The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-07-30
THEFOUR-FIFTEEN EX-
PRESS.
BY AMELIA B. EDWARDS.
PART III.

PART III.
CONCLUDED FROM LAST WEEK
A week had not gone by when I
received letter from the Secretary
of the East Anglican Railway Com
pany, requesting the favor of my at
tendance at a special board meeting,
not then many days distant. Noreasons
were alleged, and no apologies offered,
for this demand upon my time; but
they had heard, it was clear, of my
inquiries anent the missing director,
and had mind to put me through
some sort Of official examination upon
the subject. Being still a guest at
Dumbleton Hall, I had to go up to
London for the purpose, and Jona-
than jeff accompanied me. I found
the direction of the Great East Ang-
liam line represented by party Of
some twelve or fourteen gentlemen
seated in solemn conclave round a
huge green-baize table, in gloomy
Board-room, adjoining the London
terminus.
Being courteously received by the
chairman (who at once began by say
ing that certain statements of mine
respecting Mr.. John Dwerrihouse had
come to the knowledge of the direc-
ton, and that they in consequence
desired to confer with me on those
points, we were placed at the table,
and the inquiry proceeded in due
form.
Twas first asked if I knew Mr..
John Dwerrihouse, how long I had
been acquainted with him, and wheth-
er could identify him at sight. I
was then asked when I had seen him
last. To which I replied, "On the
fourth of this rrooent month, Deem
ber, eighteen hundred and ffty-six." "
Then came the inquiry of where /
had seen him on that fourth day Of
December; to which I replied that I
met him in frst-class compartment
of the 4:15 down-express; that he
got in just as the train was leaving
the London terminus, and that he
alighted at Blackwater station. The
chairman then inquired whether I
had held any communication with
my fellow-traveler; whereupon I re-
lated, as nearly as I could remember
it, the whole bulk and substance of
Mr.. John Dwerrihouse's difuse in
formation respecting the new branch
line.
To all this the board listened with
profound attention, while the chair
man presided and the eecretary took
notes. I then produced the cigar
case. 1t was passed from hand to
hand and recognized by all. There
was not man present who did not
remember that plain cigar-case with
its silver monogram or to whom it
seemed anything less than entirely
corroborative Of my evidence. When
at length I had told all I had to tell,
the chairman whispered something to
the secretary; the secretary touched
silver hand-bell and the guard,
BENJAMIN Somers, was ushered into
the room. He was then examined as
carefully as myself: He declared
that he knew Mr.. John Dwerrihouse
perfectly we'll; that he could not be
mistaken in him; that he remem.
bered going down with the 4:15 ex'
press on the afternoon in question
that he remembered me and that
there being one or two empty first
class compartments on that especial
afternoon, he had, in compliance with
my request, placed me in carriage
by myself: He was positive that
remained alone in that compartment
all the way from London to Claybor
ough. He was ready to take his oatl
that Mr.. Dwerrihouse was neither il
that carriage with me nor in any com
partment Of that train. He remem
bered distinctly to have examined my
ticket at Blackwater was certail
that there was no one else at that tim
in the carriage; could not have failet
to observe any second person, ha'
there been one had that second per
son been MIR. John Dwerrihouse
should have quickly double-locke'
the door Of the carriage, and have a
once given information to the Black
water station-master. So clear, s
decisive, so ready was Somers wit
this testimony, that the board locke
fairly puzzled.
"You hear this PERSONS statement
Mr.. Langford," said the Chairman
''It contradicts yours in every parti'
ular. What have you to say in r
plyp
II can only repeat what I said b.
fore. I am quite as positive of th
truth Of my own assertions as M
Somers can be of the truth of his"
"You say that Mr.. Dwerrihous
alighted at Blackwater, and that I
was in possession ola private ke,
Are you sure that he had not alighte
by means Of that key before Il
; guard came round for the tickets ??