A DEOP OF BLOOD AND A RED HAIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1018, 6 December 1883, Page 4

A DEOP OF BLOOD AND A RED HAIR.

Archibald W. Newlon, a young man who belonged to a wealthy family which stands high in England, ? was recently convicted in Orange County, Florida, of the murder of Samuel McMillan. The. case was sensational, and when the jury brought in the verdict, “We find the prisoner guilty as charged in the indictment,” there was much excitement in the court room. In the spring of 1881 Newton appeared at Sanford, Florida. He was a youth of fine appearance and pleasing manners, was popular at first, but his good reputation was soon blasted. There were reasons to suspect him of forgeries, and then ca he news that he had left England because of an outrage against Miss Polly Bowron. Subsequently he sent money to England for Kate Bowron, a sister of his alleged victim, and, meeting her in New York, married her, and the couple returned to Crystal Lake, Orange County. While this was going on another topic of suspicion Presented itself. There lived in Orange County, near Crystal Lake, a man named Samuel McMillan, who bore the reputation of beinga miser, and was supposed to carry a large sum of money on his person. On Saturday evening, McMillan was seen alive half an hour after sunset in company with Newton. He never returned to his home, and about three weeks after his headless body was found in Crystal Lake, partly!, consumed by fishes. Around the waist was a rope, to which was suspended sack,: in which was found an iroh'pot full Of hails. A few days later the head of the murdered man was found near the same spot, and a bullet hole was discovered in the back of his skull. On the brain being removed a bullet dropped out, which appeared to fit a pistol Newton had borrowed from a neighbor named True. About that time Newton became flush of funds. He.sam that his wife’s brother, James Bdfron, had sent him 2,500d01s with wmch.lp buy an orange grove on the lake. He was suspected of the murder of McMillan, however, and was brought before Judge Cooke. The sensation of the trial occurred when counsel for prosecution walked down the aisle, followed by a mediumsized,; dark-haired woman, evidently a foreigner. As the stranger got abreast of .Mrs Newton she turned and peered into her face, saying; “ Why, Kate !” The prisoner, as he looked up and- recognised the woman, flushed until it seemed the blood wuold burst from his neck and cheeks, while Mrs Newton turned deathly pale and remained several seconds with upturned facb and half-opened lips, as if petrified by amazement. The presence of this woman in America was a complete surprise tp. the defence. Her testimony was to the effect that the Bowron family had not L 25 in the world, much less 25,000 dols to invest in orange groves. That had been the main point of the defence —to account for Newton’s money., alleged to have been sent by the wealthy brother-in-law. McMillan, the murdered man, had coarse red hair. At the trial Dr King Wylly testified that he had fou.id blood-spots on a handkerchief found in Newton’s pocket the morning after the murder a single red hair. He testified that at the first examination he found a single blood crystal. Supposing that, he might have scratched his finger and caused the crystal to get on the handkerchief, he would not accept it'as evidence that there was blood there His last examination revealed the blood corpuscles very distinctly, and under-the microscope he discovered a single red hair—a coarse red hair. The defence fought the case point by point, but the drift was against them, and when Newton said that he had borrowed True’s pistol to shoot an alligator, the audience laughed. When the jury came in and gave the verdict, one could have heard a pin drop. All the while Newton had been nervously twiching his moustache. When the verdict was read out he dropped his head and turned deathly pale, while a slight tremor passed through his frame. He then suddenly jumped up and seized his hat, forgetting that the court had not adjourned, but presently controlled himself and resumed his seat. His wife remained quiet for a few moments, then a few tears trickled down her cheeks, and she grasped her husband’s ar’rn convulsively, but beyond this she showed no emotion, while the Judge pronounced sentence of death.