note"
"He had not?"
What do you know Of a bag of coil
that the prisoner has informed me he
brought with him to redeem this noteY"
Nothing, sir; nothing whatever.
know that after the murder he had pos
session of that note, and that the note
bore the Endorsement, Paid this eight
eenth Of August, eighteen hundred and
6fty-seven,' to which my uncle's signature
was attached. I know not how he OBJ.
tained it."
do you know Of any reason why the
prisoner should have sought the life OF
your uncleT'
Il know, sir, that he has possession OF
that note Of ten thousand dollars, and that
there was no bag of coin here when my
cousin and entered this room. / know
also that he sought Miss DeRosette's
hand in marriage. / know further thai
he sought it in vain, for the reason thai
my uncle had often stated to me that his
myself united"
Here a sharp, quick cry drew all eye.
In the direction of the door.
Miss Hattie had entered the room, lean
Ing on the arm Of the prisoners sister
and the cry emanated from her white lips
Robert Campbell was on the point OF
denouncing Herman's statement as falst
when he caught a swift, meaning glance
from the eyes of the detective. who hat
not left his seat near the window, ant
he said nothing.
Did you not hear the door bell sounded
twice during the evening. once not fiv,
minutes before you descended the stairsF Z
The door bell was NOT sounded after
retired, or | should have heard Il. l ha'
not long retired and am a light sleeper
You found the front door locked whel
you ran from the library and down tn
street. as you have described, crying 'mur
derr"
81 did,
The windows OF this room and OF you
uncies chamber, you say, were raised!
Ehey were. My uncle. presumably. ha
left them so to admit the breeze"
Might not some other hand have thrus
that blade to your uncles heart, and tn
prisoner here but have drawn it forth Z!
hat Is for the jury to determine.
have no wish that any other than the mul
derer Of my uncle should suffer for hi
untimely taking off. Mr.. Sellars and my
self made n thorough search Of the prem
ises. ms he will inform you. There wa
literally nothing found to incriminate an
one On else. doubt not that If Miss De
Hosette and myself hat. not hastene
aown stairs Robert Campbell would in
moment more have fled, probably bearin
us bloody weapon with him. As hav
stated, he would have attacked me. az
USED MIN Of committing the crime. VIII
rise could l have accused? There b
s'ood' his countenance the picture Of q
enraged fend and sffll ha,f over nv M