Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-01-10

wIAtteu LILO Will. IL was endorsed, "IO
be opened only at my death.'' But
Thomas Crane opened it. Inside was
another envelope endorsed, "To he
opened only when bothe person shall
have been indicted for the murder OF
Charles Jackson, January T. 1884,
Crane opened that also. It was long
and circumstantial account of the muir
der and the facts connected with it.
Mrs. Lands brother was dissolute
fellow, who was disgrace to the whole
family. He had been with Land the
whole day before the murder. A pacf
age, said to contain I've thousand dol.
lars, had been found at night to contain
only one thousand dollars. The express
authorities did not suspect Land, but
they did suspect his brother in-law.
They boldly claimed that he had changed
packages, having had access to the en-.
velopes in which money was sent. They
offered to retain A.aud in 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 he
hushed up on the return of the money.
He returned home to find that his wife
brother had gone away, no one knew
where. He must have the money, or
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 a 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 be
would find his brcths*-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 bali
drunken gambler without difficulty.
The robbery, reported the next day sank
into ins'gnifcance beside the MUIR
der, and had scarcely been beard 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 10 have given it up under threat,
and so he said he had. Land closed
with 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 be 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. Jeckbon's-
he found letter froni his father. He
laid it unopened upon the table while
be babe his wife and her mother good
night. II shall sit up in the parlor to
wait for answers to my messages" he
said, after he had explained oil, 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 mcvedto the very foot of the stairs.
On it lay the letter which Crane had re-
ceived from his father open now. They
stood together and read it:
"Come down and help us strengthen
out queer mistake, for which YOU are
responsible. On January Z, 1851, after
had left the bank you transacted two
tens of business, as shown by the
books. One was the putting away of
package said to contain 81, 900. The
'ther was sending to the -1--- bank a
package containing IS, 600. The express
company have done so much business
With it that they might inquire closely,
put why the bank never made trouble
lon't understand. But, in nutshell.
he package was opened here to-day and
contains $4,000 and as S., 900 LETT our
balance all night, only 81, 900 went to
he bank. Come and help us
tx it all right, as you are responsible
or it."
They dropped the letter. The bride
II day glanced at her mother, and her
mother back again to her. There was
nothing of hope in either white face for
he other. Both looked toward the par
or door and shuddered. The utter des-
'lation of despair in their new loss was
chilling their hearts. There was noneed
o open the room to know the horrible
hing it held for them.
The chain was complete. Thomas
Crane was responsible; and they knew he
lad kept his oath.