The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-03

but his vinlieatiou was so clear that
they now believed him innocent.
There was strong talk Of lynching tie
prisoner, SO certain were the people
that he was guilty, and fearing an
attempt Of that kind, the prison was
doubly guarded night and day for
some time, until the murmurings Of the
people subsidized, and they seemed will
ing for Justice to take its course.
OF all this Jack Tracy was aware,
and he must have despaired but for
one person who never lost faith in him,
and each day he had token Of her
confidence in him, by receiving n
bouquet OF flowers which she had
ordered delivered, and many times she
camo herself with her flowers, and with
words Of love and hope.
Il know" said she, "that the guilty
one will be found," and she never gave
up her belief that Maurice Dale was
the one.
Summer was drawing to close, and
the defense had found nothing to prove
the innocence Of the prisoner. He still
could not account for himself the night
Of April 10th, the night Of the murder.
The prosecution had, Ii possible,
strengthened the chain Of fcircumstantial
evidence.
The trial was to come of the 18th Of
September, and when the lst of Sep
tember came, with nothing done to
prove Jacks innocence, Hester became
very uneasy, and determined to take the
matter in hand, and see If woman's wit
could not find 0 solution where mans
reason had failed.
She thought and thought all that
first day Of the month, and late
in the evening she sat in her room,
which faced the railroad track, and
turned all the circumstances over
in her mind. A train whirled BY with
rush and roar, going eastward. Still
she pondered on, when q train whirled
by going westward. The sight of the
trains aroused memory Of another
time she had sat and watched them go
by, aud, III an aimless way, she was
wondering what particular time she had
watched those trains, when it all at
once flashed through her mind that it
was on the night of the murder. And
instantaneous with the thought came
another, that she held the key to the
mysterious murder. So certain was
she that her theory was correct, that
she ran to her fathers room and awak-
ened him, and to his wondering in
quiries of what was the matter, che ex-
planned the theory she had evolved, and
SO convincing was it, that he consented to
drive to the county town that very
night and make further inquiries. And
in half an hour they were on their way.
They drove right to the telegraph Office,
which was kept open all night, and
questioned the operator about the night
trains. He informed them that the
train going east left there at 9:l5, and
the one going west arrived at 1l:l4.
and brakeman, and, having gotten all
the information they could, they re-
tired Tor few hours, and at 10 o'clock
the following day took train for the
city at the eastern terminus uf the road.
They inquired ut the railroad COM
pany's Office for Conductor Bryan, and
on expressing desire to see him, he
was sent for, rs was also the brakeman
on his train. In about an hour they
both had arrived. Mr. Fields introduced
himself and daughter, and then said
Mr.. Bryan, / would like TO ask yon 4
few questions, and I wonld very much
like for you to answer them"
"All right" said the conductor, i
will answer any reasonable question
you may ask"
did you conduct the night train GO
ing east the night of April l0?'
II did
Did any one, or could any one, get
on your train at L. station?'
Il remember distinctly" said the
conductor, "for that night was our frs.
run on the time we now run on: that
while my train slowed up in passing
through the village i've do not stop
there unless fiagged,, though We Were
going at least twelve miles on hour, q
young man sprang on the train, and
ode as far as the bridge across Hurri.
cane creek, and when we slowed on mp.
preaching that bridge, as all trains
have to do, he jumped off.
What sort Of q looking man was he 2
asked Mr.. Fields.
He was rather good-looking young
fellow, with prominent black eyes. Q
good figure. well dressed, and he had a
very peculiar way Of showing his teeth
when he smiled, which he did when
remarked to him that he must be yer,
anxious for ride
"Will you swear to all yoa have told
me?' asked Mr.. Fields.
"Eve-v word of it," sail the con
ductor.
On questioning the brakeman. III
got almost the same story in every par
ticular.
They did not Conductor Woods
who ran the west-hound train, unit
the next day, when they had nj
interview with him. and Mr.. Fled.
said: Did you 60 west on tine night
Of April l0?'
"That was the first run on tie tim,
we now run, said Conductor Woods
Yes, sir; made the run that night.
Did any one get on your train whei
you slowed up ut Hurricane ereel
BRIDGE"
"Yes, sir; remember distinctly tina
there was. for il is the oily time an,
cne has ever attempted it.
Describe the individual" said Mr.
Fields.
The description tailed almost cxac.
| ~ with the description given by Con
| ductor Bryan.
"Where did the man set off," asae,
Mr.. Fields.
He leaped off ut = st .tion, whel
we slowed up in passing through tn
| villa9e.'
Mr.. Fields had nos learned cnong!
to confirm Hester's theory, wh;cl
WAS that Maurice Dale, taking al
] vantage of the trains, lad. been all
to commi. the murder. They returne,
home and had All interview with taei
lawyer, whom they Laa telegraplel i
meet them, and the result of the nj ],
view was that, Il few hour, later. Nat
rice Dale was again arres'e |, Charge
| with the murder oil Willard Iuore
When he came III with the Sheriff Tim
4 aftarnanu Mgur o. did not look ns Ira.