Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-01-10
CHAPTER III.


day after that worse, and SO on for
weeks. Thomas Crane watched the
promises nights for a chance to become
a burglar, and spent a large part ofevery
day at the Jackson's 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 in December.
He told her of his fearful oath before
the marriage. She was shocked, even
though her husband was following the
murderers of her brother.
g 1t isn't long now, barely a fortnight,
and you may put what evidence you
have in the hands of the authorities and
be free yourself, then. Be brave and
true only little longer" she SAID.
And Thomas Crane answered, 81
will"
That night the evening paper con-
tanned the following item:
"We are glad to announce that Mrs.
John Land is able to travel The doc
tors have informed her, however, that a
change of climate is absolutely necessary.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Land left for Florida
this morning with their two little ones.
Mr.. Land will return in few days"
Thomas Crane laid down the paper,
kissed his bride, and said sadly:
Duty first, you know. / must
break into John Lands house tonight. I"
An hour later Crane was inside the
express 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
r1ch man who was looking it over had
never dreamed. Thomas Crane was
ashamed of his suspicious. He half
turned to go, but the vivid memory of
the dead eyes of a man looking into his,
nerved him to do what he felt was mean
and treacherOus. 81 swore ii, 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 Testament of John Land.
The next was an envelope closely sealed,
and addressed to the lawyer who had
written the will. 1t was endorsed, "To
Thomas Crane opened it. Inside was
another envelope endorsed, "To be
opened only when some person shall
have been indicted for the murder of
Charles Jackson, January 7, 1881"
Crane opened that also. 1t was long
and circumstantial account of the muir
der and the facts connected with it.
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 pack
age, said to contain five thousand dol
lars, had been found at night to contain
only one thousand dollars. The express
authorities did not suspect Land, but
they aid suspect his brother in-law.
They boldly claimed that he had changed
packages, having had access to the en-
velOpe6 III which money was sent. They
offered to retain Land III spite of bis
carelessness, If he would get the money
back. The bank to which the money
was sent agreed with the express mana
gers. The whole matter should be
hushed up on the return of the money.
He returned home to find that his wife's
brother had gone away, no one knew
"
he mus face disgrace and dishonOr. He
had seen a gentleman draw FIVE thousand
dollars from the bank while he was
there. He resolved to get 1t. The man
was gambler, usually successful one,
and would go home late at night. Land
resolved to watch for him. He told
those who had given him time that he
would find his brother-in-law during the
night, secure the money and get him to
leave town. He mistook Charles Jack
son for the man with the money, and was
being overpowered by him when he man
aged to get his knife and escaped by
killing him.
A half-hour later he robbed the half
drunken gambler without difficulty,
The robbery, reported the next day sank
into insIgnificance beside the muir
der, and had scarcely been heard of out
side OF police circles. The five thou
sand dollars which Land presented at
the bank next morning was expected
there; Land believed his wife's brother
was suffering no injustice in being sup
posed to have given it up under threat,
and SO he said he had. Land closed
with a 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: ST 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 Land for the murder of
Charles Jackson, in this city, on Jan. 7,
1881. Full and complete proofs of the
crime are secured"
At home-that is at Mrs. Jackson's-
he found letter from his father. He
laid it unopened upon the table while
he babe his wife and her mother good
night. 81 shall sit up in the parlor to
wait for answers to my messages" he
said, after he had explained all. and will
come up later. !"
In the morning when Mrs. Jackson
and her daughter came down stairs, the
little table IN the hall was seen to have
been moved to the very foot of the stairs.
On it lay the letter which Crane had re-
ceived from his father open now. They