Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-30

River Railroad, IN the prison OF which
Mr.. Warning was confined I had some
little difficulty in obtaining admission
to the prisoner, but when stated that
was detective officer, an order was
reluctantly given me.
The moment / entered his cell, Mr..
Waring advanced to meet me-. In y
few words I told him of Miss Milford's
visit to me, and that I was acting by
her instructions. 0.@s.s ~.
81 own the circumstantial evidence
appears to be very strong against me-"
he replied, and am afraid my plain,
unvarnished story will not do much
toward disproving it. But the follow
ing are the simple facts of the case:
On the night in question, I visited Mil
ford's house, as usual. stayed there
until eleven O'Clock, and then took my
leave. [ was accustomed to return
home by the garden at the back of the
house, as ! saved something in distance
by so doing. On the night refer to,
was about dozen yards from the
back gate, when two men started up
from behind some bushes, and seized
hold of me. Before [ had time to de-
fend myself, one of them struck me q
violent blow on the head, which
knocked me down senseless. When
recovered it was daylight, aud l must
have been there all night. Ifound my
hands and clothes covered with blood,
and my knife which | carried for self
defense distracted from my pocket. l
had scarcely risen to my feet, when [
was seized and accused Of having MUIR
dered Mr.. Milford 81 iJag51 eae
sBut how about the watch and
purse?" .r
L assure you no one was more sur
prised than myself when they were
taken from my pocket"
How long a time had you parted
with MIR. Milford when you were assail'
ed in the garden?"
Mr.. Milford usually retired at ten
o'clock. leaving Miss Milford and my
self up together"
After little more conversation with
the prisoner, Withdrew, not very well
satisfied with the result of my visit. 1t
is true it served to confirm me in the
opinion had formed of Warnings inno-
cence, but was no nearer discovering
the truth than before.
My next proceeding was to make 8
strict examination of the premises late
ly occupied by Mr.. Milford. and espe-
cially the spot where Mr.. Milford had
been assailed. The house afforded us
no clue, but the garden convinced me
that the disorder there had been made
after the young man had been struck,
and that it was not occasioned byany
real struggle that had taken place, but
to induce the belief that such a struggle
had occurred. There was too much
regularity in the uprooting of the flow
ers and roots, and the shrubbery was
broken too Systematically not to set
this point at rest to the eye of the de-
tective.
I discovered that the most minute
search had been made for MIR. Mil
ford's body, but without any success.
After making these investigations / re-
turned to New York, and really saw
but little hope of being able to unravel
the mystery.
Three weeks passed away, and 7 had
not discovered one single link in the
chain / was seeking to find. One day
Miss Milford called on me again. In
few words l told her, that up to the
present time my researches had all
been fruitless. She looked disap-
pointed. 1ag@a &4t -
1" Have you heard" she said, "that
my uncle, Mr. Oliver Milford is occu-
plying Linden Manor House,"
" Your uncle occupying Linden Ma
nor House?" I exclaimed in tone of
great surprise.
eyes, he appeared there two weeks
ago, and claimed all my fathers prop
erty by virtue of a will which he eA-
hibited, and by which he was made
sole heir to all my fathers estates"
Are you sure that the will is gen.
uine one?" | asked, a ray of hope en-
tering my mind.
"There can be no doubt that it was
signed by my father" she replied.
g But who is tbs uncle Of yours? [
never heard you mention him BEFORE
q had almost forgotten his exist
ence, for the fact is, my father and he
were not on good terms together, and
his name was scarcely ever men
toned"
Are you left nothing in this will?"
Nothing -... r9rH
Is it not very strange, Miss Milford,
that your father should have left your
uncle all this property? .............
" 1t is, indeed, very. strange replied
the young lady. "They have never
spoken to each otne- for years My
father could never bear to hear the
name of his brother Oliver mentioned,
and whenever he did speak of him,
which have before said was seldom,
he always spoke of him as bad heart
ed man."
"And yet you say that the signature
to the will was in your fathers hand
writing?"
eyes, sir, am perfectly satisfied of
it; SO much 80, that when some Of my
friends advised me to contest the valid
ity of the will, being firmly convinced
that my father really did sign it, re-
fused most positively. 1 care nothing
about my fathers wealth, and it is not
to regain this that I ask your assist
ance, sir; my simple wish is to obtain
Mr.. Henry Warnings release.
"Has the will been proved?" I ask