Evening journal., 1900-03-24
FATAL EVIDENCE.

n M ~ IL ILANAlls
The smoking compartment Of the |
palace car speeding northward was |
filled by our own party. Influenced by |
the result of the triad for weeks |
engaging public attention our con-
Yersation had for its subject the
weight and value of circumstantial
evidence. 1t was not long before Il
became an irregular debate in which
as many diverse opinions were ex-
pressed as there were participants
all of our number save one, and he
the only lawyer Of our party, a man
of sedate manner and conservative
habit OF mind
An appeal was made TO him to set
tie the disputed points, and after
some hesitation he said:
'Your discussion has interested me.
Permit me to say without offense that
your subject has been discussed as /
would have expected laymen would
That is to say, your logic has been
influenced by your emotions, senti-
ments and sympathies aroused by
this particular case. Your appeal to
me is merely question, asking
whether or not / believe in circum-
stantial evidence and you expect my
answer to be a condemnation or con-
firmation Of the verdict in this case.
That sort of an answer / decline to
make. for the reason that / am not
sufficiently acquainted with the evi-
dence in that case to pass a judgment
even to the extent of satisfying my
own mind. Let me make answer In an
other way by reciting to you an ex-
perience of my own when / was n
young member of the profession.
Il began the practice of my profes-
sion in a Western county-a rural
county, since there was within its bor-
ders no large town or city. 1t adjoined
a county, however, within which there
was a large city, the influence Of
which, for good OF evil, was felt in
our county. Having struggled for a
few years l was appointed assistant
district attorney and / entered on my
duties with great enthusiasm for the
work and a high respect for tradition
and the authorities. In a years time
through the serious and prolonged i'll
ness Of my chief, the responsibility
I for the administration of the Office de
volved on my shoulders.
This was the situation when the
Office was called on to consider the
case of Henry Crossman, murdered
on the highway, about ten miles from
the town of our Office. midway be-
tween the railway depot and the next
station next above our town. He had
been stabbed to death in a most Dru-
tai manner after, as was evident, a
gallant fight for his life. A farmer,
passing to the station with produce
found the body just after daylight. A
short distance from the body was
found a dirk knife of unusual make
and in his pocket a letter threatening
his life His money, watch, chain, jew.
elry and valuable papers were found
undisturbed, putting robbery as a mo.
tive out of the question.
"The dirk knife was quickly recog
nized as belonging to the next door
neighbor of Crossman, Albert Stet
son; the threatening letter was
signed by Albert Stetson. You will
not be surprised. therefore, to know
that suspicion fell on Albert Stetson
Il began an investigation at once
and sufficient motive for the deed
was found at the outset. Henry Cross
man was a real estate dealer and
speculator. with his Office in the near
by large city. dealing principally in
i properties in our county. He lived
Z in a village three-quarters Ct a mile
from the railroad station next beyond
the town of my Office and residence
] He was a man with few or no friends
widely feared and generally distrust
Z ed as a sharp, cunning, tricky man
$ hard at a bargain, taking advantag,
} of technicalities, fertile in preparing
5 sharp traps for the unwary. treadinl
{ closely on the line dividing honesty
( and dishonesty. Overbearing in hil
manner, Indifferent to the good or bat
opinion of men and sometimes giveI
to drinking, and when in his cups
most disagreeable.
ALBERT Stetson lived next door Z,
him and was an unmarried man no
of unblemished character. He live,
with his mother and furnished he
support and that of a sister by con
| Quoting an express business betweeI
: the large city and the smaller town
on the railroad line for fifteen mile
out. He was rough in manner ant
speech and much given to drink. HI
: was impulsive, quick to anger, anI
under its excitement quick to reveng
and prone to deeds of violence. Con
cAdnily al ONtI HIS bloMc du
fights. lie had earned the reputation
Of being a turbulent fellow, whom
IL was well to avoid. especially whel
he had beer drinking. On the othe
side, he was regarded as an homes
man, upright in his dealings. coura
geous. with rough sort Of mani
ness that prevented him from harbol
ins malice
Now as the motive. Stetson an
Crossman had quarreled over the FOL
mers chickens, which the latte
claimed had been permitted to roar
at large and enter his garden to il
injury and detriment. and threatene
that if it were not stopped he wOul
kill them. One morning Stetson foun
on the rear porch of the house te
dead hens with slip of paper. o
xrrTrhr. no Won w Nrrg