The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-09-10

half dead. He was found by laboring
man, who recognized him and had him con.
veyed home. When Layman recovered
consciousness he remembered distinctly
that one OF the footpads said, when expos.
tulated with by the others:
"You know as we'll as | do that the
understanding was that We were to kill
him"
Lavman was a vigorous man, and three
days after his last mishap he was on his
way to Leeds. Arrived at Kirkstall, he
found that the body had been claimed by an
old woman as that OF her daughter, and
buried. Layman went before Mr.. James
Hargraves, then magistrate, and applied
80 have the body disinterred. Leave was
granted, and the next morning was APP
pointed for the work. During the night,
however, the grave was opened and the
corpse removed. Who were the depreda-
Tors was involved in mystery. Layman
saw in it conspiracy TO defeat justice, and
by wonderful stroke of good. fortune hit
upon the very device Which the despoilers
OF the grave had adopted. While e1amin-
ing the churchyard and the neighhoring
field, he observed deep footprints under
meath a very high wall, the ascent OF which
was, however, easy to an unencumbered
person. These footsteps led both ways, and
Layman concluded that the person rihing
the grave had both approached it and qnit-
ted it by tha: way. But it was next to i'm
possible that they could have done this
with the coffin in their possession, and
therefore he came to the conclusion that
the corpse had been reburied somewhere
within the precincts of the graveyard. A
search was made, but no newly-turned soil
was found. Mr.. Hargrave suggested ex-
aiming the old.fashioned square-raised
,ombs, OF which there were many in the
grounds, and sure enough, under one of the
Slabs was found the coffin and the remains.
Layman identified the body as his sisters,
andit bore marks to show that the girl had
been stranged.
Bv this time the authorities of Leeds,
York and Selby had become alike inter-
ested in the crime. That the man Miller
was at the bottom of it they had every
reason to believe. But who was he, that he
could bring his instruments to bear SO read
lily wherever he desired to use them? And
what was his object in accomplishing the
!eath of the girl? The word "Seldon " at
the end of the writing on the scrap of
paper found in the chimney was evidently
the writer's name. Was Seldom the same
person as Miller, and was that person inter-
.stcd in getting out of the way the girl
whom he had lawfully married Mr.. Har-
graves shrewdness seemed to offer a ra-
,ional solution of the mystery, namely:
That Miller had married the girl unknown
10 wealthy parents or friends, and on their
earning the fact they had taken measures
To remove her, in order that the disgrace
,i marrying beneath his station might be
removed, and that he might be at liberty to
iulfll some other marriage engagement
which they had arranged, One thing was
resolved Onto look for Seldom. There
was family OF that name in the North
Riding, residing near Birmingham. and
another branch OF the same family at STAN
hope, in Durham. All investigation, how
ever failed to connect any member OF either
family with Fanny Laynan. There was
only one young man OF suitable age in
ither, and he had been travelling abroad
It the very time of Miller's stay with the
Layman's. In the meantime it ought to
be said, 4 coroner's jury had sat in the case
Of Fanny Layman or Miller, and returned
4 verdict of willful murder against some
party or parties unknown.
Two years passed away. Layman went
to London on pleasure or business, and as
were wont, visited the House
Of Commons. He saw gentleman coming
out of st. Stephens who attracted his at
tention. The young man Miller stood be-
lore him-there was no doubt Of that. He
inquired who he was and learned that he
was J James Aubrey Seldom, member OF Par
Lament for the North Riding of Yorkshire,
md that this was his first session in the
House. Layman returned the next day and
watched for the arrival of the members.
In due time Seldom came, and Layman had
1 good view OF him. No doubt remained
IN his mind as to his being Miller. Lay
nan was in doubt what to do. He had
:l5O in his pocketbook, and he said to HIM
self that ought to secure the services of
lawyer. He asked for the courts. and
meeting host OF lawyers coming
nu, in wig and gown, he stopped
me. This happened to be none other
than the renowned Brougham, who
istened to the man patiently. Calling
Younger lawyer, he briefly informed him
of the facts, and he asked Layman to wait
where he was for a moment. The lawyer
returned with cab, and he and Layman
!rove to Bow street. A warrant was pro-
cured, and Seldom was arrested.
Now follows the most remarkable part Of
his strange narrative.
Seldom denied all knowledge of Layman
,r his family, or that he ever went by the
name of Miller. His handwriting, how
.ver, was shown TO correspond exactly
With that of Miller, and that of the man
who signed "Seldon" to the scrap of paper
found in the chimney of the inn.
Seldon's father was also positively identi-
fed by Layman as the gray haired man
who thrust him away from the carriage on
the night OF Fanny's disappearance. A
hostNof witnesses, however, swore that the
elder Seldom was at home at that time and
sick in bed. To crown all, while Seldom
vas still under examination, a young man,
answering Miller's description somewhat,
surrendered himself 10 the authorities and
confessed that he was Miller, and had en-
.iced Fanny away and murdered her.
The admission of this cold-blooded crime
aroused the indignation of all who heard
it. He was tried, convicted and sentenced
to be hanged within forty y-eight hours.
At the last moment he was reprieved,
and his sentence WAS subsequently com
muted to banishment for life.
Layman persisted in his belief to the
81 Soll al.
his conviction was intensified by what oc-
Cured some years later. There was hunt
at Rock Hall. the seat OF Sir Joseph Rock
cliffe, Layman's landlord. Seldom was
there, and following the hounds he took Il
path which no one knew butthose acquainted
with Layman's farm. This strengthened
The farmers belief that Seldom and Miller
were identical.
But the most conhrmatorv proof is as vet
to be given. Inquiry showed that the man
presenting himself as Miller was pardoned
the very day his sentence of death was COM
muted to transportation, and that he was
actually keeping hotel at Richmond, in
Yorkshire, within few miles Of the country.
seat OF the Seldons, and passing under his
own name, Marft. This fact was first as
certained in 1882. The very same year one
King was hanged at York for highway rob.
berry. Before the execution he made con-
tession of his crimes, and, among other
things, he admitted that he was one of the
gang who assailed Lay nan, near selby,
soon after the murder of his sister. He was
formerly groom with the Seldom family
and confessed that he was hired to aid two
gypsies in dispatching Layman and getting
rid of his sister. He declined to say who