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A GOOD STORY OF THE PRESENT i
Two Op serf in Which Circumstantial
Evidence Was Untrustworthy.
Tram thr .Veto York s>fi.
[n hit profession as a detective I have
often l ien asked if I believed in the virtue
of circumstantial evidence, In every in
stance I have replied in the aflh-mative.
IViiile the profession may make a man hard
hearted and anxious to convict, it is never
theless a certain fact that a complete cltain
of circumstantial evidence against a crimi
nal will, settle.his case sooner than half a
dozen respectable witnesses. Lawyers can
browlteat and confuse witnesses, and the
veracity of a witness can be slurred or im
peached, but when 3011 strike against a cir
cumstance it is not so easy to explain it
mvav. I have been an interested party in
two "cases where circumstantial evidence
convicted the wrong persons, but still, if on
a jury where circumstances were against
tiie prisoner, I should not hesitate to we:gh
everything against hint.
Many years ago, when I was a young
man of 18, I ran away from my uncle, to
whom I was apprenticed. Ke had a farm
jjojir Liverpool, Medina county, Ohio, and
i-.c was a man who had not one jot of pity
for or mercy on man or animal. His wife
lived in mortal fear of him, aud a look from
him would make his children tremble. Our
family lived a hundred miles away, aud we
kiicvv little or nothing of Uncle Jabez. He
came out on a visit, seemed to take a liking
to tue, and he gave my father SIOO to ap
prentice mo for three years. I liked farm
work, and as Uncle Jabez was on
his good behavior while visiting us,
I was hv no means opposed to the
arrangement. No sooner lmd we arrived
at his home than he became a tyrant, aud
slave drive* I was overworked, half fed,
scolded, and maltreated, and one night,
after the promise of a “good licking” in the
morning, 1 tied up my few personal effect*
dropped from my chamber window, and set
out. for Cleveland. Uncle Jabez was a man
who would demand his pound of flesh and
more. If I returned home he would follow
on and make me a captive. As soon as he
missed me he would raise a great hue and
cry over the county, and I felt that my only
safe course was to reach some large city and
lose myself in the mass.
The farm was twenty-five miles from
Cleveland. I could have walked the dis
tnnee in seven hours, as it was a cool au
tumn night, and the roads were good, but
for the first ten miles I did not dare use the
highway. Teams were coming and going
and farmers moving about, ana I wanted to
cover my tracks from Uncle Jabez. With
the difficulties in my path I did not enter
Cleveland until about 9 o'clock next morn
ing. 1 bad not yet reached the business
portion, and was walking in the middle of
the street, country fashion, when 1 made a
rich find. In the dust lay three diamond
rings, two ladies’ watch chains, and several
charms and lockets. They were scat
tered about as if they had fallen
from some vehicle passing over the
road. I picked them up, of course, and
there being no one near me I continued on
toy way. I had never found anything of
value in my life before, and I did not know
exactly how to proceed. I knew, of course,
that I had no right to tho property, nor did
I have the remotest intention of converting
it to my use. The trouble was that I did
not kno w exactly what course to take, being
but a young, green boy. At home I would
have went to my father or a neighbor, but
under present circumstances I was puzzled.
I had heal’d of policemen, but never saw
one. I finally made up my mind to accost
the first one I met and ask him what to do
About four squares beyond where I had
found the jewelry I stopped at a German
grocery to get a drink of water. There
was a boy about 14 yearn old in the store,
and he told me to go around the side way
to a penstock. I was drinking when a dog
rushed at me and was so determined to bite
me that I had to kyep him off with my feet.
The German and his wife rushed out aud
attacked me, and as I got out of the gate a
policeman came up and seized me. There
had been row enough to collect quite a
crowd, and all were against me. The
officer asked who I was, where I came fro m,
and where I was going. If I had returned
him prompt answers he might have let me
go, but I did not dare tell him that I was a
runaway for fear he would return me to
Uncle Jabez. I therefore refused to an
swer him, aud he naturally concluded I was
a suspicious character, and took me to the
station. As I was registered they searched
me, and when the jewelry came to light
there was great astonishment aud rejoic
ing, and the charge of grand larceny was
at once entered against me.
