The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-09

The door opened and that worthy APP
peared on the threshold. "Well," l said,
angrily, "what is it?'
"a gentleman, sir, he answered, "who
says he must see you at once. ~
ooh, nonsense . [ replied; II can't see
any one at present. Tell him to call again
tomorrow.
Before Joseph could answer he was
roughly put aside, and an officer in plain
clothes, followed by two policemen, entered
the room. So complete disregard of the
ordinary courtesies of life fairly aroused me.
"What do you mean by intruding here ?"
[ asked. zone would think you were
come to arrest thief or a murderer
"You couldn't have hit the mark nearer
if you'd tried" said the one who appeared
to be the chief of the party. ''But warn
you that whatever you say will be taken
down and used against you"
'Used against me? I repeated. ok
plain yourself, sir.
"Just this, he answered. early this
morning Mr.. Sugg the solicitors Office was
entered and important stolen. After
committing the robbery the thief passed to
the housekeeper's room, and there in cold
blood and without any provocation strangled
the poor old woman. The evidence is
pretty strong, sir, as to who did it, so you'd
better come along quietly"
The blood froze in my veins Isaw the
whole thing at glance. This, then, was
Sugg's revenge. Not content with de-
stroying the documents he spoke of, he had
killed this unhappy being, and had clearly
been careful to leave abundant evidence by
which the crime could be brought home to
me. Overwhelmed by the thought, / fell
back in my bed, more dead than alive.
Let me acknowledge that the officers
treated me with every consideration. There
was, however, nothing for it but to rise and
90 with them l did not even attempt to
speak word in my own defence.
I need not repeat here the particulars of
my trial, as these have already been made
public through the medium Of the daily
papers. The evidence against me was ire
sistible. Every step from the moment of
my leaving the house up to that of my re-
turn was traced [ had been seen by the
night policeman to quit Mr.. Suggs prem
ises about in the morning, and had even
stopped to say few words to him explain
atory of my presence there at SO unusual
an hour. Moreover, child, Z years old,
who slept in the same room, had actually
been witness to the murder, and testified
to its utter wantonness. The finding of
Mr. Sugg's keys in my pocket added an
other link to the chain. In short, my guilt
was so plain that no one would have been
more surprised than myself had | been ac-
quilted
The one unexplained point in the case
was the disappearance of Mr.. Sugg. But
as his affairs were found on investigation
to be hopelessly involved, it was shrewdly
suspected that he had absconded.
have no complaint to make Of the man
ner in which my defense was conducted.
The only plea possible to advance was, of
course, that of insanity. But even this
could not save me. Tam myself persuaded
that, even had it been capable of proof, the
jury would have pronounced me responsible
rather than allow so dangerous lunatic to
remain alive.
may add that when asked for instruc-
lions by my solicitor communicated to
him the foregoing facts just as | have
stated them here, and begged that they
might be taken as basis for my defense.
To this, however, he absolutely refused to
accede, and threatened to retire from the
case if l persisted in my request. Greatly
against my own judgment | yielded to his
wish, but not until he had shown chat to
adopt the course suggested would insure
my condemnation on the capital charge of
killing Mr.. Sugg. certainly was not dis
posed to give that gentleman the satisfac-
ton my conviction ON such point would
unquestionably yield him.
On the first night after sentence had been
passed I sat, sadly enough, in my cell,
when heard voice address me. "Mr.
Clife p it said, "Mr. Clife r
[ knew too well who was there. Ode
mon," 1 cried, care you satisfied with your
work now ?"
Perfectly" it replied; 81 hope you're
equally o?"
/ was silent; my feelings were too bitter
for words. IF ever it was my fortune, l
said to myself, to meet Mr.. Sugg in an
other world it would not be my fault if it
did not go hard with him.
At last mastered my emotion. l was
not dead yet; hope still remained to me.
Perhaps my enemy might be induced to
relent. The attempt, at least, was worth
trial.
"Mr. Sugg," l said, as calmly as was pos
sible under the circumstances, 81 admit
that 1 did not treat you altogether well.
But remember the provocation you gave
me. Not content with appropriating my
property, you threatened my life. If |
took yours it was in self-defense. Recol-
lect, too, that, at considerable inconvenience
to myself, l lent you my body that you
might save your own reputation. | do not
wish to recriminate. Nevertheless, / can
not but feel that you have used me I'M
fairly"
spoke feelingly, and my words seemed
to have their effect. "What do you want
me to do?" said Sugg's spirit.
"The merest trife," l continued, gaining
confidence as l proceeded. Simply to
speak word in my favor. With you to
corroborate my story-without, of course,
referring to the way in which you came by
your own death-I cannot fail in obtaining
reprieve. Come" I added, coaxingly
@say that you will" Then, after a short
interval, as he did not answer, | added
"Surely you will show me some mercy"
II don't know what you mean by mercy,
he reioined The words were the very
same that had used to him on that fatal
night.
1 recognized then that my case was hope
less. "Ah," l cried, in despair, off you
were man you would not let an innocent
being go to the scaffold for your ofense.,"
Again 1 heard that horrible chuckle
which had before chilled me to the bone
"If | were man, he laughed; "and whose
fault is it, pray, that l am not? But there
l can stay here arguing any longer. Good
night and pleasant dreams"
And with a repetition of the wierd laugh
he vanished.
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