Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-11-24
VOL 81.

/ that, too, by an extraordinary clrcum-
stance. Henry was early one morning
found in the garden attached to our house
in a half senseless condition, his clothes
and hands were covered with blood, and
my father had mysteriouly disappeared.
Every search was made for him, but with
out any avail, and Henry was arrested on
the charge Of having murdered him and
concealed the body somewhere.
''That was very strange conclusion to
come to- said I, interrupting her.
eyes, but you have not heard ALL" she
replied. ''My fathers watch and purse
were found in Henry's pocket at the time
he was arrested
elbow does Mr. Waring account for
that?" I asked.
II don't know replied Miss Milford,
''for [ have not been permitted to see him.
He has been removed to the county Jail,
and his case has not yet been investigated,
owing to the fact of my fathers body not
having been discovered. But to suppose
that Henry could be guilty Of murder and
robbery, is too preposterous to 2e believed
for a moment
"Such would certainly appear to be the
case,' L returned; 'sbut d id not the place
where Waring was arrested reveal moth
ing ?"
''Oh, yes, a terrible struggle had taken
place there. The flowers and roots were
torn up, the shrubbery broken, the ground
in various places was covered with blood,
and knife was found which was proved
to have belonged to Henry, also stained
with vital fluid.''
s'Do I understand that your father OPP
posed no obstacle to your marriage with
him?"
s'None at all, sir; in fact my father
loved him."
Chow long ago is it since your father
was missing ?"
''This is the fourth day. My motive,
Mr.. Brampton, in applying to you, is to
free Mr.. Henry Waring from the imputa-
ton of crime Of which am sure he is as
innocent as [ am"
cit does indeed seem improbable that he
committed the deed. The first thing I
must do is to see Mr.. Henry Waring, and
hear what explanation he has to give"
"Thank you gsir,' said Miss Milford.
'When shall come and see you again?''
'sAre you staying in New York;"
Yes, sir am staying with an aunt. +"
every well, when I have anything to
communicate to you will CALI
The next morning started for the town
Of L., situated on the Hudson River rail-
road, in the prison of which Mr.. Waring
was confined. I had some little difficulty
in obtaining admission to the prisoner,
but when [ stated that I was detective
officer the order was reluctantly given me.
The moment [ entered the cell, Mr..
Waring advanced to meet me. In few
words I told him Of Miss Milford's visit to
me, and that was acting by her instruc-
tions.
''I own the circumstantial evidence ap-
pears to be very strong against me-" he
replied, ''and [ am afraid my plain unvar-
nished story will not do much toward dis
proving it. But the following are the
simple facts of the case: On the night in
question I visited Milford s home as usual.
[ stayed until eleven O'Clock and then took
my leave. I was accustomed to return
home by the garden at the back of the
house. as | saved something in distance by
so doing. On that night I was about doz-
en- yards from the back gate when two
men started up from behind some bushes,
and seized hold Of me. Before [ had time
to defend myself. one of them struck me a
violent blow on the head which knocked
me down senseless. When I recovered, it
was daylight, land l must have been there all
night. [ found my hands and clothes COW
cred with blood, and my knife which [
carried for self-defense distracted from
pocket. I had scarcely risen to my feet
| when I was seized and accused of having
murdered Mr.. Milford.
''But how about the watch and purse p;
II assure you no one was more surpris-
ed than myself when they were taken from
my pocket"
How long time had you parted with
Mr.. Milford when you were assailed in the
garden %
mr. Milford usually retired at ten
o'clock, leaving Miss Milford and myself
up together"
After a little more conversation with the
prisoner, [ withdrew, not very well salts
fed with the result Of my visit. It is true
it served to confirm me in the opinion l
had formed Of Warnings innocence, but
was no nearer discovering the truth than
| before.
| My next proceeding was to make strict
examination Of the premises, lately occu-
pied by Mr. Milford, and especially 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 by
any real struggle that had taken place, but
to induce the belief that such struggle
had occurred. There was too much regu-
| larity in the uprootlng Of the flowers and
roots, and the shrubbery was broken too
Systematically not to set this point at rest
to the eye of the detective.
discovered that the most minute search
bad been made for Mr.. Milford's body. but
without success. After making these IN
designations, I returned to New York, and
really saw but little hope of being able to
unravel the mystery.
Three weeks had passed away, and I had
not discovered one single link in the chain
[ was seeking to find. One day Mss Mil
ford called on me again. In a few words
told her that up to the present time my
researches had all been fruitless. She look
ed disappointed.
"Have you heard" she said, ''that my