Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-25

connection with the murder of Mr. Will
mot revived. You supplied my comrade
with funds, and with these funds we set
to work. I'll not make my story too long
by telling you all about our operations.
1t viii be satisfactory to you to know that
we tracked two of the three missing per-
sons-Mdlle Rosalie and Redwfng. She
had not gone away with Mr. Pardon: she
had gone away with Redwing. They had
passed some time on the Continent. in
France and Italy, and it was when they
returned to England that we got fairly on
the scent. From that moment we never
let it escape Us. We accompanied them
everywhere in various DISCUSSES: we slept
in the next room to theirs wherever they
put up. We overheard their conversation,
and took it down in writing. Putting all
we heard intelligibly together it makes a
strange story. Your divorce is all right,
Mr.. Stanmore. but there is something
much more serious behind all this than
you can imagine. Shortly, sir, what we
learnt was this.
From the day Mdlle. Rosalie entered
Mr.. Pardon's service under false colors,
she commenced to plot and plan She
tried to inveigle him into making love to
Ii,
gentlemen, is this Mdlle. Resale. other
wise Mrs. Stanmore. They don't make
them much artfuIler in these DAYS. Fail
ing, she took great pains to entangle him,
SO that for her own purposes by and by
she might make it appear that he was her
lover. The unlucky gentleman was a
sleep-walker; had been so from childhood,
and it was an infrmity he could not cure
himself of. Well, one night Mdlle. Rosa
lie happened to see him in this state.
What did she do? Why, slyly slipped her
pocket handkerchief into his pocket; and
on the next day, when he found it there,
he couldn't for the life of him remember
how it came upon him. That was her first
move.
Her second move was the introduction
of her lover, Redwing, into the temporary
service of Mr.. Pardon. Only one person
knew that she was acquainted with Red
wing: that person was Samuel Fleetwood
Correctly divining that Fleetwood had
communicated his suspicious to Mr.. Par
don, she sought that gentleman in his
garden in the dead of night, and worked
so artfully upon his feelings that she sue
ceeded in destroying the unfavorable i'm
pressions which he had gained from Fleet
woods account of Redwing She informed
Mr.. Pardon that Redwing was her broth
er, and he believed her. Chance played
into her hands on that night The inter
view. by her contriying, took place after
midnight and in the dark. She was in
deshabille, and she and her master were
surprised by Samuel Fleetwood, who
passed them without speaking. Thus, in
Fleetwood's eyes, Mr.. Pardon was serious
ly compromised. There are other minor
details which / need not mention at pres
ent; | will come at once to the tragedy of
the murder.
.'There is no doubt that Mdlle. Rosalie
introduced Redwing into Mr.. Pardon's
house for the purpose of robbery; but be-
fore the plan they were devising was ripe
higher game presented itself. Mr.. Wilmot
paid visit to his nephew, Mr.. Pardon.
He brought with him a sum of five thous-
and pounds. Mdlle. Resale, always on
the watch, ascertained that there was dis
cord between the old gentleman and her
master with respect to the marriage of
Miss Pardon, who had fixed her affections
upon one gentleman, whereas Mr.. Wilmot
wished her to favor another. Mdlle Ros-
allie and Redwing decided to murder Mr..
Wilmot and rob him. To reach the bed
chamber of Mr.. Wilmot they had to pass
through that of Samuel Fleetwood, upon
whom they intended to cast the suspicion
of the murder; if he awoke they resolved
to kill him also. In silence the deed was
done. The old man was weak, and with
swift cruelty he was strangled, and scarce
murmur came from his lips. He could
not have screamed if he had tried, because
Mdlle. Rosalie's hands were tightly fixed
upon his mouth the moment the cord was
pulled. There he lay dead, with the cord
round his neck.
'"They found the keys of the despatch
box in his pocket; unlocking it they took
out the five thousand pounds, relocked the
box, replaced the key in the dead mans
pocket, and were about to leave the cham
Der when they were startled by the sudden
appearance of Mr.. Pardon. Certainly the
Devil was on their side on that night, for
Mr.. Pardon was in one of his sleep-wa1k-
ing frances. Quick as thought they
changed their plans, and resolved to throw
the suspicion of the murder upon him.
Mdlle. Rosalie slipped diamond ring off
the murdered gentleman's finger, and slid
it into Mr.. Pardon's waistcoat-pocket.
Then she took the cord from Mr.. Wilmot's
neck, and glided with it to Mr.. Pardon's
bedroom. The door was ajar-his wife
was asleep. In moment the cord was
slipped under pillow of a sofa which was
in the room. The murderers reached their
own apartments in safety, and bided the
issue of events.
again did the Devil proclaim himself
on their side. After they were gone from
Mr.. Wilmot's room, leaving Mr.. Pardon
there, Samuel Fleetwood, it appears,
awoke, and, seeing his master standing by
the murdered man. instantly came to the
conclusion that he had committed the
murder. The man was suffering from
heart-disease, and was aware that he had
but a short time to live; he was deeply,
passionately devoted to his mistress and
her young daughter; he knew that the ar
rest of Mr.. Pardon would bring incredible
misery upon them, and he resolved upon
a course which do not pretend to Justify,
but which, no doubt, he Justified to him.
self, and which doubtless many persons
will admire He fed, and thus the sus-
picion of the murder fell upon himself.
What afterwards happened to him have
already related, aud is public property"
The detective paused, and fixed his eyes
upon me. In breathless amazement and
gratitude had followed his words. Twas
nnocent-innocent! Once more l could
clasp my beloved wife and child to my
heart! Once more, thank God! once more
l could kneel by their sides in prayer, and
lift up my voice in thankfulness to the
Giver of all Goodl In the silence that en-
sued the terror was lifted from my soul,
and involuntarily I slid to my knees and
lifted my hands to Heaven, while the tears
rolled down my face and beard.
They did not interrupt me, but allowed
the tears to flow unchecked. Then, when