On the night previous a jewelry store on
Superior street had been robbed of a large
amount of jewelry, and the robbers had got
away, leaving no clew for the detectives.
This was some of the plunder. 1 told them
where I found it, but as I would not tell
them who I was, or anything about myself,
my find was declared too thin. Under the
same circumstances to-day I would do just
as the officers did thou. They regarded my
greenness as assumed for the occasion , and
the newspapers put me down as one of the
sharpest and shrewdest thieves in tho
country. Every inducement was held out
to me to giveaway my confederates, who
were supposed to be older men and tougher
characters, and my inability to do it was
laid to shrewdness and nerve. The only
lame point with the detectives was the fact
that I was on my way into the city when
captured, and that 1 was showing myself
openly and boldly. It was hard to believe
that a robber would hang about town with
his pockets full of plunder, but they’ got
over this by saying it was a shrewd move
on my part to throw them off the scent.
Had 1 acknowledged my identity, Uncle
Jabez would have come on to defend and
clear me, but would have also taken me
back and thrashed me within an inch of my
life. I dreaded him more than State prison,
and, therefore, when the trial came on I
had nothing to say, and was sentenced to
State prison for three years. X was glad of
it. I would be of age when I came out,
and as no one would bear of me in tho in
terval, I would have nothing to fear from
ray tyrant of an uncle.
The fact that 1 served only four months
of my sentence was due to the efforts of one
old detective in another case. I had for
gotten to tell you that, the jeweler auei two
of his clerks had “fully identified'’ me as “a
person who had been in the sto e several
times just previous to the robbery.” The
proprietor swore that he sold me a ring tVr
$3, and one of the clerks testified on C
stand that I stood for half an hour and bar
tered with him about a silver watch.
“Then you positively swear he is the per
son?” asked my counsel in each case.
“I do,” was the decided answer.
1 could have shown that 1 was twenty
five miles away at the time, and that I had
never stepped foot in Cleveland before tile
morning of my arrest, but for reasons
which I have stated, I made no effort in my
own defense. I went off to prison with a
comparatively light heart, knowing my
own innocence. I had been a convict for
four months when, one day I was called
into the Warden’s office. Tiioro were sev
eral gentlemen present, and among them I
recognized the Cuyahoga county J ’rosecutmg
Attorney ami two Cleveland detectives. The
Prosecutor began by declaring that l was
an innocent man, and then asked for my
story. Under promho that they would not
betray me, I gave it to them. It seems that
the detective, in working on another case,
had fallen upon the jewelry robbers and
secured mast of the plunder. There were
three of them, all old hands, and the stuff
I found had been lost by them ns they
drove out of the city. Bobbers though
they were, they did me a good turn by
denying that I had any hand in the affair,
indeed, alter the case was opened, the de
tectives saw phat a blunder had been made
in arresting me. The gentleman hud come
with a pardon-from the Governor, and I re
turned to Cleveland with them on tho
promise of employinont. To, test the value
of the people at the jewelry store as wit
nesses the detoctivo took me 111 there mid
asked if they had ever seen me before. Four
mouths could not have changed me much.
and yet those who had sworn so boldly
against me on the stand now denied having
ever seen me before. 1 have been a detec
tive for years, but that circumstance has
always been upjiermost in my mind when I
had a case where the identity of a prisoner
was to bo sworn to. I have always cau
tioned my witnesses not to testify unless
satisfied beyond ail doubt. My caution has
several times operated to let a bad man
escape the clutches of the law , but that was
better than to swear an innocent mans life
or liberty away.
