The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-10-23
THE LITTLE OLD aENTLEMAN

Must mourn my life away.
THE LITTLE OLD GENTLEMAN.
CONCLUDED.
"About 6 O'Clock, I took up my
hat and went to see some friends in
the town. When I got back it was
past IL o'clock, and Strange, the
honsemaid told me, had been in bed
and asleep more than an hour. I paid
my share of the bill, for I intended
starting early, went up stairs, found
Strange fast asleep, and went to bed
myself. Next morning I was called
at 5, packed my bag, swallowed
cup of coffee, and in half an hour was
on my way to London. On leaving
the inn, told the porter that my
companion was asleep, and, as he was
only going by the 10 o'clock coach to
Brighton, they need not call him yet.
I should not forget to tell you that
while 1 was dressing in the morning,
Strange awoke, and that we shook
hands over our dispute Of the pre-
vious day. we moreover agreed to
change our plans, and Strange was to
meet me in. London on the next day.
AS I was closing my carpet-bag, he
asked me to lend him one of my ra-
zors; thing which I had the greatest
objection TO, flor il am particular
about anything / possess, it is about
my razors,) but, having only made
up my difference with him, I could
hardly refuse him SO small favor.
'The next days I am writing of,
were before railways had extended TO
Southampton. Leaving the latter
place at half past in the morning,
it was half-past 6 in the evening be-
fore I got to town. I went to bed,
got up next day, and while I was sit
ting at breakfast with my wife, our
servant told me that two gentlemen
wished to speak to me. went down
to see them, and, before could
open my mouth 10 ask them what
they wanted, found myself with
handouts on, arrested for the murder
of Edward Strange.
cit seems that, finding Strange did
not come down by half-past 9, the
porter went up to call him. He
found the door locked, but no key in
it. After knocking some time on the
outside, the door was broken open,
and poor Strange was found with his
throat cut from ear to ear, and q
razor in his hand. The key of the
door was afterwards. found in the
coffee-room under the very bench on
which I had sat to drink my cup of
coffee before starting.
81 was brought before the magis-
trate at Bow street the next morning,
and was by him sent down to South
ampton, to await the result of the
coroner's inquest npon ny partner.
The verdict was wilful murder, and
after commitment by the magistrate
to the sessions, / was put on trial for
my life at Winchester.
The trial lasted, only few hours.
It was fully proved that Strange and
myself had quarreled and had high
words the night before, and that
had said I didinot care how soon he
died, so that I could recover the
money I had lent him. A great deal
was made of the fact that by
Strange's death I should be entitled
to the insurance upon his life to the
amount two thousand pounds, by
which should be O clear gamer of
one thousand two hundred.
1T was further shown that the
razor found in poor Strange's hand
was mine, and three medical men de-
clared their conviction that, although
that instrument was undoubtedly
used to kill the dead man, it must
have been placed in his hands after
death. Moreover, there were moi
only evident marks of struggle
about the bed and bed-clothes, but
Strange's throat was cut from right
to left, which no one could do but G
ieft-handed man, which Strange wal
not. Then again, the fact of the
bedroom door being locked, and the
key hid close to where I had break
tasted, told fearfully against me. I
was clear that Strange could not, bJ
any possibility, have cut his throa
and then locked the door of his room
on the outside. II was attem pied b,
my counsel to throw discredit upoi
this part of the evidence. The learn
ed gentleman tried very hard to elici