The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-24

you"
Read ;hat letter."
Perfectly dumbfounded, Judge Eopewell
broke the seal and read this remarkable docu-
ment, while the tramp stepped upon the
veranda and, seating himself upon the halus-
tiers, watched every movement that tho Judge
made:
'M--, October -, 1S."
CHS HONOR JUDGE HopEwELL: Ne doubt you viii
be surprised, well gratiGed, when you have
read this note 1t is written in the interest of JUS
tee .JeTe Fontaine, now confined In the NJ
jail under sentence OF death, and 10 hung today,
is INNOCENT! man by the name of Charley Skies
committed the murder, while acted as watch when
the dee done. Please meet me at the Office of
chief OF police, where will explain all and in the
meantime eiyer up the principal in this, the dirt
lest piece OF work that ever engaged ill., Yours,
"DAvE DEApwIoK."
".And you are Dave Deadwick?" asked the
judge, i'll excited tones.
zone and the same, SIR
Judge Hopewell hurried back into the house
to tell the news to his wife and daughter, and
to make preparations to accompany the man to
police headquarters.
1t was now nine O'Clock, and there was not
a moment to lose.
Arriving at police headquarters, Judge Hope
well asked for au audience with the chief,
"AlCh Nao PiohiPtlJ SIdutou' 1I0 OhASh
| trembled like an aspen as he read the letter.
''Where is Sikes?' he asked Deadwick, who
was i'll anything but pleasant state of mind.
He told the officer where Skies could be
found.S
Deadwick was stationed in room next the
one in which Skies would be brought, and the
officers proceeded at once to bring in the man
who promised to take poor Jere Fontaine's
unenviable place i'll this trouble.
Out sir, 1 must see him He is no longer
a murderer, but an innocent mani"
The jailer was refusing admittance to the
same stranger that called two days before.
Adele-for it was she-repeated the contents
of the note that her father had received, but
the iailer simply smiled
"But, sir, it is the truth"
Her pleadings were in vain. The jailer had
his orders and they must be obeyed. Turning
to the stranger-for he was quite ignorant as to
who it was-he said
"The prisoner will be removed to the scaffold
in q couple of hours then you may see him,
for moment"
"To the scaffold indeed! He will go alone
and unshackeled to his home, free man. sir !"
AT this the jailer smiled again.
Great crowds had begun to gather around
the Jail yard, and the jailer was kept busy
clearing the approach to the prison. TO say
that Adele was excited by this time would
feebly express it. Knowing not what else to
do she made her way to police headquarters.
''NIr. Skies said the chief, "you are charged
| with the murder f'Jack Longley, the sporting
man, which occurred several months ago, and
for which Jere Fontaine was tried, convicted
and sentenced to be hung between twelve and
one o'clock today"
cit is liean infamous, outrageous lie!"
screamed Skies, jumping from his chair
"But we have the proofs" said the chief.
"Show them, sir 1 demand them!"
The chief nodded to an officer. The door
| opened and Dave Deadwick stepped into the
| room. Skies turned as white as o sheet at
| sight of Deadwick.
'Here is the proof, sir!" said Deadwick,
"Xou lie, you villain!" cried Skies sd
| AS Deadwick spoke he pulled from his
| pocket piece of paper which seemed to turn
| Skies almost livid with rage
"What paper is that, Dcadwick ?" asked
the chief.
"Dare you do that?'' cried Skies, springing
toward DeadWiok.
~ dare do anything, when q man plays me
falseP' answered Deadwick, angrily.
Deadwick then proceeded to tell the story of
the crime, which was interrupted several times
by Skies A great crowd had gathered in the
room to ascertain the cause Of the excitement
The news spread like wild fire, and before his
story was finished several thousand people
were in and around the station
"Seven or eight months ago, your honor"
said Deadwick, addressing his remarks to
Judge Hopewell, "this man approached me
and suggested q Job You know what it was
Well, for money considerations thousand
dollars-I was to help do the Job The plan
was to go to the home of Mr. Fontaine,
chloroform him, and don his clothes and
dc the murder, then replace the
clothes, thereby fastening the crime
upon an innocent man. Why he should
have selected Mr. Fontaine, do not know,
but it was for revenge for something, believe.
Arriving at the home Of Mr. Fontaine, some
how my heart failed me. am a bad man,
your honor. but this was going too far even for
me. SO [ told Skies that would not 90 in.
After some parlying, I agreed to watch while
he went in. He was gone about twenty min
utes, when he returned, dressed out in Mr..
Fontaines clothes Even had on white rose
button-hole bouquet which Fontaine had
worn the day before"
At this juncture Skies jumped up and,
| Adele, forgetting her disguise, gave q little
scream.
Order being restored, Deadwicl1 proceeded
"Arriving at tine room, | again backed out.
He offered to make the sum two thousand if /
would go in and do the Job but would not
do it. Then he made me promise to do tho
| watch act again, and ! promised, but as soon
as he went into the room J. left and pretty
soon I heard the report Of pistol. A moment
afterwards Skies came by me and said TT is
DONE And then he made his way back to
the home of Mr.. Fontaine, and / never saw
him again until yesterday i could not bear
the idea Of letting an innocent man hang, your
! honor, and when / saw him yesterday some
thing soft touched me, and | decided to do
what 1 have done. That is all, and / feel
| better"
The greatest excitement prevailed when
Deadwick finished his story. Threats Of lynch
ing were INDUCED in, and had not wise coun-
ellis prevailed, Skies would have been lynched
upon the spot.
"You have lied all the way through vii
| lain, cried Skies, drawing a revolver.
"Here are the proofs, sir" said Deadwick,
handing Judge Hopewell a paper, which
| proved to be an agreement, signed by Skies, to