The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-28
A Narrow Escape.
The Detectives Story.

experience. Perhaps, however, / should
call it an amateur rather than professional
experience, for was not then member of
the force, and took hold of the case merely
because it had interested me deeply. 1t
was my success in this case and the repu-
tation it gave me that afterward decided
me in the choice of our really glorious
profession.
One evening the papers were full of a
horrible murder. The parties concerned
were Grst-class people, and, of course, the
affair made quite stir. The circumstan-
ces, as briefly as can state them, were as
follows
Michael Howe, the murdered man, was
wealthy merchant, fifty years old, or
thereabouts. His nearest relative was a
beautiful neice, Miss Ellen Howe, who
lived with him, and would, it was under
stood, inherit his property. People ac-
quainted with the family were aware that
Mr.. Howe was of narrow and tyrannical
disposition, and though he loved the girl
well and spared no expense to crafty her,
yet was often very harsh and cruel to her.
Ellen was not only dependent upon her
uncle for support, but she had it seems
contrary to his expressed wishes engaged
herself to a young bank clerk as poor as
herself
This young man, Ellis by name, was
really very fine fellow, with an unspot-
ted reputation. Old Howe had, in years
past had business relations with Ellis
father, and had, it was said, been the
cause of his ruin and suicide.
However this may have been it was
certain that Michael Howe entertained
feelings of the most violent hatred toward
the young man himself, and had repeated
ly and in the most abusive language for
hidden his holding any communication
with Miss Howe. Ellis, on his part, cor
daily detested the uncle but he loved
the niece, and determined to marry her,
in spite of her guardian, and upon the
night of the murder he had called to tell
him so.
The interview between Michael Howe
and Frederick Ellis no human eye had
witnessed. All that was known of it was
gathered from the account given by the
young man himself. Strange to say, this
account though it positively denied all
knowledge of the murder was fatally DAM
aging to the young mans case. He had,
he said, called ON Mr.. Howe about ten
o'clock in the evening. At first he was
refused admittance but as he was turn
ing away, the merchant himself came out
of the library and told him to come in
saying they might as we'll have it out ther
as any other time. They went into the
library, and as the servant, also testified
the key was turned and the two remained
together until everybody in the house hac
retired.
The only additional testimony given by
the servant was that in going around (
short while after to fasten up the hous
she heard loud tones in the library ant
had paused at the door to listen. Th
words she caught were few. She hao
heard the younger man stop in his wall
up and down the room, and say, excited
ly, "By Heaven, you lie, sir My fathe
never did that and were you not an oil
man and Ellen's uncle, would kill 20,
this instant for saying so." Then she ha,
heard the old man get up from his chai
and move toward the door, and she ha
hurried away up stairs.
Ellis acknowledged the words and grea
many more quite as violent. He had bee
with the old man an hour, he said. II
had at once announced his determinatio
to marry Ellen Howe at all hazards, bu
he once more asked permission to do so.-
Mr.. Howe laughed at him, calling hir
names he did not care to repeat, and fina
ly taunted him with the crime and dii
graceful death of his father. Then th
young man, stung almost to madness, ha
used the words testified to by the servant
The old man had gone TO the door, bu
only to see that it was secure. He di
not seem to have any fear for himself, bu
still went on with his taunts Finally h
said, " Young man, we have had har
words enough. ! worked your father
ruin--aye, and drove him to his disgrac'
ful death, and glory in it. But that
not all. i hate you as hated him, and
will work your ruin too. You shall nc
hang yourself-oh, no but the sheri
shall do for you. shall see you hange
: See you with these eyes--I and thousand
i of others shall see Frederick Ellis, son (
2 the renowned forger, Gerald Ellis, hung t
b the neck until he is dead. Yes, shall s.
IL sir l shall see n and nhnuhe vnnr fail