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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