Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-07-31
A MURDER MYSTERY.
BY AN OLD LAWYER.

who is accused of murder. He is an
innocent man, l am confident. He
wants to secure your services as coun-
sci, and have promised to intercede
with you in his hehalf.'
You seem much interested IN his
behalf
Il am. Herbert Irwin Is the son of
one of my Oldest and best friends, and a
Young man in whose integrity have
the greatest confidence. You will at
least go and see him.
To obligc you l will, certainly, Far
ley. What are the particulars OF the
crime?'
You had better hear them from the
lips of Herbert himself, as l heard them
this morning. A train starts for Mn
half an hour you will have just time
to reach the depot if you start now
L will go at once L said, rising from
my seat.
Preached the depot just as the train
was starting.
Another train had just arrived and a
stream of travellers was pOnring from
the cars.
While I was hurrying toward my
train gold locket, which was attached
to my watch chain, became loOsened
and fell to the pavement. 1t rolled
several feet away.
was about retracing my steps in
order to regain the locket, when a man
who had just stepped from the newly
arrived train, stopped and pickedit up.
Placing it in his pocket he started at a
rapid pace for the door.
Twas about to follow him with the
intention Of reclaiming my property,
when the bell rang, the conductor
shouted All aboardn and my train
began moving out of the depot.
III followed the stranger l should
lose the train, and should be forced to
postpone my visit to N-until two
o'clock III the afternoon. To do this
would seriously inconvenience me,
besides, perhaps, compromising the
interests Of my prospective client. The
locket was comparatively valueless,
and 1 instantly decided to let it go
rather than lose the train.
So 1 turned and jumped on boaId the
rear car.
The incident which l have related
seems trivial and irrelevant, but its
importance and significance will
presently appear.
The man who had picked up my
locket was apparently about twenty
five years Of age, tall and well proper
toned. His face, Of which l had OBJ
tanned full view, was dark and quite
handsome, but was disfgured by a scar
upon the right cheek.
His dress was neat bat inexpensive
and his general appearance that Of Q
well-to.do workman or clerk.
Half-an-hour's ride brought me tc
N, a small town about twenty mile:
from New York City.
at once proceeded to the place
where the prisoner was confined.
AS l entered the cell and was brought
face to face with the accused man,
could not restrain start ofamazement
1 stepped back pace or two and re-
garded the young man with an ex-
preston of astonishment which was o
course utterly incomprehensible to him
WHAT'S the matter, Mr.. Ashley
exclaimed the jailor, who had con
Quoted me to the cell, while the prisoner
gazed wonderingly into my face.
1T is nothing Irepllod, Immediately
recovering my self-possession and no
wishing TO enter into an explanation.
l introduced myself to the prsone
and requested from him full histcr.
of the crime so far as he was acquainte'
with it.
The particulars which learned iron
him were as follows:
The victim Of the murder was Alr
Mark Walton, a wealthy resident @
the place.
He had been found at ten O'Clock th
previous night lying dead upon a lionel
road near his residence, bullet woun,
in his forehead. He had been robbed
of his pocket book, containing abou
five hundred dollars, and of his watc
and chain and valuable set of damon
studs.
The evidence against young Irwin
was very strong.
The prisoner was by profession a
architect, and had a few months befor
drawn the plan Of a residence for Mr.
Walton. For this and other profes:
ional services he had sent in bill 10
five hundred dollars.
Mr.. Walton had pronounced this a
extortion and refused to pay 1t. Th
young architect had refused to max
any reduction in his charges, and tll
result was.that Mr.. Walton refused
pay at all.
Irwin was much incensed al h
wealthy employers conduct and thre'
tened. Walton retorted by telling hi
, to sue and be-blessed.
The young man had more than ont
said in the presence of witnesses, th'
! he would have the whole amount OF u
L. III :r;a o-.t Liz, h;a 1,fo. ou1 IN