The other instance occurred in Tennessee
just before the breaking out of the war. I
bought of the inventor the State right of
Tennessee of a certain patent, out of which
I expected to realize a large fortune. 1
secured as my agent in the St ate an Ohio
man named James Miller. I had known
him for many years, and would have staked
my life on his honesty and veracity. We
visited Chattanooga, Knoxville, Nashville
and other towns, and I Anally parted with
him at Memphis. He was to manufacture
aud sell through dealers. What happened
to him, however, occui red in the northern
part of the State near Clarksville. He had
been dealing with somebody in that town,
and then hired ft horse aud mtggy to go out
seven or eight miles into the country to look
at a horse with a view of buying. As he
was leaving the hotel a buyer of horses and
mules, named Charles Sweet, asked to go
with hint, and offered to pay half the ex
pense of the rig. The offer was accepted,
and the two drove away.
Several incident* occurred during that
ride. They were not a mile out of Clarks
ville when the horse shied to one side and
almost upset the buggy, and Sweet, in sav
ing himself from falling out, suddenly
elavated his elbow aud hit Miller on the
nose, causing it to bleed. Several drops
stained his shirt bosom, and others fell upon
the bu gv cushion. A mile further on the
horse balked at a hill, and Miller descended
from the buggy and coaxed him until he
started on. fu starting he threw Miller
down, and a wheel of the bnggv passed over
the small of his back. He did not mind the
injury then, and brushed the mud ami dirt
from his clothes aud followed on to the top
of the hill and climbed in. Half a mile
from the farm Miller had started to visit,
the two men caught sight of some fine
mules in a field. Sweet decided to stop and
see the owner, while Miller drove on alone.
These little every-day occurrences are for
gotten in an hour "unless remembered
against a prisoner. Miller saw the horse he
went out to look at, partly bargained for
him, and then drove back. It was noticed
that his clothes were stained with mud, and
that there was blood on his shirt, but his
explanation was satisfactory. It was
further noticed that he was pale-faced and
nervouu Asa matter of fact he had been
quite seriously hurt, but, man like, did not
want to own it When he drove back,
Sweet was not to be seen, and feeling that
he must take caro of his injuries as soon as
possible, Miller drove into Clarksville and
sent the rig back by a negro for Sweet. The
latter was not to be found. No one had
seen him since he left the buggy at the road
side. There was no excitement until
nextday, and then, when a search failed
to turn up the missing man or furnish
a clue as to his fate, Miller, who was in
bed, was placed under arrest, charged
with his murder. When I got down there
from Boston the case against him had been
worked up until no one doubted his guilt,
and there were threats of lynching. My
first move somewhat staggered them, how
ever. I proceeded to show that Miller had
arrived at the horse owner’s alone, and that
he had not passed that point. I then found
two negro wood-choppers and a white man
who had seen the two men together in the
buggy only half a mile from where Sweet
got out. If murder there was, it had taken
place in that half-mile ride, and the body
must be concealed near the roadside. A
search had been made of the whole distance,
but I now proceeded to a closer investiga
tion. Miller was a slim, slight-built man,
weighing 138 pounds. Sweet was a large,
fleshy man, weighing 165 poun Is. It was,
therefore, impossible that Miller could drag
the body any distance.
We went over the ground foot by foot,
taking in a breadth of a mile each side of
tho highway, and examining every barn,
strawstack, thicket, fence corner, and de
pression. Not tho slightest trace of the
body could be found. This raised a doubt
of Miller’s guilt, but more than that was
needed to clear him. It was strange, every
body said, why Sweet had not gone to the
house to see the owner of the mules; wiry
lie had not been seen on the road or in the
fields; why, if alive, be had not shown up
since. It "was evident that there had been
foul play. Miller was the lasi person seen
in his company. His disordered clothing,
the biood spots, his pallor and mental anx
iety, w hy, when 1 went all over it in my own
mind it almost seemed to me as if he was
guilty. I say almost, for I could not quite
elieve it of him. While tho prosecu
tion could uot produce the body as a
proof of the murder, they had plenty of cir
cumstantial evideui e, and Miller was held
to the higher court, with everybody believ
ing in his guilt. The affair had as curious
a turn just before his trial as a novelist
could imagine. I was in a small town fifty
miles from Clarksville, and stepped into a
grocery kept by an old woman, to get a
plug of tobacco,"when her son, a mountain
eer "came in from his place, thirteen miles
away. The two exchanged salutations in
inv presence, and the mother asked:
“Has the stranger gone yeti”
“No.” replied the son.
