The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-22

John Wilcox and he dined with me on that even
ing. He told me that some time previously you
had each discovered the secret of manufacturing
artificial quinine. he also disclosed to me the
method employed. Fearing my arrival you had
determined 10 kill him Immediately, to keep the
secret for yourself. Tuesday morning, at the
first opportunity. you accomplished your plan by
means of storage cell Of your own invention,
which you had charged at the Phoenix electrical
works on the Saturday previous, having first
purposely wounded him on the day before at q
spot where you could direct the shock without
suspicion. You were in too great hurry. Ii
you had waited five minutes you would have
learned that knew all.
"At the time of the death you removed Will
coxs apparatus into his Office and thence into
your own room. Then you paid visit to his
rooms, stole all his notes relative to the discovery
and with them the manuscript of his work whose
existence you had not suspected That night
you removed ali his papers and apparatus from
your Office to your home, where you still have
them in hiding. can prove every word of this.
You are in my power. ANY attempt TO escape
will be the signal for your arrest. If you wish
to save your life, you must agree to my terms.
You must first give up to me all the manu-
scripts, notes. papers, instruments apd appara
tus stolen by you from John Wilcox. Secondly,
You must assign to the University of California
all Jour interests as his legatee and all your
patents granted and applied for in any cleo
trical discovery, Improvement invention.
Thirdly. you must lot leave San Francisco for
one year.
IF you do this you are safe; If you do not. the
legal authorities will proceed at once. If by 9
O'Clock Friday morning have not received all of
Wilcox's property above mentioned, shall con-
slider you to have refused my terms, and shall
act accordingly on the moment All communi
cations between us must be in writing. If you
attempt to remove me you will find it useless.
The police have already received their instruc-
tons to act GEORGE HATGHT."
During the dext day my mind was all impa-
a ~ ~
would be. Thursday passed away, and an
swer. l lost all hope of having any reply from
Price; and that night dehberated upon what
should do IL no answer were received 5y the ap
pointed time-.whether I ought to show to Price
the mercy he had not shown to my murdered
friend-but nothing could alter affect my pre-
conceived plan.
AT last came o'clock of Friday morning and
/ had received no reply to my letter. From de-
tectives had engaged learned that Price had
come home as usual Wednesday night and that
since then he had not left the house. / determ-
ned to wait longer. A couple of policemen
We're summoned, and | went with them to Prices
house
Still fearing that this might be merely ruse
to entrap me and to effect my death he had
killed Wilcox, / sent the policemen ahead to
make the arrest while / remained the floor
below. For few moments all was still, and
then l heard a door broken in. Then another
brief period or silence, and my name was called.
L rushed up the stairs hastily and into the room.
and there on the floor lay the body of Edward
Price-dead
On the table, near by, was large box adj
dressed to me. / opened it. and saw a mass of
charred paper and what appeared to be pieces of
chemical apparatus, but broken and shattered
beyond recognition. Poor Wicox's work had
all been in vain. Whatever the secret of his
discovery had been, whatever its value to the
world, it was lost forever
One. word more. Regarding the lightning
mark on the BRAIN expect only ridicue. and
am Indifferent to it. 1 state but what I saw
That it was in no way caused by the fatal shock,
| am willing to grant, that it was in all proba-
bility, congenital defect, I will also admit
But that it was placed there some time or other
as witness to great crime, by some divine
power, I shall ever maintain.