T1IK TIMES, NEW 11L00MFIEL1), PA. MAY 11. 1880.
ADotective's Story.
The Baby Witness.
THE Arnolds lived lit the old brown
house whloh you may jet notice at
the right of the road just as you enter
the village of L , Pennsylvania, from
the south. The house stands hack ahout
ten rods from the rond, among peach
and apple trees, and the little path run
ning up from the gate Is bordered with
pinks and moss.
I should not speak so confidently; It
Is five years since I saw the village or
the house, and perhaps the awful
tragedy euacled under the moss-covered
roof one night may have kept the house
tenantless, and allowed time to tumble
It down.
One day, In answer to a telegram sent
from the nearest railway station to
L , a matter of a dozen miles, I rode
into the quaint old village on the top of
the stage, and at once reported myself
to the town authorities. Every inhab
itant of the village, even to the ragged
urchin sitting on the tavern porch,
carried a grave face and talked In whis
pers. Had I not known a double mur
der had been committed the night before,
I could have read some news almost as
bad by glancing at the faces of the towns
people. While I was eating my supper at the
only hotel the town clerk ami the pres
ident of the village sat opposite and told
me the story. It seems that Arnold,
who was nearly sixty yeurs old, had two
sons in another part of the Btate, and,
wishing to divide up his property before
Ids death, hail, a few days before the
murder, disposed of a farm and some
manufacturing interests in Pittsburgh,
realizing several thousand dollars in
cash, lie intended visiting the sous
and dividing the money between them,
but had placed it in the village bank un
til he should be ready to go. MrsAr
Jiold was old and gray-headed, and the
rou pie would have been all alone had
it not been for little Jack, as he was call
ed, a child four years of age. The child
had been abandoned by a woman pass
ing through the village, and the Arnolds
had taken it for company ; lu fact had
made provision to adopt it.
The night before, at 0 o'clock, a citi
zen had seen Arnold at his gate smok
ing a pipe. No oiie heard any alarm
from the house during the night, but
about sunrise little Jack crept down in
to the village, his night-gown red with
blood, and told the first one he met that,
" Somebody has hit grandpa and grand
ma on the head with an axe.1'
There was an Investigation and the
aged couple were found at their house
dead and terribly mutilated. The old
man's head was nearly split in two, and
Mrs. Arnold had a horrible wound in
the temple, which had caused death al
most Instantly. The child was not iu
the least injured, but seemed to have
been badly frightened.
This was the gist of the story I got
while eating, but 1 found that none of
the sensational points had been over
drawn when I reached the house. The
corpses had been the subject of inquest
and had been washed and placed in cof
fins, but the rooms had not been disturb
ed, A constable had beeu present all
the time to see that any clue which
might have been left of the murderer
should not be erased by careless hands
or feet.
The room where the tragedy occurred
was a double bedroom on the ground
tloor. It contained two beds, one of
which was occupied by the old man and
little Jack. The murderer had come in
the back door, bringing along the axe
from the woodpile. He had passed into
the bedroom, lighted a candle which
stood on the stand, and had been some
time in the room before using the weap
on. I knew this because the top draw
er of the old bureau was pulled out, its
contents tumbled over, and there were
no bloody finger marks on anything.
The three other drawers were daubed
with blood, showing that he had search
ed these after the murder.
Something had aroused the old man
from bis sleep. He had started to get
out of bed when siruck by the axe. The
old lady bad-heard the noise when the
cruel implement descended on her head,
the positions In which the bodies were
found bearing out my theory. The
night hud been chilly and little Jack
probably smuggled down under the
quilts, and had thus escaped harm,
though, as afterward shown, he had
been a silent witness of part of the pro
ceedings. . The murderer had made a thorough
search of the bouse, taking his time
about it. He had first felt under the
old man's pillow after money, and then
under Mrs. Arnold's, daubing his Sog
ers with blood, and leaving hla marks
on the pillows. I counted five different
places where he had rested his left hand
on the pillows while searching with his
right, and in every case there were only
four daubs or spots. There should have
been five. He would not put four fing
ers down and hold up his thumb, No ;
the thumb on the left hand was miss.
lngcut ofT at least at the first Joint.
This was a clue, and my subsequent
Investigations proved that I was correct
in bellevelng so. There was another
thing. The man had torn up the carpet
of the bedroom In several places ; had
got out the bible and looked between Its
covers; had taken down and searched
the clothing in the closet ; and had
been so cool and thorough In his search
that 1 knew he was no ordinary offend
er. A common thief would have fled
after committing murder or at most
Btopped only long enough to search the
bureau. Whoever the man was he hud
not secured a dollar in money. He
had, however, taken away an old-fashioned
gold watch belonging to Arnold,
which was out of repair, and here was
something which if found, might prove
a good clue.