“And do you think he is daft?”
‘•'Pears that way."
“How is his hurt;”
“Better, I guess.”
Then their conversation turned into other
channels, and I went out. In ten minutes I
was back again. An influence which I can
not explain any more than I could resist
sent me back to ask:
“You were talking about a stranger.
Have you some unknown man at your
house”’
“Yes, sir. He came six or eight weeks
ago. I think he has l>een hurt and has lost
his mind. I have told him he must go, but
he cries and begs to stay, and be has paid
us very well for his keen.”
He described Sweet to a dot, and three
hours later I had identified tho man who
was supposed to have been murdered by
Miller, in three davs [ had him at Clarks
ville. That knocked the murder theory in
the head, of course,but the prosecution then
declared Miller had assaulted him with
intent to kill and rob. A medical examina
tion showed that Sweet had been struck on
the head and his brain injured. I took him
to Nashville,put him in the c ire of a surgeon,
and in four weeks lie had his mind back.
Tho very first words he uttered on coming
to were:
“And you can stop for me as you come
back.”
Four months' time had gone out of his
mind, and he began just where he had left
off as he got out of the buggy. In climbing
the roadside fence he fell and struck his
head against the log. He remembered fail
ing, hut nothing further. A pressure of the
skull upon his brain*had produced an hallu
cination. He imagined that he was hunted
by robbers, and bad made Ills way through
forest and swamp to the cabin where! found
him. His weight had run down to 125
pounds, hair and whiskers had grown
long, and only some lucky accident
oniiil have iiloutififftl him. Of the $2,000
he 1u l with him when he drove out of
Clark ville every dollar was accounted for,
and he was eventually restored to health
and strength..
This lias been my personal experience with
circumstantial evidence, and vet I dare de
clare my b -lief that it is the best evidence
in the world to convict the guilty on. It
may have worked injustice in rare instances,
but it bus hung dozens of guilty wretches
who would otherwise have escaped.
Young or middle-aged men suffering from
nervous debility, loss of memory, premature
old age. as the result of bad habits, should
send 10 cents in stamps for large illustrated
treatise suggesting unfailing cure. Address
World’s Di ipeusury Medical Association,
Buffalo, N. Y.
Miller's, of New York, Fine Silk and Stiff
Utits. at Appel & Scbaul's. Oue Pr::e Clothiers.
THE MORNING NEWS: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1887.
P. I*. P.
A Home Remedy
ft Greatest H Purifier iif lie Age!
Prickly Ash,
Poke Root,
Potassium,
MANUFACTURED ONLY BY
THE P. P. P. M’F’G 00.,
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
P. P. P, has been used extensively
throughout Georgia, Florida and adjacent
States, and is indorsed by all as the Best
Blood Medicine Known.
MORE WONDERFUL CURES HAVE BEEN MADE BY
P. P. P.
Than by any other remedy. Cases given up by Doctors have
yielded to its curative powers, and thousands have
been restored to perfect health by its use.
P. P. P. will positively cure Rheumatism, Old Sores, all
Skin Diseases and eveiy ailmeut arising from Impure Blood
P. P. P. is a powerful Tonic and builds'up the system
rapidly. If you are Weak and Tremble try one bottle and
see how rapidly perfect health will be restored.
Malarial Poisons
ARE DRIVEN OUT AND
Chills Cured by P. P. P.
c
Asa Tonic anil Regulator for Females who are in a Low
State of Health P. P. P. lias No Equal.
P. P. P.
Is no humbug, no secret, but a preparation composed of
the Fluid Extracts of Prickly Ash, Poke Root, Queen’s
Delight and Sarsaparilla, with the lodide of Potassium added.
Physicians indorse it as a splendid combination.
P. P. P. IS FOR SALE EVERYWHERE
BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
A GREAT OFFER!
CONSULTATION & PRESCRIPTIONS
ABSOLUTELY free.
DR. WHITEHEAD can be consulted daily at the
office of the Company, Odd Fellows’ Hall Building,
WITHOUT CHARGE. Prescriptions and examination
FREE. All inquiries by mail will also receive his per
sonal attention.
