The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-11


Ambrose Beunett. lawyer. of the city Of New
York. occupied ancient aud dingy suite Of
Offices on the north side of Wall street. almost
beneath the shadow of the steeple of Trinity
Church. These same rooms had been tsnanted
by him and his predecessors in business for the
space of a hundred years, aud were part of a re-
spectacle brick building which, when new. was
considered by it's builders prodigy of elegance
and convenience Mr.. Bennett was the surv1v-
ing member of the firm of Bacon 81 Bennett,
and although Mr. Bacon had been dead num-
Der of years. the old firm name was still painted
upon the outer door. Mr. Bennett had succeeded
20 the Oldest aud largest convey
aucing and Office business in the city,
and was rich and prosperous man He was .
handsome, carefully -dressed, keen looking gen
tleman OF about fOrtyfour, closely attentive TO
his business, and great worker. He had not
taken vacation in fifteen years, and on every
week day, summer and winter, was always at
his Office from TIL s. Although the possessor
Of so large and confnine practice. he had never
taken partner. but had refused many offers of
partnership. apparently highly advantageous.
He chung. moreover, to tas old Offices. and, al
though large number of new. lofty and commo-
dious buildings had been erected in mis- neigh
borhood. chiefly for the accommodation of law.
them. sbut had remained in his old and uncom-
Portable quarters. On one occasion his Offices
were rendered nearly untenantable by fire.
bat. in spite of the great difficulty OF doing any
business, he remained in possession during the
repairs, refusing to seek even temporary accom-
mediation elsewhere
In 1885 On tered the Office of Mr.. Bennett as
f'searcher,7 that is to say, an examiner of the
titles to the various pieces OF real estate sold or
mo=tgaged to Mr.. Benefits clients In the lat
ter pert of that year, and only short time after
the beginning of my employ ment a client of
the Office purchased some lots in the upper part
of the city. and Mr.. Bennett handed me the
papers and directed me to search the title to
them. / began the examination, and in due
course discovered that the lots had been owned
az time by Mr. Bacon, Mr.. Bennetts old
partner. The abstract furnished me contained
. statement that Mr.. Bacon had died intestate,
that Is to say, without leaving will / pro-
ceeied TO the surrogate's Office in order to verify
this statement but found that the papers which
should have contained the evidence l was in
search of had been mislaid. Not finding it con-
venient to make any further investigation at
that moment saved the point for future
animation, made note Of the question upon thu
margin of the abstract, and went on to the next
AS the end Of the year approached I found
myself crowded with work. Among other
things, the examination of the title to Mr.. Ben
nett's purchase was still unfinished. l found it
necessary to do some night work. and for that
purpose went down to the Office after dinner on
the evening of Dec. 81. The main entrance to
the old building brought one into a courtyard
open to the sky. The walls about this court
yard were of brick, painted white. Iron CALLER.
ies connected by stair.cases of the same mate
rial, around it, and gave TO the differ
ent offices. Mr.. Benefits Offices the third
floor the east side, and extended from front
to rear the entire length of the building. The
court yard was illuminated by the moon
entered it, and quiet and deserted coun-
try church-yard. The only sign of occupancy
displayed by the building itself dancing
red light visible drought the windows Of
Mr.. Benefits rooms and. upon entering them,
i found his private Office already occupied by
O'Brien and Kaufman, two of the clerks They
lived IN Brooklyn. but had staid in town to be
present at the ceremonies in front of old Trim
ity, consisting chiefly of the footing of horns
and ringing of chimes, with which the arrival of
the New Year is annually celebrated The Office
furnished the most convenient waiting place,
and accordingly they had placed fresh coal upon
Mr. BENEFITS fire. and We're seated comfortably
in front of 1t, gossipDing and smoking In the
fire light.
The rooms of the Office were not connected by
any passage. but opened into one another.
then came the room occupied by his confidential
managing clerk, and then the apartment in
which were placed the desks of myself and
or two other clerks l started my own fire. lit a
lamp and got to work. After dsposing of one
or two other matters, took up Mr.. Benefits
title, and running down the margin
of the abstract proceeded to make a list of the
questions which l found noted there. Among
them | found the query. "Mr. Bacon-in-
teetate?p O'Brien knew had been in the Office
for many years, and it occurred TO me that he
might assist me to the Information l in
search of. left my desk and went into M.
Bennett's room.
Mr.. O'Brien," said, ''were you here when
Mr. Bacon diedP'
O'Brsn rose from his chair. posed with his
mouth. and said, automatically. II suppose
was. l know was here when he disappeared
and for ten years before that"
*tDisappeared2 said Questioningly.
Eyes, SIR said O'Brien with emphasis, 'Mr
Bacon left this Office one afternoon, usual,
about ten years ago. went up town, dined at his
club, his family being absent from the city, left
bis club Immediately after dinner-and was
never seen again"
Up to the time Of entering Mr.. Benefits
ofice had lived in the western part of The
State, and since then had been busy that L
had had very little general conversation with
my fellow clerks. Consequently was q stran-
ger to the history of the Office and to the ro-
mantle incident referred to oy OBrien Natnr-
ally was much interested, but in little while
my mind recurred TO the title ! was at work
upou.
He left will. supposed" said I.
"We never could find one," said O'Brien,
With the air Of being able to say more upon the
subject
do you think ne made one2" inq ured.
'Not more than week before he disap-
psared.' said O'Brien, ''he handed me draft of
q will and told me egross il. 1t was his own
will ] handed him the enerossed copy the
next day just as he was leaving the Office and
saw him put it in his pocket; But so far as
know nobody ever saw it again.
"Had you any reasons for supposing he ever
executed itf'
s.Well-he would have exeeuted il al the time
handed il to him but it was then late IN the
afternoon, and. as it happened. ne and / we're
the only persons left IN the Office As he put it
In his pocket he said he would execute it at the
club that evening where there would be- no off
Aculty IN finding Witnesses. We made many in
quiries and searched long time but could not
find any one who had witnessed the will or knew
anything of It's execution
''You searched for the will, of coursel"
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