The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-13
is l2A GAosTY
BY A BARRI6TER.

George Marley, having none but fash
ionablc vices, was not what the world
calls vicious. lie drank without being
sot, gambled without being black!eg,
and if not saint, was no profgate. de
bad recently come into handsome for
tune, and was spending his first season
and good deal OF money, in London.
Among others whose acquaintance be
formed was young Frenchman, q few
years his senior, named Antoine GRAND
between whom and himself a similarity
OF tastes soon caused an especial intlma-
cy 10 spring up.
Young GIraud was perfectly acquain-
cd with the city and It's ways, and was
nothing 10th TO place his knowledge AZ
bis friends disposal. When the tbeater
and opera grew tiresome, as they did at
last, aud masked balls and champagne
suppeIs began 10 lose their zest, fresh
excitement was sought and found al the
gam bling table.
Girand played persistcntly against his
friend. Marley thought it was because
they Wtre friends. There was another
reason, perhaps. However, if money
was the frencbman object, he was sig
naily disappointed, for he was uniformly
unsuccessful.
One night their play ran unusually
high. Marley was flushed with wine,
while the expression OF his companions
face betok cned still deeper excitement.
With ncrvously trembling hand, the
latter deposited on the table IA sum larger
than any he had yet riskcd. 1t WAS
promptly covered by his adversary.
" tbs Tins | ha won . 81" cried Ga
raud, throwing down his cards.
"Not 80 fast exclaimed the other,
your hand Is almost lnvincible, but this
beats it,"
1t was true the Frenchuan had lost
again.
"Come, George" be said, with fore.
ei laugh, Z" itls time TO go now" and
taking bis friends arm, the two left the
place together.
II was pas. miJmght, and lie streets
were almost deserted, when . drowsy
waicilE.2-, pacing bis accustomed round, !
came Suddenly 90 scene that s.3..!sc
h:7a into lie and a2n,ed him g. elgual
Tor assistance, Which happiy pc"red 70.
he 81 hand
MAJ vas Sleeping over the pfJsttats
TORN OF another. At tho sound Of APP
preaching footsteps, he raised himself,
rccoIing quickly as If in fright. Bat
the summoned help was already on the
spot, and the fugitive was Intercepted.
In his hand he held a bloody dagger,
and at his feet lay the inanimatc body of
the victim, still warm and bleeding.
On finding himself in the hands Of the
officers, tho prisoner sclf-possession
entirely forsook him. HIS answers were
50 incoherent as TO be wholly unntelli
gjblc. Nothing could be gained by ques-
iionins him Ia his present condition, and
ho as 49, u".e taken 81 &c nearest Sta
tion-ho ana locked up.
The body was conveyed to the dead
house, where, on the following day, il |
was Identified as That OF George Marley. 1
nj the inquest, Giraud testified to hav- /
ing accompanied his friend IS tar as .
their way lay in common, and that they a
had then separated for the purpose Of q
going to their respective lodgings. The /
iacts sworn TO by the policeman were +
those already stated. If the crime had y
been perpetrated with view 10 robbery, \
the pcrpctrator had been interrupted be- 5
fore accomplishing his object, for the i
mans watch and pocket book t
were found on his person unmolested, \
and nothing identified As his was discov- n
cred in the prisoners possession. s
Eugene Aubrey, the person accused =
Of the alrocious decd, was young arti /
San of hitherto unblemished character, t
and tho only child and sole support OF 5
his widowed mother. The day after his @
arrest, he gave an explanation of the cir =
against bin. d
HIS story was this: lie had been e
spending the evening-and SO much ne [
was able TO provc--in visit 20 4 young U
girl 10 whom he was bctrothed. Ga his n
return, two men walking arm-in arm, l.
turned into the street before him, con- d
tinuing In tho same direction as himself, q
bat some distance in advance. Sudden 3
~, one OF lbom disongaged his arm and G
dealt his companion "a swift blow with b
some instrument, which, rs il descended, 4
cleaned in the gasIight like the blade al Il
a weapon. The one stricken, reeled, and b
tell, uttering faint cry. The other
glanced hastily around, and seeing thc1
prisoner rapidly approaching, turned d
and fled. When the latter reached the b
body, lite was extinct. lie bad iasi with
lrawn the weapon, which had been left
N the wound, and was about to run or
,ali for help, when he WAS apprehended
10 already stated.
But a prisoners statement, though all N
powerful against him, goes but little h
way in excul patton. A verdict Of evil e
'ul murder against Aubrey was return b
ID by the coroner's jury, and he was a
uily committed for trial. M
1t was at this stage of the case was o.
retained for the defence. The task seem W
I'd hopeless enough On the final trial,
he only facts in evidence would be those
which told SO damningly against the G
prisoner. His own statement, winch :,
he coroner had allowed TO be received, q,
would there be entirely excluded. But h.
,no result could reasonably be anticpat- q
"a. :.
The poor widow never doubted her n,
sons innocence. g" He was always so If
good and gentle" she said. Still less n
would it have been possible TO create
suspicion in the mind of her who loved
aim with all the blind devotion of -,