DRY GOODS, ETC.
'spec! 537
mvyt) i y n umi
UNCEIENTI
OPENING OF
Fall and Winter Goods
AT
tola k liioir's,
SUCCESSORS TO
B. F. McKenna & Cos.,
137 BROUGHTON STREET.
ON MONDAY - MORNING
We will exhibit the latest novelti s in
Foreign and Domestic Dress Goods,
Black and Colored Silks,
Black Cashmeres and Silk Warp Henriettas,
Black Nun’s Veiling,
Suitable for Jlourning Veils.
Mourning Goods a Specialty.
English Crapes and Crape Veils,
Embroideries and Laces.
Housekeepers’ Goods
Irish Table Damasks, Nankins and Towels of
the best manufacture, and selected especially
with a view to durability. Counterpanes aud
Table Spreads, Cotton Sheetings, Shirtings and
Pillow Cos ngs in all the best brands.
Hosiery, (Haves, Hu ml kerchief r—Regularly
mode French and English Hosiery for ladiea
and children. Balbriggau Hosiery, Gentlemen's
and Boys’ Half Hose, Ladies' Black SUk
Hosiery, Kid Gloves.
Ladies’ and Gentlemen's Linen Handker
chiefs in a great variety of fancy prints, and
full lines ot hemmed-stitched and plain hem
uted White Handkerchiefs.
Gentlemens Laundried and Unlaundrled
Shirts. Bavs' Shirts, Gentlemen's Collars ami
Cults, Ladies' Collars and Cuffs.
Corsets—.lmported and Domestic, in great
variety, and in the most graceful and health
approved shapes.
Vests—Ladies’, Gentlemen’s and Children's
Vests in fall and winter weights.
Parasols—The latest novelties in Plain and
Trimmed Parasols.
Orders—All orders carefully aud promptly
executed, and the same care and attention
given to the smallest ns to the largest commis
sion. Samples sent free of charge, and goods
guaranty i to be fully up to the quality shown
in sainplV.
Sole agent for Met ALL'S CELEBRATED
BAZAR GLOVE-FITTING PATTERNS. Any
pattern sent post free ou receipt of price ami
measure.
ORPHAN & 1)003Eli.
BELT GREASE.
To Mill Men
TURNER’S TRACTION
BELT GREASE
—AND—
Belting Preservative
Softens Leather anil Makes Rubber Belting
More Durable.
This Grease effectually prevents slipping, ren
ders the. belts adhesive, heavy and pliable aud
will add one third to the power of the belt.
Its use enables the belt to be run loose and
have same power.
—ron sale By—
PALMER BROTHERS,
SAVANNAH.
Recommended by
DALE, DIXON & CO..
J. W. TYNAN
and many others,
HOTELS.
NEW HOTEL TOGNI,
(formerly St. Mark's.)
Newnan Street, near Bay, Jacksonville, Ha
WINTER AND SUMMER.
rpilE MOST central House in the city. Neat
Jl Post OP; e, Street Cars and all Ferries.
New and hiegant Furnitin Flectrio iielte,
Baths, Etc. $4 bO to $ s tier day.
JOHN IJ. TOO NI, Proprietor.
DUB’S SCREVEN HOUSE.
''PHIS POPULAR Hot.-! Is now 'provider! wit*
1 a Passenger Elevator (the only one in the
cityiand has been remodeled and newly fur
nlshed. The proprietor, who bv recent purchase
is also the owner of the establishment, spams
Deither pains nor expense in the entertainment
of his guests. The patronage of Merida visit
ors is earnestly invited. The table oi the
Screven House is supplied with every luxury
that the markets at home or abroad can atTora
THE MORRISON HOUSE.
One of the Largest Boarding Houses in the
South.
\KFORPS pleasant South rooms, good board
with pure Arteai.ui Water, at prices to suit
those wishing table, regular or transient accom
modations. Northeast corner Broughton and
Drayton streels, opposite Marshall House.
PAINTS AND OILS.