1 did not expect to get much out of
the boy, owing to his youth. Taking
him on my knee, I made his acquaint
ance, gave him some pennies, anil then
asked him what he saw.
" You see," began the child very
gravely, " I heard grandpa talking and
getting up, and then I saw a big robber
jump up and h!t him with the axe.
Then grandpa fell down; and the big
man went over and struck grandma.
Then he looked In the bureau, on the
bed, lu grandpa's box, iu the closet, and
then went oil", and then I went to sleep.'
I dreaded to ask him how the man
looked, for much depended on his an
swer. Hut ho was ready with his repl,
and all my cross-questioning could not
alter his statement.
" Hlg man red collar (necktie) on
great big breast pin red whiskers like
Mr. Johnson there shiny ring on his
finger one eye most shut."
I tried to make little Jack believe that
the murderer bail black hair, and was a
little man, but he stuck to hla story.
Then one of the constables talked to him
about something else for ten minutes,
and then questioned him as to the ap
pearance of the man ; but the story was
the same as he told me at first. Several
of us wrote It down, and I charged the
child to remember it.
I was convinced that the murderer
was ix stranger in that part of the
country. No one had seen hiru come or
go ; no one knew the hour of his ar
rival or departure, and lie had left no
clue behind nothing but my theory
that the thumb was missing from the
left hand. 1 rode out to the toll-gates,
but he had not been seen to pass. I
questioned the stage drivers, but they
could give no satisfaction. I went to
the railroad station, but no one could
remember having remarked the presence
of a stranger on that night. The mur
derer had arrived and departed like a
bird.
I was considerably discouraged in not
striking his trail, but I was determined
to pursue the case until there was no
longer any hope, or until I had found
the criminal. Visiting Pittsburgh and
Harrisburg T laid my plans to trap him
if he tried to dispose of the watch. I
wrote letters to various officials, and I
then I could do no more. For six
months I had the case uppermost in my
mlndjwhlle transacting other detective
business, but I had failed to find the
least clue. Then one day I got a trace.
I was riding on the cars of the Penn
sylvania Central railroad, when I ob.
served an old lady shaking a gold watch
in her hand and then holding it to her
ear to see if it would run. Crossing
over to her, I asked to look at the watch
and she handed it over with the remark:
"It isn't much good, but I don't
know as it ought to be. My husband
only paid $10 for it."
I found out that her name was Allen ;
that she lived within a dozen miles of
where the Arnolds had been murdered ;
that on the morning after the murder,
as near as she could remember, her hus
band had purchased the watch of a
traveler on the highway, who was look
ing for work and out of money. She
reiuemlred that the man was a large
man, had red hair and full beard of the
same color, but could not say that she
had observed anything suspicious in his
actions.
I found by questioning that the stran
ger had continued on the road to the
west, and that if he kept on he must
have struck the railroad after an hour's
traveling. I was convinced that this
was the murderer, and that he had
made a long Journey on the highway in
order to baflle pursuit and hide his
trail.
. But It was little comfort to know it,
as so many months had passed that the
man might now be in Europe or under
ground. I took the lady's address,
allowed her to detain the watch I knew
had belonged to the Arnolds, and again
I lost the case for several months. I
wrote over fifty letters, traveled three or
four thousand miles on the lookout for
a big man, and nothing came of it.. But
one day when approaching the village
I of Newfleld, New York, by stage, two
suspicious-looking chaps got into the
i vehicle, and they were my only com.
pany. I knew them to be "flash" as
toon as I saw their faces, and their talk
went to prove it. I pretended to be
very deaf as soon as they got in, not
replying to any of their questions.. I
assumed the tone of voice generally used
by the deaf, held my hand to my ear.and
moved over and expressed my regrets if
I had offended them, saying that I
could not even hear the rumble of the
coach.
" Good 1" exclaimed oue of the men,
as 1 sat down at the other end of the
vehicle. " Now you can go on with
your yarn."
Before proceeding the other one called
mo an old fool, a thief, a robber and
various other things, closely watching
my countenance to see if I could hear
his words. '
" The old smooth-bore Is as deaf as a
stone," he remarked, having satisfied
himself as to my deafness, and then he
went on with a narrative which had
been interrupted.
