Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-12-21
FALSELY ACCUSED:
Or. The Ir:,t:al Photograph.
BY A. III. H7ODlilCflER.

On the morning of June 1, of the
present year. which had dawned bright
and beautiful over Chicago. the city had
awakened TO q new horror the advent
of the fairest month of the year had
ushered in the discovery OF frightful
t.rtm1e, the evidence Of which had been
fioated ashore during the night. and
discovered with the breaking light of
morn on the beach of the lake-the
body of a woman-a woman wondrously
beautiful even il, death. although the
long auburn tresses of hair were be-
draggled with blood, aud there was a
l1ideous disfguratioa of form and attire.
The silken drapery and delicate laces
had been torn r1ldely from the white
neck, and upon the fair, comely bosom
was mass of clothed blood which had
oozed from round, jagged bullet
wound near the heart
Murder was here-there co1fM be no
elcubt-the body lay in thin, long
packing-box, and the cover had been
but tightly and evidently hastily nailed
on and set afoat with its freight of
death.
The struggle, the wound, the aban-
donment Of the body, were all traceable
here, but the object did not at once pre-
sent itself
Robbery it could not have been, for
hanging from the torn collar was dia-
mond breach. with jewels correspond
ing in the ears and on the fingers while
a long gold chain around the neck, Sc
cured at the belt tiny. jeweled watch.
The police took charge of the body
and removed it to the morgue, and as
the day wore On. q great many visited
the place. but no one knew who the
dead girl was. and her identity was
shrouded III the deepest mystery.
detective had visited the scene of
Che tragedy: and found the amber
mo1th-piece of meerscha,m pipe
which had been broken off
There was living close by the scene
OF the tragedy wealthy manufacturer
named Corwin Marvel, who had one
son, a young mau, who was very wild
and dissipated, always associating with
the worst elements, and he had been q
source of great trouble to his father,
yet naturally. as all such men are, good
hearted. He had been seen that morn
ing with blood spots on his shirt, and
suspicion pointed toward him. and he
WAS arrested, and, upon being searched,
meerschaum pipe was found in his
pocket, with piece broken from the
stem, and the piece of amber found
fitted it exactly.
Harry Marvel explained the blood
spots by saying that his nose had bled,
but could not account for the meer-
schaum pipe being in his possession.
He said that he had been drinking
heavily the evening that the murder
was supposed to have been committed
and that he could not rcmember any of
his actions, though he stoutly protested
his innocence
The father: though believing his son
gui'ty, could moi bear the idea of his
being hung, engaged the very best legal
talent, and spared neither money nor
energy to save him: but the circum-
stantiai evidence WIS strong against him,
coupled with his we'll known bad char
acter
The case came on, and created great
deal OF interest, and it was the opinion
of all that Harry Marvel would be SEN
fenced for life, il he should escape the
gallows. There was one person, how
ever, who did not believe him guilty of
the terrible crime, and that was his
aister-a most beautiful and accom-
plished young lady-wIlo had always
liked her brother, wild as he was, and
she determined to save him if possible.
What / have related in the dramatic
way in which the incidents occurred
We're supplied by Miss Carrie Marvel,
who visited our detective agency few
weeks following the day OF her brothers
arrest.
The lady's story interested me, but as
no one but herself believed the state
IS -. 1>uoll,.,