River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-04
TRAGEDY OF MARsTON HALL.

Discoyered-The Real CuIprit Escaping,
and an Innocent Man Hanged.
The mysterious murder OF Sir James
Harston, of Marston Hall, Yorkshire,
England, In 1910, is among the most
noteworthy events in the chronicles OF
crime. Sir James was the last of a long
line, and was bachelor of fifty. He had
lived gay and dissi pated life, and had
SquaTlered his large revenues on pleas
ures of the most sensual KIND. The bar
onetcy would be extinct with him, but
the estates would pass TO second cous-
in, young lady of twenty-five, bearing
the name of Augusta Marston.
Marston Hall was an irregular build
ing, in many styles of architecture, with
a terraced garden in front, in the old
style. Sir James spent the greatest part
of his time in London and Paris; but ev
cry summer he visited the Hall and
brought few intimate friends with HIM.
In August, 1910, he followed his usual
custom, and was accompanied by Mr..
John Carew, Mr.. George Settle, Mr.. Chris
topher Ainslie and Mr.. James Herbert.
They reached the Hall on the 18th OF the
month, and passed their time in fishing,
riding, rackets and boating. Every even
ing they sat down to dinner together, and
generally drank very freely, going to bed
late and rising late the next morning.
a DREADFUL DISCOVERY.
On the morning of August 18th, all
were up and assembled in the breakfast
room, awaiting Sir James. 1t was ten
o'clock and still he failed to appear One
of them, Mr.. Ainslie, sauntered out into
the garden and passed around the left
wing of the building where the study was
situated He returned shortly, and said
that Sir James was seated in the library,
near the window.
This is too bad" said Mr.. Agnew,
who was on very intimate terms with Sir
James; "let us go and rouse him up. He
must be ignorant Of the time of day"
Mr.. Agnew and the others crossed the
hall and went toward the study. On
opening the door. they saw that a screen
interviewed between them and Sir james.
They entered in body, and saw the
BarOnet seated IN his chair near the win
dow. His head lay back, his hands
dropped, and his Jaw had fallen.
MY God. exclaimed Mr.. Agnew; she
IL deadW
On approaching they found that such
WAS the case; but they found more. They
found that the blood still oOzed from
wound in the region Of the heart. The
vest, shirt and pantaloons were saturated,
and the floor was
SOAKED WITH BLOOD.
As matter OF course, the proper
authorities were informed the dreadful
crime which had clearly been perpetrated.
An Investigation followed, which resulted
in what il given below. The guests of
the deceased Baronet testified to their
being with HIM on the previous evening
until past midnight.
Mr.. Agnew swore that at fifteen min
utes past twelve he left Sir James in the
middle of the dining room with other
gentlemen. Mr.. Settle swore that he
parted with Sir James in the hall, where
be took his night candle, and that then
Mr. Ainslie and Mr.. Herbert were with
him. Mr.. Herbert testified that he babe
Cir James goodnight at the foot of the
stars, and left Mr.. Ainslie with him.
Mr. AinsIie swore that he quilted Sir
James at the same place fe~ moments
afterward, just as the porter extinguished
the light IN the hallway. SIR James
turned toward his study.
Thomas Cooley, the porter, swore that
he saw Sir James and Mr.. Ainslie stand
ing together at the foot of the stairs, and
that SIR James said: Thomas, see that
you put out all the lights and CLOSE the
windows securely"
Cooley further swore that he went into
the dining room to close tne window, and
left Sir James and Mr.. Ainslie speaking
together, ana that after he had closed
the windows he returned to the hall and
found that both gentlemen had gone.
There WAS a light, however, in Sir James
study, and Cooley went and looked in at
the halt open door. He saw sir James
BRING OUT HIS TIN cAsH-Rox
From an oaken chest which stood rear
the window, and wondering what he
could be going to do, had the curiosity
TO watch. Sir james counted ont num-
her of bank notes and said to Mr.. Aims
lie, as he handed them 10 him:
There Is a thousand pounds, and you
can give me your |. o. L. for it.
Then Sir James put back quantity OF
bank notes into the box and returned il
to the oaken chest. Cooley quilted c
spot and went about his business. In the
housekeeper room he remarked TO Mrs
Bruno, the houseKt eper, that Mr.. Ainslie
hsd borrowed money from Sir James.
William Carr, Sir James valet, testified
that he went into his masters bedroom
and prepared it for him as usual. He
had directions not to stay around the
apartment after midnight if his master
did not 60 to bed by that time. On that
evening, however, he remained later
reading 3 newspaper which lay on the
dressing table. Hearing a step, he look
ed at the time-piece and saw II was near
ly half-past twelve He thought the steT
was Sir James but as it passed he wen
10 the corridor and saw Mr.. Ainslit
going down stars
WITH AN UMBRELLA IN HIS HAND.
Strange things happened in the hall al
all hours, and Carr thought there was
nothing remarkable in guest going dowI
the stairs with an umbrella at midnight
Mr.. Ainslie denied without hesitancy
that he went 10 sir James study or Dor
rowed money from him, but admitted
that he went down stairs with the umbrel
Ia. He explained this by saying that tn
dav before he had carried It from tn
stand in the entrance hallway, thinkin!
il was his, and that. on gong to bed an'
6nding it was not, he Immediately retuI
d it, lest it should be needed 10y the own
er in the early morning. Mr.. Ainslie SAT-
that, 80 Tar rs from requiring 10 borrow
money from sir James or any one else, b
had with him arge sum, more than am
ply sufficient to meet all necessities.
Cooley persisted in his story, but
search Of the Oaken trunk failed TO dls
close snv tin box whatever. Cooley
statement was so remarN able that suspit
ION rested upon him, and search Wa
made Of the room where he slept and II
various parts of the premises IN which
had sccess In the cushion of the bl
chair standing near the main entranc
which 1t WAS customary for the porter
occupy when sir James was st the Hal
MAS found tin box such SIS tn;
described by Cooley. 1t was empt
Cooley was arrested and accused OF Il
murder and robbery OF Sir Jane
This was the theory: He had follOwe
him into the study. and, hidden b
the screen, had watched the Baron
counting his money. Providing himse
with 8 weapon, in moment the greed
wretch had bounced upon his master AT
inflicted desdly wound Then he hi
.-or ny the MONEY ROY Ann All