The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-11-19
Sf!Frf Story.
THE HURDERER'S DOUBLE.

SFiFrt STORY.
THE HURDERER'S DOUBLE.
On the psi of May, 1882, Mary Rand,
the keeper Of a huckstcr shop in the vii
lag" OF Houghton, in tlie county ofDur-
ham, England, arose early, as she was
going to make some purchase in a neigh
boring town. 1t was just daybreak as
she opened the curtains of her bedroom
and looked forth. Immediately in the
rear of her house vas the open country,
and IN the field adjoining her premises
size observed Il man digging. As this
wa. TO unusual sight, she paid no par
tir,iiar attention to it, but went on get
ing her breakfast. Is she was engdg
ga aj She fire, q shadow crossed the win
dow aud she looked up. At the same
moment tall, strongly-built man pre-
scented himself at the doowray. Mrs.
Rand started and gave a shout, the man
stepped into the room, and seizing IL
knife which lay on table, he said:
Curse you, be still, or will make
hole in you"
The woman dropped into Il chair and
smothered her alarm.
''Whcr.'s your Iusband!" the man
asked.
My husband has been dead five
years" was the answer.
''Who is there ia the house with you?"
tine man inquired.
"Only my two boys, twelve and four
teen. and they re up stairs, fast asleep"
the woman answered.
That's lucky for you" " said the man,
come, hustle aud get me some break
fast
The woman with much fea- aud trem
bling complied, and the man ate IA hearty
meal, and drauk quart of home brew
cd ale. When lie was through, he said:
'.Iou get up early, mistress. But for
the light in your Window should have
missed a good breakfast. happened to
be near by, 50 jumped the fence and
called ia to see y.,u.
The woman then, for the first time,
identified her visitor us the man whom
she had seen digging in the field behind
tie house.
After pause the man asked, ''Have
you got any of your husbands clothes!"
Yes, lave, " was the reply, "and L
wont part with them"
Would they lit me." the man ask
ed
My husband was just your SIZE, - Mrs.
Rand said
Look here, said the man, taking up
the knife from the table and toying with
tit II want You 20 lend me IL good suit
OF your husbands clothes, and Ill re-
turn it toniglIf. Don't say no" he
advanced, for then I'll have to make
you"
The woman, i'll great trcpidation and
fear, said She would have to go up stairs
for the clothes, whereupon the man SAID
he would accompany her. The clothes
We're procured, and the mar insisted up
on the womar's remaining iii the room:
while lac removed his old worn garments
and pat on IA suit of the dea? Mr.. Rand.
Nov, said he, "Ifany one asks who
aim,you mus say am your husbands
brother, just returned from sea"
The woman then explained that she
was going to town, whereupon the man
said:
''That's fIsst- rate, and I'll go with
You"
The poor woman was greatly taken
aback, bat dare nos decline, and having
aroused her two boys, she left the small
shop in their charge and started for
town, accompanied by the man. When
they reached the suburbs of the town,
the man suddenly disappeared, and That
was all she saw Of him.
When Mrs. Rand returned home the
same afternoon, the village was in fear
full state Of CONSERVATION. At eight
o'clock that morning, Mr. Greene, who
resided at HOuglton Hall and owned
property adjacent worth fifty thousand
dollars q year, had been found in his
bedroom murdered The hail stood on
Iy about one huhdred yards from a
street known rs Quay; the village con
sisted Of three tlIoroUgl:ares in the form
Of an arrow head. Mr Greene was Il
widower aud cllil.ii=,-; he was over fifty
years Of age, and was much respected
for his simplicity OF manner ard geuer
osity.
Investigation showed that a wall over
thirteen feet high, which shut off the
garden from. the quay. had been scaled
and the perpetrator OF the crime had eli
tered the hoase by climbing Il laburnum
tree whose branches extended almost 10
the window Of Mr. Greeue's bedroom On
the second door. lie entered, it was
/ thought, early in the evening, and con
/ eealed himself IN the gafItn, and later
/ on seramblins up to the second story
window Mr. Greene was found lying
on the floor close by desk, at which he
had eyiieutly been sitting when assault
| ed in the rear. A towel had been fiunng
] over his head and tarn his assassin had
strangIed him, a. was evident from the
marks on the dead mans throat. His
desk had been ritied, but it was NOT
known that any money, or anything oi
value bad been taken, a. nobody was
cognizant OF Mr.. Greene's private affairs.
When Mrs. Rand heard the story ol
the crime. her mysterious guest OF the
morning arose to her mind, and she
could not help assoeiatiDg him with the
murder OF NJ Greene. The fact of hi;
digging in the field behind her house
suggested the possibility of his having