Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-20
"The late MIR. Delpratt." the LAWYER

dCtiCSS LcSti IIOOl Ct tEaG marriage
have with me. Into the details of the
matter l need hardly enter 1 may state,
however, that in early life Mr.. Delpra,t
had met with severe disappointment
He had contemplated an alliance with a
distinguished families of this country.
To that union the stain upon his birth
was deemed by the lady's friends an in
superaole objection. The engagement, if
such it may be called, was therefore
abruptly terminated. Mr.. Delpratt was
deeply afflicted. He determined never to
marry. Some time afterwards he made
this will, bequeathing his entire property
to the only surviving legitimate member
of his family-Mr. Ernest Delpratt. But
he had reason at later date to be much
offended at the conduct of the man his
generosity would have enriched. To the
peculiar circumstances of the case | will
not further allude. Mr. Ernest Delpratt
left England, and was for nearly ten
years absent in Australia. In the inter.
val my late friend and client again turned
his thoughts towards marriage. He re-
solved to find wife among class little
likely to be affected by the circumstances
of his origin. Chance threw him in the
way of this Hortense Leroux She is now
dead; | will bring 20 charge against her,
therefore. | will only say that she was
IN every way unworthy of her hus
band, and that the marriage was most
unhappy one. The newly welded pair
separated forever within a few weeks of
their union. She was amply provided for,
but survived only few years, meeting
her death under very painful circum-
stances. Her dress accidentally caught
70 O q woo h1tr RI !, = Ia,
stage of the Lyons Theatre Mr. Del
pratt's marriage was kept a strict secret.
1t had been soiemniZed privately, and was
known to very few. He never alluded to
it. It was a distressing incident ia his
life, which he desired to forget. He
placed the proofs of the marriage in my
hands some years since. OF it's validity
there can be no question whatever"
Its a trumped- up story" cried Ernest,
with a livld face. "Ill go to law. Iii
establish the will It's monstrous to sup
pose that it could be revoked by such a
marriage"
81 will simply refer you to the Act of
the first Victoria, chapter twenty six, sec
ton eighteen" said the lawyer "But
you will, of course, proceed as you are
advised. Only you will distinctly under
stand that l decline to act on your behalf;
that | am not, and that | never will &C
cept the position Of your legal adviser. |
attended here, as before stated, solely in
lay character of solicitor to my late friend,
MIR. Delpratt. Gentlemen, | do not think
| need trouble you with any further oh
servations This will is waste paper. 1t
was revoked by Mr. Delpratt's marriage
He was we'll aware of its revocation. He
intended to revoke it. He had grave
fault to find with Mr.. Ernest Delpratt's
conduct and did not design to bequeath
him Lupton Manor and his other posses
sions. subsequently he was disposed,
however, to make some provision for the
young man. But his intentions in that
respect were prevented by lis death"
A servant entered and handed note to
Mr. Merdock.
The company rose, and prepared to quit
a scene that had become strangely painful.
and the property" one asked
"Mr. Deipratt dying intestate, and with
out legal heirs, hts property goes to the
Crown"
''It can't bet sha'n't be-" Ernest
cried. wildly. "I'll not be swindled in
this shameful way. I'll enforce my rights.
I'll establish the will At least the
amount of the assurances shall be Eaine.
The policies are in my possession. They
were legally assigned to me. l can prove
it. 1t has always been understood that
they were intended for my benefit"
I'm regard to one Of those assurances
am at liberty to state that, acting upon
my advice. the directors of the Albatross
Office will refuse payment Of the claim. !"
The lawyer looked the young man very
steadily in the face.
"What next? What are you going to
charge me with next? Refuse payment?
How dare you? Why-do you think l
poisoned the man?"
eve know you didt" said Mr. Mer-
dock. quickly, in low tone as he struck
his clenched hand sharply upon the table,
and handed the note he had Just received
to Ernese Delpratt.
He clutched it tremb lingly; read it with
raging eyes. Then it fell from his shak-
ing fingers and tluttered on to the floor
He gave a strange, piteous moan; raised
his hands and pressed them against his
head, as though to still some terribly
acute pain.
"Im ill.," he murmured, family. "Let
me get some fresh air. I shall be better
presently-I shall'-and he staggered
from the room.
Mr.. Merdock found himself alone with
Mr.. Pixley.
Il told you l should spring mine
upon that young man." said the lawyer,
quietly. II think I've been as good as
my word"
What was that note you handed him?"
"Read it,"
Mr. Pixley took the paper from the
floor and read: "E. D. bought arsenic
of Gibbons, Chemist, Catherine Street,
Salisbury, on the nth and Goth October,
and the Goth November"
''It's from very careful fellow who's
been helping me to investigate this mat
ter. I was in hopes / should have heard
from him last night. However, the note
came in time. Whether l did right to
show it him Pm not sure. Perhaps not.
But felt longing quite uncomfortable
to crush the villain. It's wrong to be re-
vengeful; it interferes with business ar
rangements. But / owed something to
the memory of my poor friend. That vii
lain felt the blow. How he WINGED"
"He's certainly villain if there ever
was one," remarked Mr.. Pixley.
"And now l can tell you something
more about him. You're fond Of dwell
ing upon the motives that lead to crime,
Pixley. At the same time may tell you
that you omit from your calculations the
fact that much wickedness in this world
is accomplished at a very cheap price, SO
There was motive enough in this case,
Delpratt had of course discovered the
will in his favor, never dreaming that it
had been revoked, or of the manner Of its
DIT, ho,, 4lo% ha