The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-03-12

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 interested in getting out
of the way the girl, whom he lawfully
married? Mr. Hargraye's shrcwdness
seemed to oifer rational solution of the
mystery, namely: That Miller had mar,
RED the girl unknown to wealthy par
cnts or friends, and on the learning Of
the fact, they had taken measures to re
move her, in order that the disgrace OF
marrying beneath his station might be
removed, and that he might be at liberty
to fulfill some other marriage engage
ment which they had arranged. One
thing was resolved Onto look for Sci
don. There was a family of that name
in the north riding, residing near Bir-
mingham, and another branch of the
same family at Stanhope, in Durham
An investigation, however, failed TO CON
meet any member of either family with
Fanny Layman. There was only one
young man of Il suitable age in either,
and he had been travelling abroad at the
very time of Miller's stay with the Lay
mans. In the meantime, it ought to be
SAID, coroner's jury had sat in the case
of Fanny Layman, or Miller, and RETURN
ed a verdict of willful murder against
some party or parties unknown.
Two years passed away. Layman
went to London on pleasure or bust
ness, and, as country men were wont,
visited the House of Commons. He saw
a gentleman coming out of St. Stephens
who attracted his attention. The young
man, Miller, stood before him-there
was no doubt of that. He inquired who
he was, and learned that he was james
Aubrey Seldom, mSinber of parliament
for the north riding of Yorkshire, and
that this was his first session in the
house. Layman returned the next day,
and watched for the arrival of the mem-
bers. In due time Seldom came, and
Layman had Il good view of him. No
doubt remained in his mind as to his be
ing Miller. Layman was in doubt what
to do. He had $50 in his pocketbook,
and he said to himself, that ought to Sc
cure the services of a lawyer. He asked
for the courts, and meeting a host of
lawyers coming out in wig and gown,
he stopped one. This happened to be
none other than the renowned BrOugham,
who listened to the man patiently. Call
ing young lawyer he briefly Informed
him of the facts, and he asked Layman
to wait where he was for moment.
The lawyer returned with ii cab, and he
and Layman drove to Bow street. 4
warrant was procured, and Seldom was
arrested
Now follows the most remarkable part
of the strange narrative.
Seldom denied all knowledge Of Law
man, or that he ever went by the name of
Miller. His handwriting, however, was
shown TO correspond exactly with thatDf
Miller, and that of the man who signed
''Seldon" to the scrap of paper found in
the chimney of the Inn.
IL -, l.
identified by Layman as the gray-haired
man who thrust him away from the car
riage on the night of Fanny's disappear
ance. 4 host of witnesses, however,
swore that the elder Seldom was at homo
at the time, and sick in bed. To crown
all, while Seldom was still under exam
nation, young man answering Miller's
description somewhat, surrendered him
sell to the authorities, and confessed that
he was Miller, and he had entIced Fanny
away and murdered her. The admission Of
this cold-blooded crime aroused the in
dignation of all who heard it. He was
tried, convicted and sentenced to be
hanged within forty-eight hours. At
the last moment he was retrieved, and
his sentence was subsequently commuted
to Punishment for life.
Layman persisted in his belief, to the
very last, that Seldom was the real man,
and his conviction was intensified by
what occurred someyears later. There
was hunt at Rock Hall, the seat of Sir
Joseph Rockcliff, Layman's landlord.
Seldom was there, and following the
hounds, he took path which no one
knew but those acquainted with Lay
mans farm. This strengthened the farm
er's belief that Seldom and Miller were
identical.
But the most confirmatory and posi-
tive proof is yet 10 be given. Inquiry
showed that the man representing him
self as Miller, was paTdoned the very day
that his sentence of death was committed
to transportation, and that he was actual
" keeping hotel at Richmond, in York.
shire, within few miles of the country
scat of the Scldons, and passing under
his own name, Marfit This fact was
first ascertained in 1892 The very
same year, one King was hanged at
York, for highway robbery. Before the
execution, he made confession of his
crimes, and among other things, admit
ted that he was one of the gang who as
sailed Layman, near Selby, soon after
the murder of his sister. He was for
merly a 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 10
say who hired him, but enough escaped
him to show that his employer was the
elder Seldom.
Finally, In 1871, the wife of James
Aubrey Seldom filed bill of divorce
against her husband, asking for sepa-
rate maintenance. One of the facts SCI
up was that the respondent was subject
to fits of great mental excitement, during
which he recounted crimes which he
a 80.
the instigatiOn of the murder of
one Fannie Lsyman, to whom he
was married clandestinely. An at
tempt was thercupon made to revive the
inquiry into the murder, but Marfit dis
appeared from Richmond, and Seldom
was placed in a luRatic asylum, near
Durham. Thence he escaped In iS47,
and nothing was heard OF him for sew
eTal weeks, until his remains were found
in heap in an old barn on Laymanss
farm
Taking all the circumstances together,
there is no doubt that James Aubrey Sell
don and Miller were the same. Seldom
had returned from the continent, and
took fancy to stroll through the coun-
try toward home. On his way he came
to Layman's, and there saw Fanny. This
was the attraction which held him.
Finding his attempts 70 seduee her in
vain, he married her secretly. On dis
covering the condition in which she was,
he abandoned her and returned home.
BY some means his father, who was a
desperate and uDprincipled man, learned
of his marriage, and plan was devised
to remove her. In the first instance. il
is supposed that the gypsies were to abb
duet her and inveigle her into some sim
alton which wEuld warrant divorce.
Subsequently,, however, her death was
resolved on whether with the SANCTION