The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1871-05-19
THE FATAL FOUR.

Five of us were sitting in Jane:
McDeyitt's room, talking and drink
ing, when John Fisher suddenly
said -
''Let us form ourselves into secret
society, to be known as the Fata
Five. We will take a solemn oath tc
help each other in any cause whatso
ever. We will con6de all our secrets
to each other, and swear, also, not tc
divuIge any secrets intrusted to oul
care"
James McDcvitt, John Fisher, Hen.
ry Boncombe and Peter Carnicuger
Immediately agreed; but l decliued
to join any such foolish society. Hen
ry Boncombe was asked to draw up
an oath, and he complied. And such
an oath as it was l considered It 4
bIasphrmy.
As saw that after T had refused
to join them they regarded me coolly.
l soon departed. Little did l 'hiuk
what an influence this Fatal Four
would have over my future life!
My name is George Welman, and |
was clerk in the store Of Mr.. Seth
Glow ;lal d with a salary Of eli ght hun
dred dollars year. My employer
had q daughter, Isabella, as beautiful
as dream; and, to tell the truth, !
was in love with her. But | had a
rival in the person Of John Fisher
one Of the Fatal Four" He was
some distant connection Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands, and was reported to be i'm
mensely rich.
1 loved Isabella with my whole soul
and she loved me. But how could j
ask Mr.. Cleveland to give me his
daughter for q wife on a salary OF
eight hundred q year? However, |
at last summoned up courage enough
10 ask him.
"And does Isabella love you?" he
eaid
Yes, sir, I think she does"
"Well, George. Of course l could
not think Of giving my daughter to
man who has nothing to support
her with but eight hundred q year
But | know you to be an honest, IN
dustrious young man, and if, at the
end Of two years, yOn are ally bettt
off, 1 shall give my consent to the
marriage"
OF course I thanked him, and
went and told Bell the good news.
Through some means John Fisher
heard Of our engagement, and he was
furious But be managed to put on 4
good face, and congratulated me.
Now Mr.. Cleveland had a safe in
which he had placed aUnited States
Bonds to a large amount, and also
some four or five thousand dollars in
cash. There were but two keys tc
the safe. Mr.. Cleveland had one, and
I had the other.
About Il month after my converse
ton with Mr.. Cleveland, he called
me into his private Office and told mt
that the safe had been robbed tn.
night before, and that = handkerchief
with my name on it, and covered
with blood, had been found on the
floor. There were also hnger-mark.
found on the Safe, maj kcd with blood
1t was in vain | protested my limo
ccnce, and explained that [ had Gu
my finger the day bofore, and hac
used my handkerchief and probubly y
dropped it. Appearances were asains
mo and was committed to- Jail on th'
charge Of burg larry.
l refused to employ lawyer, as
knew that was innocent. [ receiv
ed visit from Bell, and she persuad
ed me to let her employ detective
to see if he could not find the guilty
party or parties.
The day of my trial came, and
had received no communication from
John Ross. the detective. / was con
Quoted to the court room, and.place'
in the prisoners stand. The witness
es wero called, but the most dead
evidence were given by Mr.: Clcvt
land. He spoke Of my uniform cor
duct and moral character, but tn
mark of the bloody hand, and m,
b,ood- d-stained handkerchief, could no
be explained.
| told the judge that I had nethin
to say except that I vas innocent
Then the usual question, "Guilty o
not guilty ?" was asked.
"Not guilty." answered.
ayes, as can prove" cried a voic
from the crowd, and John Ross, tn
detective, came forward. having i
charge-cou'd I believe my eyes?-
the "Fatal Four"
Detective Ross was called to I'll.
witness box, and testified as 70
lows
My name is John Ross, and m
calling is that of. a detective. l wa
employed by friend Of the prison
er's. l examined the bloody print (
the hand on tho safe, and discovere
that the hand that made that mar