Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-07
FATAL EVIDENCE.

4 n AL
The smoking compartment Of the
palace car speeding northward was
filled 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 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, 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 a question, asking
whether or not I 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 I 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 eI-
perience Of my own when l was a
young member of the profession.
II 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
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 I 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
ness 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 conisder 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 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 mo-
tive out Of the question.
"The dirk knife was quickly recog.
nized as belonging to the next door
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
properties in our county. He lived
in village three.quarters OF 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-
ed as sharp, cunning, tricky man,
hard at bargain, taking advantage
of technicalities, fertile in preparing
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 a turbulent fellow, whom
1t was well to avoid especially when
he had been drinking On the other
side, he was regarded as an honest
man, upright in his dealings, coura.
geous with a rough sort of manli.
ness that prevented him from harbor.
ing malice.
Now, as the motive, Stetson and
Crossman had quarreled over the for.
mer's chickens, which the latter
claimed had been permitted to roam
at large and enter his garden to its
injury and detriment, and threatened
that if 1t were not stopped he would
kill them. One morning Stetson found
on the rear porch Of the house ten
dead hens. with a slip of paper. on