The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-30

finger upon nail in his struggle with
Hamilton, and that before lying down
he had wrapped pocket handkerchief
about it, which finding saturated with
blood m the morning, he had thrust into
the stove. The wound upon his finger
still appeared, but was so slight that his
story gained no credence, particularly MS
popular excitement already ran high.
And when, during the afternoon that fol-
lowed his arrest, a poinard was found in
his desk in his office, which precisely
fitted the peculiar incised wounds upon
Hamilton's person, there were few per-
sons who still had hardihood enough to
stem the current of popular opinion and
declare their belief of his innocence.
"To pass over all preliminary steps,
in order that my story may not be too
long, will come to the time when the
indictment had been found, and Roberts
was about to be arraigned for trial for
the murder of Hamilton. The evidence,
of course, was entirely circumstantial, but
/ felt assured that Roberts was the guilty
man, and was going on without the
slightest hesitation or doubt in the nee
essary preparation for the part was to
take in his trial. There had been an at
tempt to indict him only for manslaugh-
ter, but the provOcation was SO slight in
comparison with the crime, and the easy
remedy of removal from the annoyance
so obviously in his power, that these con-
siderations, taken i'll connection with the
supposed fact of his having arisen from
his bed after an hour or more of refiec-
ton, and having deliberately proceeded
to his neighbours room to commit the
deed upon an unguarded and unsuspect-
ing man, rendered doubly defenseless by
his probable state of inebriation, deter
mined the grand jury to present q bill
that, in accusing him of murder, met the
entire approval of the public. 1 confess
that the whole matter was so absolutely
certain to my mind that the trial assumed
the light of necessary formality only,
and seemed hardly needed as q justifica-
ton for the penalties of the law.
"But upon the very eve of the trial a
circumstance occurred which, so far as /
was concerned, altered the whole aspect
of affairs. was sitting alone in my pri-
vate room, making my last preparations
for the morrow's trial, when person was
announced as desiring to see me on mr.
gent professional business. Though
much annoyed at the interruption, / gave
orders that he should be admitted, and
looking up moment later L saw, stand
ing just within the circle of light shed
by my lamp, tall, pallid man, whose
eyes, full of the fires of suppressed ex-
element, We're fixed upon my face.
was a little startled-he had come in so
silently-but L recovered myself, and
babe him be seated. AS he sat down /
added that 1 was very busy, and begged
him to make his communication as short
as possible.
You were preparing for the Roberts
case, said my visitor, after few prelim-
inaries. assented, and he went on to
say:
"'It is about that very matter I have
come. And if you can first assure me
that my communication shall be held as
privileged by our mutual relation OF
counsel and client, L shall perhaps be
able to throw some light upon this mys-
terious subject.
thinking that he had sought me, as
prosecutor, to add some testimony which
would fix the gIGlt more strongly upon
Roberts, L assented. But Judge of my
surprise-my utter bewilderment-when
he proceeded to assure me that he was
not only aware of the complete innocence
of Roberts, but that he himself, had
been present during the alteration be-
tween Roberts and Hamilton, which pre-
coded the death of the latter by not more
than an hour. In fact, that he was con-
cealed in Hamilton's room, his purpose
being to regain from him large sum
which he had that evening lost to him at
play.
AS my story has already occupied
more time than / intended, l will, in a
few words, state all that this man told me-
He had spent the evening at gaming
establishment with Hamilton, to whom
he was well known, and the latter had
won from him large sum-all that he
possessed in the world, with which he in
tended to sail on the morrow for Europe.
Both left the saloon together, but sepa-
rated on reaching the street. My visitor,
however, turned after little, impelled
by some motive for which he could not
account, and followed Hamilton. He
did not then think of numbering or rob-
bling him, but almost maddened by his
losses, cared little whittier he went.
Hamilton entered bar-room and
drank freely, and his victim waited out
side, rejecting bitterly that he no longer
had the means to purchase a dram or
nights lodging. While standing there
he determined to accost Hamilton, and
coax or compel him to return some of the
money. But when he saw him come out
intoxicated, he thought by offering him
his service to assist him home he could
better accomplish his purpose. Hamil-
ton was very glad to see him, and oblivi-
Gus of all that had passed between them,
invited him to go home and spend the
night with him. Here was the OPP
portunity he desired. He could doubt
less get the money while Hamilton
slept, and contrive to convince him
that he had lost it on his way home,
at any rate, evade suspicion until the
sailing of the steamer. 1t was an insane
project, but the devil is very fond, APP
parently, of arranging opportunities for
those who desire to commit crimes.
HE went in with Hamilton, and was
present, as has been said, at his alterca-
ton with Roberts. When Hamilton fell
upon the floor, he quietly threw himself
upon the bed, and after waiting until he