I soon ascertained that they were on
their way to Penfleld, to roba merchant.
They had everything arranged to com
mit the crime the next night, and the
one who " put up" the plan gave all
the details as to how the robbery was to
committed, where they would " run" to,
und gave a guess as to each one's share.
"What about Luke?" iuqulred the
other, after the lot had been fully dls
cussed. "Oh, Luke will be there on lime,"
replied the man. " He has kept devilish
shady since that business at L , but
now wants to make a haul and dig out
for the far West. You needn't fret we
can depend upon him."
Before we got Into the village the men
tried me again, but I could not hear
except when they shouted in my ear,
and they were sure that the conversation
had been strictly private. While they
put up at the hotel, I went to the house
of a deputy sheriff, Intending to remain
concealed all the next day. 1 had of
course, to state my huisness to the
officer, as I must have his aid, and he,
the simpleton that he was, related the
whole story to his wife after they had
retired. Thus it naturally came about
that next day,whlle I was laying shady,
but planning how to capture the burg
lars, the woman was retailing my plans
to the neighborhood. When night
came there were six of us ready to
pounce upon the criminals, hut there
were no criminals to be found. The
fellows had got wind of the afTalr and
were oil", and I had lost the second only
reliable clue to the Arnold murderer
which I had ever been able to find.
Some time after this, while in the city of
Rochester, I caught sight of a hand
resting on the window sill of a horse
car a large red hand. The hand was
nothing strange, but the. thumb was
missing. -
I did not wait an Instant to think. I
leaped from the car, entered the other,
and there sat my friends of the stage
coach on either side of the owner of the
hand "a big man with red hair and
whiskers." They all jumped up as I
entered, but I hung fast to Luke and
soon had the bracelets on him, allowing
the others to get away. He had no Idea
who I was, and J took care not to hint
at the charge against hlmuiitil.I had
him back at L .
My arrival created much excitement,
as pursuit of the murderer bad, from
the first been deemed hopeless. Many
contended that I had not secured the
right man, and Luke professed never to
have been in that part of the State
before. ' The child was several miles
away from the village, but I sent for
him. It had been a year since the mur
der. Little Jack had almost forgotten
the circumstance, and of course the
murderer had changed some. But I had
strong hopes that the child would be
able to identify the man, and I was
not disappointed.
Waiting until evening, I conducted
Jack into a room where Luke and a
dozen citizens were sitting. The little
fellow had no knowledge of what we
intended, and for some time did not see
the murderer. When he did, he uttered
a loud shriek, ran to me and exclaimed :
" There's the big man who hit grand
pa and grandma I"
Luke braved it out to the last ; even
when the purchaser of the watch testi
fied to his identity he kept a bold face
and went to some pains to attempt to
prove an alibi ; but When convicted,
mainly on the testimony of little Jack,
who shivered aud trembled at the sight
of the man, the prisoner knew he was
done for, aud cried out in anger :
" Well I am the man ! I saw the boy's
eyes looking at me after I had finished
the old 'una, but I had done enough,and
could not kill him, cuss the brat I I
regret nothing except , that I did not
split his head open !"
And standing on the gallows, about to
be launched into eternity, the man us
ed his last moment to curse the child
witness who had convicted him of the
awful crime.
fcf Money in your purse will credit
you wisdom in your head adorn you ;
but both in your necessity will serve
you.
Fur Tiis Timbs.
History of the Perry Co. 8. 8. Association.
It was organized at Loysvllle, Aug.
24th, 1871, by Ilev. S. E. Herring and
others. Of the ministers then present
ltev. It. Macpherson and ReV. J. Edgar,
are, it is believed the only ones still In
the county. Rev. 8. E. Herring was the
first President and the Constitution then
adopted, ordered as now the last Tuesday
in May as the day of annual convention,
(but dales given below show earlier meet
ings,) and provided, as at the present
that the officers of the Convention
should be a President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and an Executive
Committee consisting of five members.
The first Constitution also ordered the
Association to meet as an Institute each
Fall and so Che second meeting was held
at Hloomfleld, Nov. 14th, 1871. Over
forty delegates were present.
The third session was held at New
port, May 14th, 1872. nev. H. C. Ches
ton was elected President. The fourth
session was held at Duncanuou, Oct.
10th, 1872. Elghteeu of the twenty-odd
schools there represented reported 11)0
teachers and 1540 scholars. The fifth
Convention was held at Mlllerstown,
May 111th and 14th, 1873. Rev. Jas.
