Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-01-25

one was CalklHR Ol Tue LuuTucr, duu
public feeling was indeed bitter against
| Howard Burton. Stories Of his quar-
J rel with Mr.. Richards were circulated
/; with the usual exaggeration, and il
seemed to be the unanimous opinion
that he was the cold-blooded murderer.
Still 1 was hopeful, and returned to c.,
feeling confident of my success. On
my arrival l held an interview with
young Burton, and l told him the re-
suit of my visit to K. He was over
ioyed, and expressed himself confident
of being acquitted. Returning to my
office, / looked up all the reported cases
that bore any resemblance to the one
in hand. The examination of my eli
ent was set down for the next morn
ing, at which time [ went to the Jail
accompanied by an under sheriff. |
found quite formidable array of law
yers of note representing the prosecu-
tion. In addition to the learned dis
trict attorney, there were two astute
criminal LAWYERS who had been retain
ed by the bank officers to assist him.
The examination was very brief, and
after calling Mr.. Richards servant,
and receiving the testimony of the
hotel clerk, Howard Burton was fully
committed to answer the charges OF
murder and robbery at the January
| term of court.
Can you not think of some one you
know who saw you on the train from
K to c. on the night of the murder p
said I.
No, sir, not one that / know but
| perhaps the conductor will remember
| me. He had to change a five dollar
! bill for my fare, and grumbled little
about that
Il will see him at once said I, start
ing to go.
DO so, do so,' said my client, AK
citedly. Call to his mind the young
man, who had pen over his ear.
remember that on leaving the bank
hurridly neglected to remove the
pen, which | frequently carry over my
ear after the manner of clerks
l went directly to the depot; and
learned that the conductor | was in
search of would arrive in about an
hour. / waited, all impatience, and
upon his arcival asked if he would do
me the kindness of walking up to the
jail and see if he could indentify Mr..
Burton. He willingly consented and
upon arriving at the prisoners cell 1
introduced him to my client. The
conductor gazed steadily at young
Burton moment, and then said:
Mr.. Burton, be kind enough to put
on your hat
Burton did so and again he looked
at him sharply without a change of
countenance.
Now, sir, please put your hand in
your waistcoat pocket
] was afraid that the conductor was
not going to identify him, but as young
Burton put his hand into his waist
coat pocket, the lapel OF his coat was
drawn back, revealing upon his breast
Masonic pin, the badge of a Knight
Templar.
Il fully identify him as the man for
whom changed a five dollar bill on
my train, which left K at 6 O'Clock in
the evening and am ready to swear to
it in any court of justice. You see,
SIR continued the conductor we learn
in our business to remember, and no.
ticing pen over this youg mans ear,
l laughingly advised him to take it
down. But what called my attention
principally to him was the fact that
he wore that Knight Templar's badge.
I saw that could prove an alibi
and thus undoubtedly clear my client !;
but I was ambitious to do more I
wanted to arrest and convict the guilty
party. The next thing for me to do
was to see the keeper of the cigar store,
at which my painter on the way home
had seen Mr.. Richards about p. M,
on the night of the murder On the
following morning took the train for
K, and on my arrival went directly to
the cigar store and then spoke to the
man behind the counter of the murder
'Oh,' said he, poor man; he was in
my store about an hour before they
found him dead
Indeed said did he trade with
you p
'Oh, yes, sir; why, he came in here,
as | tell you, and bought some cigars
on the very night that be was killed,
and stopped moment to chat. with
me. Then he looked at his watch and
said, 1T is a quarter past SIX L must
go in and lock up the bank an GO
home Just then his man SO, want
came in and said
'Mr. Richards, have note from
Miss Clara, for you, SIR
We'll, Thomas said he, L suppose
it is for money that usually is the
subject of her perfumed notes to me
come into the bank a moment
In little while I saw the servant
going in the direction of Mr.. Richards
house, and in abort an hour afte rward
his master was discovered in the bank
dead
This from the cigar store keeper. 1
did not let him know | was attorney
for the accused, and was soon farming
my steps toward the late residence of
the deceased l was admitted by his
late servant Thomas, and was soon
conversing with Miss Clara, TO whom
1 confded my relations to Burton. 1
asked her what time she sent Thomas
to the bank the night her father was
murdered
Il did not send him at all, she re-
piled, evidently surprised at the que.s-
tion.
WELL said 1, we are going to ac-
quit Howard, and to take his pI ace we
want to find out who did con- init the
crime. Now, Miss Clara, are YOU sure
you did not send Thomas to the bank
on the night of the murder p
I know very well | did n OF, was her
answer.
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