Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-08-18

our president to release
me when l recalled a case which you
Will find Of record in Vol. 4. Western
Law Journal (Oct. 1S46). Reference
Is also made to it in Wharton's Ameri-
can Criminal law, believe. remem-
Der, however, hearing the story from
my elders. as Judge bennett will also,
perhaps, as we come from the same
part or the state, so 1 trust the club
Will admit it in this list of personal
experiences, and with your indulgence
will give it."
Ihis permission was granted viva
voce and laying down his pipe Judge
Hunter began:
In the year 1871 there lived. at
oinerent points in the state of Illinois.
three brothers by the names of Trailor.
Archibald resided at Springfield. then
as now the capital. He was a sober.
Tetlrlng and Industrious man OF about
on years nf age; carpenter by trade
ana bachelor. boarding with his part
>ner In business-a Mr.. Myers. Henry,
year or two older, was a man of like
retiring and Industrious habits. had
q family, and resided on q farm at
Clary's Grove, about 20 miles north
west from Springfield. William. still
older, and with similar habits. resided
on farm in Warren county, distant
from Springfield something more than
hundred miles in the same north.
westerly direction. He was a widower
with several children.
In May Of the year mentioned VIII.
m lot ,,NI+
and taking his hired man, Fisher. with
MIN they set out in buggy with
single horse. Although a farm hand
Fisher was a frugal, thrifty soul and
mad laid by considerable amount az
money.
They reached Henry's residence
hrst and staid over night and the next
day, accompanied by Henry on horse.
oack, they went on to Springfield
where they took up lodgings with
Archibald at his boarding house.
After dinner, the three Traitors
and Fisher left the boarding house in
company At supper the Traitors had
all returned, but Fisher was missing
and some inquiry was made about
him. After supper the Traitors went
out professedly in search Of him. One
oy one they returned, the last coming
In after late tea time, and each stating
that he had been unable to discover
anything OF Fisher. The next dav
Doth before and after breakfast they
went professedly in search again. and
returned at noon. still unsuccessful.
Dinner again being had. William and
Henry
give up the search, and start for their
homes. This was demonstrated against
by some OF the boarders, but the re.
monstrance was disregarded, and they
departed for their homes.
Up to this time the knowledge OF
Fishers mysterious disappearance had
spread very little and excited no con.
siderable interest. After the LAPSE OF
three or four days Henry returned to
Springfield for the ostensible purpose
OF making further search for Fisher
Procuring some Of the boarders. he
together with them and Archibald
spent another day in Intellectual
search, when It was again abandoned
and he returned home
mo general interest was vet ex.
cited. On the Friday week after Fish.
eT's disappearance the postmaster at
Springfield received a letter from the
postmaster nearest Williams resi-
dence, in Warren county, stating that
William had returned home without
Fisher. and was saying. rather boast.
fully, that Fisher was dead. and had
wiiied him his money. and that he had
got about $1,000 by It. The postmas.
ter at Springfield made the letter pub
lie, and at once excitement became
universal and intense.
Springfield, at that time. had a
population Of about $500 with a CITY
organization. The attorney general OF
the state resided there. a purpose
was forthwith formed 70 ferret out
the mystery, in putting which into
execution the mayor Of the city and
the attorney general took the lead
Men were formed into large parties.
and marched abreast i'm all directions.
30 rs TO let no inch Of ground in the
vicinity remain unsearched. Examina.
hcns were made of cellars, wells and