Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-07

uIoCtly W NY room anu w Uou. 1HIs
morning went as usual to the bank, and
as soon as Mr.. Richards came down he
took me into his private office, and said
that most men would discharge clerk
from their employ under similar circum-
stances, but as [ was honest, capable and
faithful, he would keep me on condition
that 1 would forget my presumptuous
fancy
"'Why,' said he, 'Clara has more for
pin money than your salary and then
after informing me that would no longer
be received at his house, he told me to re-
turn to my desk. Nothing unusual occurred
during the day, until just before we closed,
when we received an unusually large
cash deposit. And / was on the point of
leaving the bank when Mr. Richards called
me and said:
Howard, here is a package containing
$4,000 wish you to take to Mr. Martin,
Cashier Of the City Bank of G.. You
can explain to him about our vaults not
being any too secure, and apologize for
coming at such unreasonable hour, and ask
him as personal favor to me to receive
the funds on deposit. Take a receipt and
return in the morning, you can take the
six O'Clock train this evening"
! &c I had a little money on deposit at
bank, and having payment due on my
life insurance in o., drew 500 and
thought would pay that before return
ed. I took the package containing $4,000
and after receiving some money for ex-
penses [ started. arrived at my destina-
ton about $50 O'Clock, and went directly
to Mr.. Martins house, but found that he
had gone up town and later was going to
the theater. Whereupon I sought the
principal hotel thinking I might gee him
| there. [ walked around where thought
! l would be most likely to meet him, until
about half-past eight and then returned to
the hotel where took supper, and engag-
ed room to which went 1 sat down
and read the evening paper until about
1920, when I started for Mr. Martins
house. AS I came down stairs and opened
the outside door, a burly fellow touched
me On the shoulder and whispered
''I arrest you for the robbery Of the Far
maer's Bank Of 4, and murder Of Mr..
Richards
"'He then placed the handouts on me
and escorted me here. And now I have
told you all know of my case, and so help
me God, it is the truth. My name is How
ard Burton; have no parents
''This is the substance of what Howard
Burton related to me on that Christmas
eve, in his cell at c.. I had not inter-
rupted him during his recital, but had lis
tened very attentively to every word. I
was very much interested in the young
man, who was about my ownage, and who
[ felt was innocent of the horrible crime
with which he was charged. I remained
with him till long after midnight, and then
charging him to converse with no one on
the subject of the murder, 1 left him. 1
knew nothing of the circumstances of the
murder as yet, but the next day being
Christmas, thought would go to k
and learn what I could, as knew my eli
ent would not be examined that day, but
was sure he would the next. Justice was
then much swifter than now. On my ar
rival at k went directly to the bank,
and found two or three detectives there,
and some of the officers of the bank
Nothing had been moved since the murder
except the body of the murdered man. He
was found lying on the floor with his skull
crushed and his throat cut from ear to
ear. Some of the drawers had been rifled,
but aside from this circumstance there
was nothing to indicate robbery There
was missing from the safe $4,000, but the
locks afforded no evidence Of having been
tempered with 1 found that belief in
Burton's guilt was quite general. I pro-
coed to look around to see some indications
of violence being used, but the locks Of the
safe and vaults were in perfect ORDER
There was window in the Presidents Of
flee that looked out into narrow passage
that divided the bank building from a
lawyers Office. 1t was securely guarded
by an iron grating, and [ felt that the as
sassin entered the bank in the ordinary
manner, viz: through the door. There
was no trace of the assassin and robber,
as I said, but felt that the accused man,
my client, was innocent of the terrible
crime of whichs he was accused. The
cashier had gone to c. and lodged a
formal complaint against Howard Burton
and the examination would be held the
following day.
81 stood,at the window in the Presidents
office, staring vacantly out. hard at work
thiffking, when my eyes noticed on the
sash of the windows in the lawyers Office
just across the passage way, a little scrap
of paper with the word Paiat written on
it, A suggestive thought flashed through
my mind as walked leisurely out of the
bank and stepped into the law Office next
door. 1 was slightly acquainted with it's
occupant who welcomed me and invited
me to seat. We talked of the frightful
occurrence of the previous night for some
time, and at length said, rising to go,
:" so you have been painting little,
Mr.. Harris?'
"'Yes, sir; did you observe my new
sign? Kelley, the painter, has a young
! German working for him who is really an
artist. He did the work here, and it is al
most worth what he charges to have Fritz
Vogel's presence in the office. He is a
witty, original Dutchman'
"'When was that painting done?' I
asked.
''All done yesterday-be careful Of
your coat
"'I babe Mr.. Harris good-day and left
his Office. had learned who painted that
window, which was just what most wan
ted to learn, without asking leading
question OF letting Mr.. Harris know was
interested in Mr.. Richards murder any
more than he. made up my mind to see
| 41>o Corr Nncrol Of tiraa