Crawford was elected President. Thirty
seven schools reported by delegates,
nineteen of which furnished their statis
tics ; 851 ofllcers and teachers aud 1018
scholars, total 1009. The rule requiring
fall meetings was abolished at this Con
vention. The sixth Convention was
held at Hloomfleld, May 12th 13th, 1874.
Hon. B. F. Junkln was elected Presi
dent. Forty-eight schools sent delegates
and reported 8254 scholars, 578 officers
and teachers; average attendance 2422,
books in libraries 11528, with a valuation
of $ 3,1)01).
The seventh Convention was held at
Landisburg, May 11th and 12th, 1875.
Rev. Win, Wlnblgler was choswi Presi
dent. Treasurer reported $71.72 In hand.
The statistics ot twenty-three schools
were handed in, viz: 226 ofllcers and
teachers, 1002 scholars, average attend
ance 1148, number of books 0875, value,
$2545. The eighth Convention was at
Newport, May 30th and 81st, 1870. F.
M. McKeehan was elected. President.
Treasurer reported $75.20 in hand. Forty
Bchools were represented by 08 delegates,
but statistics were not put on record.
The ninth Convention met at Loysvllle,
May 29th and 80th, 1877. W. W.
M'Clure was elected President. A re
vised Constitution reported by commit
tee chosen at last Convention was
adopted. Thirty-two schools reported
809 officers and teachers and 2392
scholars.
The tenth Convention was held In
Ickesburg, May 22d and 23d, 1878. Rev.
T. S. Llndimau was chosen President.
By the earnest efforts of the Secretary
then aud now holding office, D. Mickey,
of Bloomfield, the statistics of 73 schools
were obtained although probably but
about one-half that number were repre
sented in Convention. The 73 schools
reported a total of 874 officers and
teachers, 4873 scholars, 3410 of an aver
age attendance. Of G7 of the schools, 84
reported as open 12 months In the year,
2, 9 mouths, 10, 8 mouths, 8, 7 mouths,
10, 0 months, 1, 5 mouths, 1, 4 months
and 1,3 mouths, and only 0 of the whole
number reported " no" as to the use of
Lesson Leaves, all others answering
yes. These are the latest aud best statis
tics thus far put on record with regard
to the Sabbath Bcliools of the county.
The eleventh Convention was held at
Blaln. May 27th and 28th, 1870. Its
statistics are, ofllcers and teachers 842,
scholars 6403, attendance 4012, open
whole year 43, less than year 81 ; use
lesson leaves 09 ; do not use lesson leaves
5; delegates, 37; schools reported, 70.
Hon. J no. A. Baker of Bloomfield, the
worthy Treasurer of the last few years
sent report there of $03.40 as handed to
him and that he also paid out In 1878 r
programmes $4. no, blanks $1.00, postage
$4.05, and janitor's fees, (Ickesburg)
$5.00. Balance $48.75 plus $2.43 interest,
total $51.18. All funds put at interest
in the Perry County Bank. Blaln re
ceipts and expenses not yet put on
record. The statistics and further work
In the county depends on B. 8. men
responding at once to the Inquiries
lately sent out by Secretary Mickey,
(even sending statistics where not writ
ten to, as many addresses are unknown)
and all attending the Twelfth Conven
tion to be held at Bloomfield, Tuesday
aud Wednesday ,May 18th aud 19th 1880.
A Soldier's Presence of Mind.
A Russian paper contains the follow
ing among several hitherto unpublished
auecdotes of the late Emperor Nicholas,
One day the emperor, who was one of
the strictest and moat in flexible of dis
ciplinarians, met in a street in St. Pe
tersburg a drunken dragoon, who was
riding iu a drosky. In great rage the
Czar stopped the drosky and angrily
asked the soldier what he was doing.
The imminence of his danger partially
sobered the latter. He rose In his car
riage, drew bis sword, and, saluting the
Czar, said :
" I am taking a drunken soldier to
the guard-room, your Maiestv."
The Emperor smiled, gave the soldier
a five-rouble piece, and told his coach
man to drive him not to the guard-room
but borne.
jyjUSSER & ALLEN
CENTRAL STORE
NEWPORT, l'ENN'A.
Now oiler tlie publlo
A HA11R AND ELKOANT AHHOUT MENT O
DRESS GOODS
Consisting if all shades suitable for the season
BLACK ALPACCAS
AND
Mourning Goods
A SPECIALITY.
BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED
MUBLINB,
AT VA1UOUB PRICEB.
AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS'
We sell and do keep a good quality of
SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS
And everything under the head of
GROCERIES 1
Machine Needles and nil for all makes of
Machines.
To be convinced that our goods are
CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST,
IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK.
f No trouble to show goods.
Don't forget the
CENTRAL STORE,
Newport, Perry County, Pa.
The Bloofl is tie Life.
LISDSEV'f BLOOD SEARCHER
Is rapidly acquiring a national reputation for
the cure of
Scrofulous Affection. Cancerous Formation,
Erysipelas. Hulls. Pimples, Ulcers.
Bore Eyes, Hcald Head,
Tetier, Suit Khenm.
Mercurial and all fcklu Diseases. '
This remerlv Is a Vegetable CnmnniinA. und
cannot harm the most tender infant. I.twlioa h
suiter from debilitating 0eaes and Female Com-
planus, win mm speeuy reliel by using this rem
edy. C. W. Mncott. of Mesopotamia, O.. says it cur.
ed him of Scrofula of thirty years. Two bottles
cured Mrs. E. J. Dukes, of Colfax, Ind., of ulcer
ated ankle and big neck. Lindsey's Mood Search
er cured my son of Erysipelas Mrs. K Hmeltzer,
x.m iinur giuimiii. ra,
The BLOOD 8KAKCIIER Is the safest, surest
And most uowerful uurliler ever known. Price .
ll.nOper bottle.
k. is. bkl,lkus CO.. Fiop're, Pittsburgh, Pa.
To Regulate The Liver.
Use only SELLERS' LIVEIl PILLS, the best
and only true Liver Regulator. Established over
50 years. They cure Headache, Ililiou'ness, Cost
Iveness. Liver Complaint, fever and Ague, and all
similar diseases like magic. Get too right kind.
Sellers' Liver Fills, 2a cents.
The great worm destroyer! SELLEtti' VER
MIFUGE. "Expelled 400 worms f i om mv child,
two years old.'1 ; Win. Sarver, Ht. Louis, Mo.
Sold by druggists. Price 2n cents ech. R. K.
HKLLKUS ( CO., Proprietors, Pittsburgh. Pa.
Bend for circulars. 40 ly.
JjLOOMFIELD ACADEMY.
The next regular term of this Institution be
gins MA KUU MU, isso.
Full preparation, classical or otherwise. Is given
for any college male or female either tor Fresh
Dian or Hophomore year.
A thorough course Is provided for teachers, and
the option Is given of selecting one or two ol tbe
higher studies.
Prof. J. O. Miller will have charge of the Pea
manshlp and business courses.
Music, Drawing and Painting.
Philosophical and Chemical apparatus for the
study of the Natural Sciences, Literary Society,
Library.
Students are at all times nnder the supervision
of (he Principal and their progress and conduct
noted on their weekly repons.
Boarding. If In advance, Ii60 per week, other
wise, fi. 76; Tuition from 60 cents to $1.00 per
week, lu ailmnce.
For further Information, address,
J. U. FLlCKlxSOKK. A. B., Principal,
or Wm. Guikk, Proprietor,
9 2m. New Bloomtleld, Pa.
J. M. Gibvih. J. n. Oisvth
J.M. GIRVIN &S0N.,
FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED At PRODUCE
Commission Merchants,
No. 64 South ay, St.,
BALTIMORE, MD.
We will pay strict attention to the sale of all
kinds of Country Produce and remit tbe amounts
promptly. 451yr.
J. M. GIRVIN A BOH.
ESTATE NOTICE. Notice ts hereby giv
en, that Letters of Administration on the
estate of David Uelb, late of Marysvllle. Perry
county. Pa .deceased, have been granted to the
undersigned, residing In the same pla:e.
All persons indebted to said estate are requested
to make payment, and those having claims will
present them duly authenticated to the under
slgued. for settlement without delay.
, BAMUELO. UK1B, Admlnstrator.
- Marcb 16,lbeu cn. H. Bmu.hi, Att'y
jew wagox siior.
THE undersigned having opened s
WHEELWRIGHT SHOP,
NEW BLOOMFIELD,
are now prepared todo any kind of work In their
Hue, In any style, at prices which cannot fall to
give aattsfaction. Carnages ol ail style boUC
and all work will be warranted.
8TOUFFKK CEIflT.
New Bloomtleld, April IS, ms.
JOB PKINTISG of every description aeaJly
tl aud Dromotlv executed at Heaaoaabui Riuu
I at tbe BlooiuHeld. Times Steam Job Utile.