Evening journal., 1901-03-14
BeIdiag, Arrested as SaS-
poet, Protests Innocence
WOMN SAW HElEy FALL
Miss Aaai, Fleming Is Said 10 Have
Witnessed the Fatal Conflict
at a Distance

at a Distance
Complicated and mysterious are the
circumstances surrounding the bold
and brutal murder of George Hearn
within a few feet of his home yester-
day morning. Daniel Belding, who
boarded in the same house with the
murdered man, is arrested and confn-
ed in the carriage-house locking struc-
turo called Harrington lookup, and Is
awaiting the results Of the coroner's
inquest, and there are likely to be two
or more arrests made during the day.
4 he evidence against Belding IS far
from strong and the general impress
sion is that he is the last man that
would be suspected, as he is man Of
jovial disposition and credited with
being honest.
B-DDING DECLARES HIS INNO-
CENCE
Although on the surface suspicion
points strongly to Belding, the man is
able to give a good account of himself
and firmly declares his innocence.
lie does not act like a guilty man and
has shed tears over his arrest.
The evidenc upon which State De-
tective McVey placed Belding under
arrest is considered sufficient to war
rant the action. If Bslding murdered
Hearn he is a man Of exceedingly
strong nerves. He slept In the same
house in which his victims body lay
last Tuesday night, and If he robbed
his victim, as is supposed, he used SIS
of the money to pay an honest debl
and one that would have had TO been
paid by Dr.. b. L. Lewis and J. p. Mas
ten. These two mans names were On
note discounted in the FIRST
Nat onal Bank OF Harrington for Mr.
Bedding, and the note was protested
on Monday, the day before the murder
OF Hearn. On the afternoon Of the
murder, when Hearns body was lying
in the Belding home, Dr.. Lewis called
upon Daniel Bedding and persuaded
him TO mect the note, telling him that
there was time to save the protest.
Beld ng seemed inclined TO put the
matter off until next day. but the ar
guments prevailed and the man said
he would fix it up. While the doctor
was sitting with his back to him Beld-
ing gwcnt to a dresser drawer pulled il
open. and seemed to get something out
OF il. He then told DR., Lewis that he
was ready TO go and fix the bank mat
ter up.
BELDING SAYS HE'S PECULIAR.
In walking into town with DR.. Lewis,
Bedding said tc him: Il am a peculiar
kind of q man and do not let every
body know my business" tom,
(meaning his brother) has asked me
several times If / did net have some
Money. but 1 knew if ! told him that ]
had he would get Z from me and drink
it up"
Dr. Lewis had heard that a suspi-
ciCn was directed against Belding fcI
nho murder. but had not mentioned the
subject to the man during the previous
talk, but as they were walking in town
he said to him, Dan. if ] were you.
would net absent myself when the cor
oncr comes down tomorrow"
MY God. bhey do not suspect me dc
thcy?" queried the man.
DR.. Lewis evaded a direct answer
and continued the conversation reiat-
ing to the bank business.
Upon their arrival in the town, Beld-
ing left DIR. Lewis and went to The
baynard residence where his mother
lives and his actions were watched by
DR. Lewis In a short time Belding re
tuiH-h anu lAcDlAAA the uOtlJl oh Nnt
street paid him the money and re.
quested a receipt. He said that he goi
the money from his mother. It was
mostly in So bank bills. After paying
the SIS to DR.. Lewis. Belding had q
small roll left which he said contained
SIS The money stolen from the body
s said to have been bank bills and
gold. No gold has been found upon
the prisoner.
Yesterday afternoon Belding sent
for Wesley Parrish, the town baliff
= and had long talk with him. He told
of his actions during the time he was
supposed to have been engaged in tho
murder. but IL the doctors are right
Belding will have to account for his
actions at an earlier hour. as the phv
sic.ans think that the man had beer
dead an hour and a half before his
body was discovered.
BELDING ATTEMPTS AN ALIBI.
Before the body of Hearn was found
Belding went out into the factory yard
and asked William Needham and
Thomas Wyatt for some snuff. The
mon told him that they had no snuff
He then borrowed IN axe and pullea
someIedoak bark from a log He used
the bark to make lotion to apply to q
carcerous growth on his nose After
getting the bark together he piled il
upon log and went to the mill shor
distance away and asked John A
Harrington. band saw man. for som,
tobacco or snuf. These visits wer,
made between 11.30 and u o'clock