Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-12-13

to the conclusion that she must have been
mistaken. Mr.. Goldsworthy' bureau, she
further deposed, as well as large tin box.
kept in his bedroom, had been wrenched
open, and all the gold and silver they con-
tanned, supposed to be large sum, carried
on. She further added, that the key of
the loft-door was, she believed, generally
carried by Mr.. Warren, in his coat-pockef.
| The detective gave the finishing stroke
to this evidence. In the tightened grasp
OF the deceased he had found small piece
OF light brown cloth, matching precisely
with rent in Richard Warren's upper
coat, and torn off, as he (thc detective)
supposed, if what had been stated was
true, in the death-struggle. He had also
discovered about ten pounds in gold and
silver concealed under the floor of Richard
Warren's workshop, but the amount car
| ried away, he was bound to add, was
known to exceed five hundred pounds.
This was more than sufficient. and the
inquest was adjourned to the next day,
when Richard Warren would be present,
and the evidence be read over and sub
scrlbed-a needless ceremony, like the
presence of the accused at these altogether
&c pdrts proceedings.
Richard Warren's statement i'm explana-
ton did not in the least mend his position.
lie had gone to a friend living beyond
Hampstead to borrow sum of money for
a pressing occasion; but judging. on ar
irving there, from the closed shutters,
and the absence of lights, that his friend
had retired with his family to bed, he re-
Trained from disturbing him, and returned
home empty-handed as he went. He had
neglected to take his upper-coat with him /;
but ON re-entering his home, and seeing il
hang up as usual in the passage, he had
| slipped it on, as he knew his wife would
be yexed If she knew he had gone out on
such bitter night without it. 1t was easy
to see that neither the coroner nor one OF
the jury-keen, far-scanning, astute gentle
men all of them-believed a word of this
simple story, and verdict of "Willful
Murder" against Richard Warren was
quickly returned by majority of seven-
teen to one, that one being myself, much,
| could see, to the disgust, amongst others.
of my facile friend the beadle, to whose
Kindness was indebted for my place in
the jury.
The inquest verdict would, / doubted
not, be ratified by the Old Bailey jury. The
wife's evidence and reported expressions
had been printed and enlarged upon in
every newspaper in the metropolis; and
however gravcly the Judge might warn
the jurors to Danish from their minds all
they had previously heard-which they
could about as easily do as Danish their
own identity from their minds-would,
was quite certain, insure Richard Warren's
conviction, if the evidence that could be
legally adduced at the trial were of the
f8intest, flimsiest kind-which, however, it
was not by any means, as will have been
seen.
Still, there were many weak as well as
favorably suggestive points about the evil
dence, even to those who, not knowing the
accused as did, could not examine it by
the light of his pure and blameless life and
character. Where, in the time, could he
have effectually concealed the large snm in
| gold and silver that had been carried off I:
the ten pounds that had been discovered
was obviously a plant, and the t,co figure
shadows which the woman Riddel had,
felt convinced, seen-to whom could they
point but to Purf1eet and his man, who
were both familiar with the ways of Colds
wOrthy's house, intimate with Warren,
and had access by a common door to his
workshop? Mr.. M'Intyre coincided per-
fectly i'm my opinion and Mrs. Warren,
who was half distracted with grief, re-
morse, and dread, being enabled by her
fathers will, bequeathing all his estate,
real and personal, to her exclusively, to
| furnish us with ample funds, clever de-
tective's services were engaged, and other
| springs carefully set to ensnare and convict
the real murderer or murderers.
No positive result was, however, for a
long time obtained, and the Old Bailey
Session was already unpleasantly near,
when the detective suggested, as last re-
source, that a reward of g200 should be
advertised for the discovery of the perpe-
traitor of the crime, payable to any accom-
plice in the deed except the actual MUIR
derer. and roundly promising impunity
under the prescribed conditions to the in
former.
This may. perhaps" said the detective,
"ca that jenkins, Master Purfleet's
jouu. a, who has so suddenly van
ished, IN up; and, at all events, it is
worth Ig.r
Itwa Cd, and bore fruit with magical
lceleriiy he bills had not been posted
twelve hours when the detectives agents
apprized him that Purfieet was selling his
trade-stock for anything he could get for
it, evidently with the intention to bolt. A
closer watch than ever was kept upon the
fellows motions, who, on the evening OF
the third day from the issue of the men,
1 aclDg duNeTustneflt, IttcIeu u CID anu
packed it with his boxes, which were la
beled, "James Dixon, passage, Liver
pool"
At that moment the detective made his
appearance, exclaiming, "Oh, these are
your packages, are they, friend DixOn-oI
Nix'em-which is it, Ell? Or might moi
the name of Thomas P,rfeet suit you as
well, or betterr'
The villain seemed turned into stone as
by the stroke of an enchanter's wand, as
the officers words of doom smote upon
his ear. Presently the thick perspiration
oozed through his clammy forehead; hi;
knees smote each other. and his quick
gasping breath barely enabled him to ar.
| ticulate, in an accent of utter despair, s.
see it all now, and that am dead man
| This is Jenkins's doingr'
Perhaps so; but this packet of valua
bles would, think, do for you without
his aid. Come along! it is always at tho
last pinch. you know, that the devil de
serts his mates. Now, then ~
Instead of Richard Warren, Thoma:
Purfleet and Isaac jenkins were tried al
the ensuing Old Bailey Sessions for tho