The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-03-30
FATAL EVIDENCE.


filed by our own party. Influenced by
the result of the trial for weeks
engaging public attention our con-
versation had for its subject the
weight and value of circumstantial
evidence. 1t was not long before it
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, 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 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 evil
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
young member of the profession.
Il began the practice of my profess
sion in a Western county-a rural
county, since there was within its Dor.
ders no large town or city. 1t adjoned
a county, however, within which there
was a large city, the influence of
which, for good or 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 high respect for tradition
and the authorities. In years time
through the serious and prolonged ILL
ress of my chief, the responsibility
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 most bru-
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 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
Spectator, with his ofce in the near
by large city. dealing principally in
~ operties in our county. He lived
in village three-quarters Of 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-
ed as a sharp, cunning, tricky man,
hard at a bargain, taking advantage |
of technicalities. fertile in preparing I
sharp traps for the unwary. treading
closely on the line dividing honesty
and dishonesty, overbearing in his
manner, Indifferent to the good or bad
opinion of men and sometimes given
to drinking, and when in his cups,
most disagreeable.
Albert Stetson lived next door to
him and was an unmarried man not
of unblemished character. He lived
with his mother and furnished her
support and that of a sister by con-
Quoting an express business between
the large city and the smaller towns
on the railroad line for fifteen miles
out. He was rough in manner and
speech and much given to drink. He
was impulsive, quick to anger and
under its excitement quick to revenge
and prone to deeds of violence. Con-
stantly in trouble over his blows and
fights. lie had earned the reputation
of being turbulent fellow, whom
il was well to avoid, especially when
he had beer drinIing. On the other
side, he was regarded as an honest
man, upright in his dealings, coura-
geous. with rough sort of manli.
ness that prevented him from harbor-
IN; malice
Now, as the motive. Stetson and
Crossman had quarreled over the for
ners chickens, which the latter
claimed had been permitted to roam
at large and enter his garden to it's
injury and detriment, and threatened
that If it were not stopped he would
kill them One morning Stetson found
on the rear porch of the house ten
dead hens, with a ain Of paper on
which was written, 'the compliments
Of Henry Crossman." Stetson few
into a passion, but a glance at the
chicken yard suddenly allayed the
storm. He went into the yard and
counted his hens. Going into the
house, he wrote brief note thank.
ing Crossman for his present and ex-
pressing fear that in his generosity
he had robbed himself Crossman
read the note, gasped, went to his
own chicken yard, counted his own
hens and found ten missing. He had
killed his own hens and presented
them to Stetson
1.-THE episode mt Cfassnn in great