JOHN G. BUTLER,
WHITE LEADS, COLORS. OILS, GLASS,
VARNISH, ETC.; READY MIXED
PAINTS; RAILROAD, STEAMER AMD MILL
SUPPLIES, SASHES, DOORS. BUNDS AND
BUILDERS' HARDWARE. Sole Agent for
GEORGIA LIME, CALCINED PLASTER, CE
MENT, HAIR ami LAND PLASTER.
6 Whitaker Street, Savannah, Georgia.
' 1565. CIM MlßFlllfi 1865.
House, Sign and Ornamental Painting
r’XECUTED NEATLY and with dispatch.
j Paints, Oils. Varnishes, Brushes, Window
Glasses, etc., etc. Estimates furnished ouap
plicatl' in.
CORNER CONGRESS AND DRXYTON STS.,
Rear of Christ Church.
• BANKS.
KISSIMMEE CITY BANK,
Kissimmee City, Orange County, Fla.
CAPITAL - - $50,000
a regular banking business. Give
l particular attention to Florida collections.
Correspondence solicited, issue Exchange on
New York, New Orleans, Savannah and Jack
sonville, Fla. Resident Agents for Coutts A Cos,
and Melville, Evans A Cos., of London, England.
New York correspondent: The Seaboard
National Bant
avna* UKcn tne lead la
tJl* -.rtie* ol that CI&M of
remedies and has giren
luniost universel tatisuc
““"MURPHY BROS, 1
Pam. Te*
€* has won the lav or of
the public and oow raoke
reong t i- le*- ,nj Mtt>
S'&Tli.
I
lw supou-d hr MPPMtIi UK OR-
DRY GOODS.
After the Fire!
The undersigned respectfully begs to announce
to his many friends and the public
at large that we will
MEN ■ RISES
AT THE OLD STAND
153 Broughton Street,
-ON-
Wednesday, October sth.
WE PROPOSE TO SURPRISE THE PI’BUO H SHOWING TEEM
The Handsomest,
The Most Elegant,
The Newest,
The Most Stylish
GOODS EVER SHOWN IN SAVANNAH OR ELSEWHERE,
—and at
PRICES SO LOW
As to enable every one almost to wear the
BEST GOODS IN THE MARKET.
PLEASE REMEMBER
We Have No Old Stock to Work Off.
We respectfully ask the public to pay us a visit, whether
they wish to purchase or not, and we will take pleasure in
proving to them that we have not exaggerated.
David Weisbein,
FURNITURE and carpets.
ATOLDEN OPPORTITYT
This is an opportunity which a good many people would like to take (vlvanter* of.
We think there is one or two in our storn who would. We eanuot offer this kind of an
opportunity, but we can offer you the opportunity to save money by purchasing from
our varied stock. Wo desiro to call your special attention to our line of ornamental
goods, consisting of Ladies’ Desks, Plush Rockers, Rattan Rockers, Kasy Chairs, Easels,
Cabinets, Mantel Lambrequins, Table Covers, Piano Covers and Scarfs, and the finest
line of FRINGES in the city. We invito you to come and see us often, as we are getting
in something new all the time in Furniture ana Carpets.
LINDSAY & MORGAN.
MILLINERY.
KROUSKOFFS™
Opening of tin Fall Season 1881
However attractive and immense our previous season’s
stock in Millinery has been, this season we excel all our
previous selections. Every manufacturer and importer of
note in the markets of the world is represented in the array,
and display of Millinery goods. We are showing Hats in
the tinest Hatter’s Flush, Beaver, Felt, Straw and Fancy
Combinations. Ribbons in Glacee, of all the novel shades.
Fancy Birds and Wings, Velvets and Plushes of our own im
portation, and we now offer you the advantages of our im
mense stock. We continue the retail sale on our first floor
at wholesale prices. We also continue to sell our Celebrated
XXX Ribbons at previous prices.
TO-DAY,
500 dozen Felt Hats, in all the new shapes and colors,
at 35 cents.
a KRODSKOFFS MAMMOTH -MILLINERY HOUSE!
BROUGHTON STREET.
5