Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-12-11

"I was questioned only as to what |
had seen after entering the house, and
answered fully and truly. If in failing
to tell what I was not asked about-the
suspicious circumstances under which
I had seen my brother leave the house
Il trifled with my oath, can only beg
the forgiveness of Heaven. What the
housekeeper had told me of course was
hearsay, and inadmissible ut second.
hand. The coroner never thought OF
calling her. -,
"I gave our friends some plausible
explanation of Charles absence, hoping
to myself, from day to day, he might
return and relieve my mind from its
distracting doubts but through all
the long years that have since followed,
he has never, to my knowledge, been
seen or heard of. :.
"I feel that were he found and placed
on trial, should oil the evidence come
out, any jury would conviet him. Fer
myself, I have fought, night aud day,
to drive away the torturing suspicion,
but it will not leave me. I left my ma
tive city and came hither, fearing, If l
remained, should not long be able to
divert attention from my brothers
strange absence.
"I have now told you all. To-mor-
row I will put in your hands a sum
sufficient to defray whatever expense it
may be necessary to incur IN restoring
me, if possible, my brother freed from
mistrust."
MIR. Wilson's startling narrative left
me little hope of being able to crafty
his wishes. The proofs against his
brother seemed unanswerable; and
there was slight reason to expect that
man in hiding for such crime would
voluntarily expose himself to the
chances of detection.
I prepared Mr.. Wilson's will in &C.
cordance with his wishes, and he placed
in my hands the money he had prom
ised. He died. however, before any dis
coveries were made.
+ now advertised cautiously for
Charles Wilson, mentioning the fact OF
his brothers death, and stating that by
communicating with me he might learn
something to his advantage.
Twas seated in my office one day,
when stranger entered.
"I am Charles Wilson," he said,
"and have come to answer to your no.
tice."
Hooked at him narrowly. There was
no great resemblance between him and
the late Mr.. Wilson; yet the want OF
likeness was not sufficient, of itself, to
render their relationship improbable.
"What proof have you OF your lden-
tity ?" inquired.
IL can mention all the family names,
for one thing" he answered.
ga little preparation might enable
any one to do that" replied.
81 have ring given me by my un-
Gle, he said, little reluctantly. ellis
name is in it. 1t was parting present
when left home"
"Let me see it," I requested.
He took from his pocket and undone
small parcel. It contained an elegant
diamond ring. The gem was costly and
elegantly set. The name was there as
he had stated.
"By the way" I added, turning upon
him quickly, care you not little
afraid to present yourself as claimant
of your brother fortune
"Why ?" he asked, with evident ner-
vousness.
"Did it ever occur to you," I ex-
planned, "that you might be accused OF
your uncle's murder?'
"My uncle's murder!" he exclaimed,
turning pale and trembling. "What
proof is there to found such charge
upon ?"
Enough to hang you, fear, should
it ever be brought forward" was my
reply.
And determined to push him home,
and find what explanation he had to
give, went over all my late client had
told me.
The effect on him was singular. He
was evidently reassured by the state
ment.
"Of course you are not at liberty to
use to my prejudice information thus
confined to you," he remarked.
"My client employed me to serve,
and not to ipjure his brother" I an
swered. "His last wish was that he
might be freed from this black sus-
picion."
"That wish shall be fulfilled" he
said. 81 think I can yet find q clue
to the real culprit, and, in few more
days, satisfy you of my innocence as
we'll as identity"
He took his ring and went away,
promising to return as soon rs he could
produce his proofs.
Next day another stranger appeared.
He, too, introduced himself as the long
missing Charles Wilson, and the like
ness between him and the man of whom
he claimed to be the brother was strik-
ing in the extreme.
az have not come about the fortune"
he said, "but to learn what may of
the last years of my brothers life"
He wept when I related the dead
mans story as / had to the other-wept
mingled tears of Joy and grief.
"Would that my poor brother were
alive" he cried, "that might at last
stand rs clear in his sight as he this day
does in mine It was toturn suspicion
from him that I fed on that terrible
night, and have ever since remained
concealed.
"As he told you, I met him hurrying
out as I entered the door. Having oc-
casion to visit my uncle's room, l was
horror-stricken at the sight of his
corpse stretched upon the floor. Near
it lay a bloody knife, which recognized
as belonging to my brother. A dread
full thought flashed upon me. picked
up he knife, and was running from the
room to conceal it, when the housekeep-
er met me. knew she would believe