New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-02-06
A Strange Case.
BY A. s. BURROUGHS.

It was early one Monday morning, and I
had been in my office but few moments,
when the door opened and visitor-a pref
ty and richly-dressed young lady-stepped
4 hurriedly inside.
/. Twill admit being just a little Hurried over
the advent of such a vision of loneliness,
but managed to seem calm and invite her to
!; be seated.
She was pale, agitated, and seemed to
! hesitate about making known her errand.
st desire to employ an attorney, she said
at length, ssto defend friend of mine, who
has been so unfortunate as to get into very
serious trouble. The case is a hard one, and
/ will require a great deal of labor; but 1 am
willing to pay literally for legal services,
| and would like you to take it.''
assured her should be most happy to
serve her, and asked for a statement Of the
/ facts connected with the case
IL cannot reveal any facts until you have
accepted one very important condition. she
answered.
"What is the conditions'
'That you will, under no circums tances,
reveal my connection with the CASE
] Naturally enough, hesitated about agree
ing to such an arrangements
Perhaps said I, sit may be necessary to
have your testimony, in order to establish a
sufficient defense | would not care to com
promise the success of the case by any rash
promises. y
''Then,'' said she, rising, sit is useless for
US to prolong this interview. Unless you
! can give the required promise, cannot en-
ploy your
"Hold, one moment!n cried, as she NOV
AVID thc
any assurance that defense can be made
for your friend without our evidence, will
| give the pledge you exact.''
| She shook her head.
| 81 can give you no such assurance she
replied.
! AS a matter Of fact. could not allow so
profitable case to slip through my fingers;
/ the prospect of a good fat fee outweighed all
! scrup.es of fine-draWn honor, and yielded
! to my avaricious ambition
| Il accept the condition. said I, after a
momentary hesitation. ''Now, please tell
! me, what is the nature of the case?n
| 'That Of murder" was the reply
! her answer surprised me, for had not
/! anticipated anything quite so serious; but
[! kept my emotions concealed, and drew paper
! before me upon which to jot down the facts
she was asked to narrate.
Tits strange case-very strange she
began half-musingly, "and one shroudcd in
deepest mystery. The facts are these Yes
terday morning, as you may have seen the
papers, Justin Vancourt, prominent mer-
chant, was found murdered upon the street,
near his home. Last night, young man,
named Percy Hinton, was arrested and
| charged with the crime.''
! "Is Mr.. Hinton the friend you alluded
to?'
/; ''Yes.n
do you know what evidence there is
against him?"
T, "In part-yes.''
j ''What is it?'
Percy was in, the employ of the murdered
man, and on Saturday evening they quar-
I, relied bitterly over a matter Of wages In
the heat OF the controversy, Mr.. Hinton
threatened the others life, and early the
next morning, Mr.. Vancourt was found
! dead''
! "Ah bad point against him, surely
+! Anything else?u
"Yes; dagger, containing his initials and
Percy's note book were found near the
scene of the murder"
Still worse The evidence is most con
elusive against him. Perhaps, though. he
can establish an alib.''
/ VI fear not The officers have already
discovered that he was seen in the neighbor-
hood but few moments before the deed
was committed, and that he stated, in the
presence Of witnesses, that he was waiting
to Waylay his employer, while returning
from his lodge. This was about ten min
! utes after midnight. A quarter past twelve
Mr., Vancourt was observed going nome
and at half past twelve his murdered body
was found by a patrolman That is all I
know about it.o
(. Surely" said I, dejectedly, ssit is
/ enough. 1t is sufficient to hang him, unless
we can invoke a providential interference in
j his behalf With that array Of evidence be-
| fore us, you surely do not look for his
acquittal?'
] II certainly do!n cried she betraying
/ sudden emotion. stHe must not, shall not.
pay the penalty for crime he did not com
/ mitn
e'Then you do not believe him guilty?''
mo, no! he is not a murdereri He is not
criminal Percy could not have been
guilty OF so foul a crime-indeed, he could
not''
i She was by this time almost sobbing out
right, and, while she was silently struggling
for the mastery over her emotions, en-
{, ployed the interval of time by mentally re-
4 viewing the salient points Of her story.
The more weighed the evidence against
the accused, the more certain I became
that he was guilty. In my mind Percy
Hinton was already a doomed man.
"4ou say he is innocent,'' said I, after
she had again become tranquil; II dare say
you base your belief upon some good
reason
yves answered she, hesitatingly; 81
have reason for believing him guiltless.',
"What is it!n
ooh. dare not tell!' cried she, shudder-
ing Indeed, sir, I dare not tell lt!''
1t is most essential. A refusal to make
known Your convictions may cost your
friend his life.''
She shuddered more perceptibly than be-
fore, and a scared agonized look came into
4, . Z =