The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1864-11-17
MURDER UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.


MURDER UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.
From the Autobiography of London Detective
In a struggling, sandy district known as
Stape Hill, not far from Poole, Dorsetshire,
there dWelt in 1914, man not more than
forty years of age, if SO much but go bowed,
witheled by care and disappointment, that
he looked to be sixty at the very least. His
name WAC Joseph Gibson, and he had once
carried ON the business as an oil and color
man, in High Street, Islingtop. he failed
in 1S49, but managed BY ehecting COM
promise with his chief creditors, to save
about four hundred pounds from the wreck.
lie had been some years separated fron his
wife, an attractive WQ,nap, by whom he had
one pretty, delicate girl at the time of his
failure His own life was wrapped up in
that of Catherine; and medical authority
warned him that only country air, and that
for some years to come, could permanently
establish her health: Whilst earnestly po,i-
dering how their future lives should be shap-
ed so as to secure that primary object, his
eve hit upon an advertisement in the Times
announcing to aglculturists and others, that
a farm of Que hundred acres, partly arabic,
partly pasture, with a convenient dwelling
house, out buildings, &C., &c, situate at
Stape Hill, within easy distance of the mar
ket town Of Poole was to be let on lease, at
the low rent of fifty pounds per annum. The
stock, implements, &C., were to be taken at
a valuation, which would certainly not ex-
coed three hundred pounds, including the
growing crops the season being late in the
year possession to be given on Michaemas
day, then ten days distant only. Satisfac
tory reasons for throwing up so desirable a
homestead by the last tenant would be Civ
en-, aud 80 on after the manner Of such
schemes for quilting the unwary. A trans
parent trap ike that could not have imposed
upon the least intelligent of practical farm
era. He would have known that you might
as we'll have attempted to cultivate seashore
shore sand as arabic and pasture land near
pepulous English market town, inclusive
of convenient dwelling house and requisite
out. buildings, which the proprietor was will
ing TO let at ten sllillings annual rent per
acre. But to town folk there is fascination
in the prospect of occupying land which
blinds them to the most self evident facts.
Application in person only was to be made
to Mr. Arthur Blagden, of Finsbury square.
This gentleman was a solicitor retired from
business, and native of Dorsetshire, in
which county he possessed large property,
in Poole and its vicinity. He was
a man of somewhat eccentric habits, and
very close, almost penurious, in his expendi-
ture. . The porsetsnire rents he always in-
variably collected twice year in person.
The Stape Hill Farm appeared to be pre-
cisely suited to Gibson; it being the adver-
tisement stated, one of tho healthiest places
in the United Kingdom, and apparently re-
auired no more capital than he possessed for
adequate cultivation. AS to not being: him
self practical agriculturist, that deficiency
the diligent study OF such books as Farm
ing for the Million" &C., would quickly sup
plyaf Joseph Gibson having 90 resolved, be-
took himself to Finsbury square without de-
lay, saw Mr.. Blagden, who, when Informed
that the applicant really possessed four hun
dred pounds in cash, readily, accepted him
as q tenant for the Stape Hill Farm, color
ed drawing of which he placed before Glib
son, who was SO delighted with the picture
OF rural felicity which it presented that he
carried it away to show to his child. A
lease for fourteen years was to be imrpedi-
ately prepared at the tenants cost, and ON
the 28th Of Septe,nber his Biagden would
go down with HIM to porsetshire 10 give
possession of Ito estate and stock. ~
: The preceding tenant, MIR. BIagden can
didly informed Gibson, had not prospered at
the farn,-was, iii fact, at that moment
prisoner for debt; but he was an idle. disco
'lute fellow enculnberea too, with large,
idle family, aud slatternly wife, who wo'd
never do well anywhere. Mr.. Blagden had
gladly taken the farm and stock off his
hands pleased to be shut Of Edward Ridg-
es, even at considerable sacrifice 49,
Possession was given, Joseph Gibson in.
stalled in his rural domain, monarch Of all
he surveyed spawned horses lean and for
the most part, barren COWS; a score Of de-
cent pigs; and growing crops, such as the.
were @ inclusive. il Three laborers Zone of
them of the name Of Somers) on the farm !;
and Jane Somers(an elderly maid-of- all-work
and dairy woman) were retained. Somers
and his wife slept on the premises. c4a 1
"A very short time suffieea to dissipate the
fond illusions which the swindled oil and
colorman had INDUCED in. Stape Hill farm
would have consigned any man to debtors
prison who could not afford to lose at least
one nunuTeu pouuuS per dHuuln upon H. "
was sad awakening from a pleasant dream.
His eyes were suddenly opened to the bare
faced fraud practiced upon him by Mr.: Blag-
den on the very next market day, in Poole,
after that gentleman, having collected his
rents, left fo0r London. The poor victim, who
zealously falling in at once with market hab-
Tits, dropped in at the Roebuck- AN inn pat
ronnized BY the bulk of the farmers, to not
ole of whom he was personally known had
the pleasure of listening to a very enlighten-
ing conversation, carried on in an undertone
| by two or three of the guests. One asked
who it was that that cunning devil, Blagden
| had let the St&pe Hill Farm to TO which
| the reply was &c a cockney tailor, or some
thing Of that sort, who had got a few hun
ldreds, which the avaricious old leech would
soon suck him dry Of. He had taken hand
some hapsel already, by making out that
the stock of the place was worth three hun
dred pounds, and had got the rhino, SO al
least Jen Soiners said-the covetous old
hawks factoturp, sly as his master and a
sweet nut for the devil to crack some day OIL
/ other" Three hundred pounds!" says an
| other; the unconscionable, theiying skin
flint. Why it was all valleyed to, BIagder
49, ~ d ,1r~nc l,,-a :+o,-o f,,S q "a M