Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-08


| to enjoy it, as she said, with mel was about
to make known 10 ner my suspicious, when
she oddly enough said, without thing from
| me:
Charles, there was something in that mans
manner that reminded me of acting on the
stage. 1t didn't seem to be natural. Dom
you remember when we were at the theater the
week after We we're married, the play was
''The Iron Box" and there was young man
who was the son of the rich governor, came
running into the room, on the scenes. aud in
great excitement told everybody how bis faith
er had been murdered, and his money stolen"
Eyes, remember It," answered.
''And do you recollect that a powdered
gentleman who acted an English squire, and
who Mas In the party on the stage, which the
young man interrupted, said in very posi-
tive manner to another: That young man
you may rest assured is the real murderer; for
he is much too excited to DO natural. He is
acting and overacting his part All this was
said in the play as part OF It Well, 1t turns
out In the last act that the young man did In.
deed murder bis father and was executed;
and all that led to suspicion of him was his
eagerness In making known his fathers
death.
II remember it perfectly" answered.
THAT mans manner tonight reminded ms
of that young mau's on the stage. l have
been thinking of it ever since you left"
then communicated my suspicion to Jane,
and she agreed with me that Col. Warf1eld
had been murdered, aud that the assassIns
were those who seemed so solIcitous to gel
medical aid, when they well knew that al
aid was in vain.
The next day the coroner's lEry decided
that Col. Warfeld came to his death By talk
ing arsenic. had been summoned befo
1t, as we'll as James and Mrs. Lockett; but /
had given in only the facts with which | had
10 do professionally with which my private
suspicious had no connection. | simply stat
ed that had been sent for and that the pa
tient died while my hand was on his pulse.
The post mortem examination showed large
quantity of arsenic in the stomach. The jury
nor coroner seemed to have any suspicion OF
criminal poisoning. Tie fact that James had
come for me seemed to forestall all suspicion
Of foul play. And so it would have done
from my own mind, into which not an idea of
foul play would have entered, but for the I'M
natural eagerness of the messenger.
The will of Col Warfeld was opened on the
thousand dollars to trustees to erect hospit-
al for strnngers-as if this disposition Of his
badly acquired wealth could whitewash the
hand writing against him on the wall: Thou
art weighed In the balance and found want
ing" The remainder Of his estate, Including
bis richly furnished house, he dsvls8l to
church; and TO James Selling and Mrs. Dor
othy I4ockctt he bequeathel each six thous'
sand dollars
Here then was motive, saw at once, for
the murder. The two were evidently aware
of the nature of the will; and having waited
till their patience wearled for his death, they
concluded to dispatch him to the other world
and raise the alarm of suicide.
Nv opinion OF their guilt being now posi-
tive, l found myself placed In very trying
position. Duty called on me to give publicity
to my suspicious aud bring these two persons
to punishment but tho fear that l might t
Inst be wrong, aud unable to prOva the charge
of murder against Them kept me silent |
was tortured for many weeks by the conflict
lost sleep, appetite and health. In the
meanwhile, James and Mrs. Lockett had
married and removed with their money to
neat house in the suburbs of the city. Their
marriage only made me more positive. FL
nalIy informed my wife that had resolved
to file the charge of murder against tho m.
She was as certain Of their guilt as l was;
but she trembled lest l should not be able TO
sustain it, hen ruin TO my practice would be
the consequence-if nothing worse. Her ap-
prehension caused Inc to delay it, until at
length could endure the secret of my sus-
picions no longer. l began to look upon my
IA fho 10 Ysa q
silence felt that my mind would suffer
unless | relieved it of the weight upon 1t.
One morning, therefore, at daylight, after
passing seepIess night rose and dressed
myself with more care than I had given my
toilet for many days.
Jane" said to my wife, as took my
hat II have made UP my mind am going
straight TO a magistrate.
''You are right" she said firmly. You are
not yourself since the coroner's Inquest |
have no doubt tia 7 God will bring tho muir
der out"
These few words strengthened me-, l went
out and sought magistrate, and before him
solemnly charged James Scellng and Dorothy
Lock EFT with causing the death OF Col. Hugh
Wartield by administering arsenic to him
Before night they were both arrested and in
Jail
Suppose that should not be able to prove
t,u groaned as | woke in the night ana re-
Elected that they were both at that moment
in prison by my act. But prayed for strength
and that Heaven would make the truth mani
fest
They were brought to trial Their separate
examination clearly showed their guilt; for
they agreed in nothing. The bar and beuch,
as we'll RS the spectators, were as convinced
their guilt as I was before the trial wa
half through The woman, finding that It
was useless to plead innocence longer, finally
confessed that the arsenic was purchased by
herself, but administered by Selling; and
that their object in committing the murder
was to obtain sooner the money which they
knew he had given to them in his will
They we're both executed on the same gal
lows
Though could not but comm iserate their
wretched end, felt relieved of a weight that
had nearly destroyed my health and peace OF
mind, and was once more restored to that
cbeerfulness which ever results from the
consciousness of having performed a duty,
however painful that duty NAV have been in
its nature. Thus had two persons Justly sut
fered death for a crime, to whom suspicion
would never have been directed but for over
acting of their part laakcs Efdde