Nebraska advertiser., 1877-06-21
THE MURDERER'S DOUBLE.


On the 23d of May, 1882, Mary Rand
the keeper of a huckster shop in th,
. village of HOughton, in the County o
Durham, England, arose early, as sh,
was going to make some purchases il
neighboring town. 1t was just day
break as she opened the curtains o
her bedroom and looked forth. I'm
mediately in the rear of her house, il
. the open country, and IN the field ad
joining her premises, she observed
man digging. AS this was no unusua
sight, she paid no particular attention
TO it, but dressed, and went about get
ting breakfast. AS she was engage,
at the fire, shadow crossed the win
dow, and she looked up. At the sam
moment tall. strong-built man pre-
sented himself at the doorway. Mrs
Rand started, and gave a shout; th,
man stepped into the room, and seiz
ing knife which lay on the table, b,
said:
o. Curse you be still, or I'll make
hole in your
The woman dropped into a chair
and smOthered her alarm.
Where's your husband p the maj
asksd.
My husband has been dead fv
years was the answer.
Who is there in the house will
you p the 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 maj
'Oome hustle and get me some break
fast
The woman, with fear and trem
bling, complied, and the man ate 1
hearty meal, and drank a quart o
home brewed ale. When he was
through, he said:
You get up early, mistress. But
for the light In your window, should
have missed a good breakfast. hap
pend to be near by, SO 1 jumped the
fence, and called in to see you
The woman then for the first time
identified her visitor, as the man
whom she had seen digging in the
field hphind the house
After pause, the man asked, Have
you got any of your husband:
clothes p
Yes, have was the reply, 'and
won't part with Them
Would they fit me?' the man asked
My husband was just your size,
Mrs. Rand said.
Look here said the man, taking
up the knife from the table, and toying
with 1t Il want you to lend ne &
good suit of your husbands clothes
and I'll return them tonight. Don't
say no, he added, for then III have
to make you.'
The woman, In great trepidation
and fear, said she would have to go up
stairs for the clothes, whereupon the
man ssid he would accompany her.
The clothes were procured, and the
man insisted on the woman's remain
ing In the room while he removed his
old worn garments, and put on suit
of the dead Mr.. Rand.
Now said he, IF any one asks
who 1 am, you must say 1 am your
husbands brother just returned from
sea-
The woman then explained that she
was going to town, whereupon the
man said
That's first-rate, and I'll go with
you.'
The poor woman was greatly taken
Rback, but she burst not 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 sub
urbs of the town, the man suddenly
disappeared, and that was all the
woman saw of him.
When Mrs. Rand returned home,
the same afternoon, the village was
In q fearful state of conformation.
At eight o'clock that morning, Mr..
Green who resided at Houghton Hall.
and owned property adjacent worth
fifty thousand dollars year, had been
found in his bedroom, murdered.
The Hall stood only about one hun
dred yards from street known as the
Quay, the village consisted of three
in the form of an arrow
head. Mr.. Green was widower, and |
chiIdless he was over fifty years of
age. and was much respected for his
of manners and generOsi-
".
Investigation showed that a wall
,ver thirteen feet high, which shut
IF the garden from the quay, had
,een scaled, and the perpetrator of the
rime had entered the house by
" climbing a lsburnum tree whose
ranches extended almost to the
,indow of Mr.. Green's bedroom,
n the second floor. He entered,
was thought, early in the evening
nd concealed himselfin the garden,
nd later on, scrambled up to the sec-
,d story window. Mr.. Greene was |