Circumstantial Evidence. How it Almost Caused the Lynching of an Innocent Man.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 188, 22 January 1887, Page 3

Circumstantial Evidence. How it Almost Caused the Lynching of an Innocent Man.

In the early days when the greater part of the money in circulation consisted of notes issued by State banks, the people of our State seldom accepted notes issued hy baufcg in another State, and a good deal of business was done by men exchanging the notes, charging a pmall comminsion for co doing, just as a man wanting to travel in Europe has his mouoy exchanged to that of the country in which he is going to travel. John Burnsidea left Pittsburg for Wheeling, intending to cross the river and buy aozne land he heard waa for sale in Ohio. When he got to Wheeling he had M 3 Pennsylvania money exchanged for that of Ohio at one of the banks, and he then crossed the river and went to the house of hie brother-in-law, a. considerable distance away. Having investigated the land he thought of buying, he returned to his brother-in-law's place, and said he would like to have gone back to Pennsylvania by another route, but would have to go to Wheeling to get his money changed. The brother-in-law said ho had a good ! deal of Pennsylvania money, which had gradually accumulated by his having frequently exchanged small quantities for travellers- He made the exchange, receiving the identical packages of Ohio moneygiven by the bank at Wheeling, Buvnsides bought a horße and intended riding home across the country. " Have you got any weapons ?" said his brother-in-law. "No," said Burnsides, "I never carry any arms." " Well, your road is a lonely one, bo take this pistol. It may come handy. You can, send it back with some travoller after you get into a more thickly -settled country," The revolver had the owner's name cut on the handle. Burnsides started, and the next day travellers reported the finding of his dead body. Examination showed that there had been a struggle, and in searching the bushes near the spot the pietol waa found.^ The owner's name being cut on it, Burnsides' brother-in-law waa arrested. The packages of Ohio monoy were found^ and these were positively identified by the bank officers at Wheeling. There was nob the slightest doubt entertained as to the prisoner's guilt, and he was locked up in gad to await his trial, although the trial seemed co plain that there was some talk of lynching him The Court did not meet till some months after that, but before the trial came off the authorities received, from some obscure town in Indiana, the confession of a man who had just died of consumption that ho had killed Burnsides. In this there were only a few links in the chain of circumstance, but they wero vory strongs and undoubtedly would have convicted the poor man but for that confession.