The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-12-28


home."
"You, a lawyer, my friend, advise
this?"
under the circumstances, yes"
Ill.
The next day the express messengers
wife was sick, the day after better, the
day after that worse, and so on for weeks.
Thomas Crare watched the premises,
nights, for chance to become bur-
glar. and spent large part of every day
at the Jacksons' homestead.
1t happened as might have been ex-
pected. Lizzie Jackson became the wife
of Thomas Crane, after an engagement
of one short month, late ir December.
He told her of his fearful oath before the
marriage. She was shocked, even though
her husband was following the
murderer of her brother.
That night the evening paper contained
the following item:
"We are glad to be able to announce
that Mrs. John Land is able to travel.
The doctors have informed her, however,
that change of climate is absolutely
necessary. Mr. and Mrs. Land left for
Florida this morning with their two lit
tie ones. Mr.'Land will return in few
days."
Thomas Crane laid down the paper,
kissed his bride, and said sadly:
DUTY first, you know. l must break
into John Lands house to night"
An hour later Crane was inside the ex-
press messengers. house. His heart
ached as he looked around him. Priva-
ton and sacrifice everywhere. Little
devices to make discomfort more COM
Portable, of the possibility of which the
rich man who was looking over it never
dreamed. Thomas Crane was ashamed
of his suspicious. He half turned to 60,
but vivid memory of the dead man
looking into his eyes nerved him to what
he felt was mean and treacheroue. 81
swore it," he said, and he remained.
The desk in which John Land kept
his papers was easy to find and easy to
open. Bundles of letters were cast aside,
old account books were not opened.
Presently neat bundle was found. The
first paper was "The Last Will and Tes-
ment of John Land" The next was an
envelope, closely sealed, and addressed
to the lawyer who wrote the will. 1t was
endorsed, ''To be opened only when
some person shall have been indicted for
the murder of Charles Jackson, January
7th, 1881" Crane opened that also. 1t
was long and circumstsntial account
of the murder and all the facts connect
ed with il.
Mrs. Lands brother was a dissolute
fellow, who was disgrace to the whole
family. He had been with Land the
whole day before the murder. A package
said to contain Ave thousan dollars, had
been found to contain only one thousand
dollars. The express authorities did not
suspect Land, but they did suspect his
brother -in-iaw. They boldly claimed
that he had changed packages, having
had access to the envelopes in which the
money was sent. They offered to retain
Land in spite of his carelessness if he
would get the money back. The bank
to which the money was sent agreed with
the express managers. The whole matter
should be hushed up on the return of
the money. Hc returned home only TO
find that his wife's brother had gone
away, no one knew where. He must
have the money, or he must face dis
grace and dishonor. He had seen a gen.
tleman draw $1,000 from the bank while
he was there. He resolved to get it.
The mani was . gambler, usually q
successful one, and would go home late
at night. Land resolved to watch him.
He told those who had given him time
that he would find his brother in law
during the night, secure his money, and
get him to leave town. He mistook
Charles Jackson for the man with the
money, and was overpowered by him
when he managed to get his knife and
escape by killing him. A half hour later
he robbed the half-drunken gambler
without difficulty. The robbery reported
the next day, sunk into insignifcance be-
side the murder, and had scarcely been
heard Of outside Of police circles. The
five Thousand dollars which Land pre-
scented at the bank next morning was ex-
pected there; Land believed his wifes
brother was suffering no injustice in be-
ing supposed to have given it up under
threat, and SO he said he had. Land
closed with o solemn protestation that
the man who had changed the money
package was also responsible for the
murder.
And Thomas Crane shook his head and
said: II believe he is right, and shall
try to find that man. But he had the
following message sent to the city,
through which the passengers for Flor
ida would pass the next morning. for all
that:
ARREST John IaRd for the murder Of Charles
jackson. ia this city. on January IN. 1881. Fuii
and complete proofs Of the crime are secured"
At home-that is vt Mrs. Jackson's be
found q letter from his father. He laid
IL unopened upon the table while be