Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-17

agement of the case-a thing / didn't ex-
| pcct at the outset-but / have beaten
Leroi," exclaimed he, joyously.
So the two worthless, in the most compla-
cent and self-satisfied humor, retired for a
| brief rest
The result of Iouvait's careful and unre-
hitting exertions, next day, were as fol.
| lows:
| A carriage had been returned to livery
stable in Dol, about four o'clock on the very
morning following the abduction.
sit is a full seven hours drive from the
sea-coast TO DOL Surprising it came direct
from Chateau Neuf, it must have left there
about nine o'clock last evening-just about
the hour when the fishermen think they
saw the yawl and the steamer The owner
says it was hired late during the previous
night. BY whom. think by the conspira-
tors another clue!'
Thus he reasoned.
After further inquiries he discovered
that five suspicious-looking characters left
the cars at Dol, on the very night when the
vehicle was procured at the livery stable
two alghting from the ST. Malo express to
Paris, and three from the express arriving
from Paris.
That they had hired the chase, Louvait
fully believed And that this was the chaise
used in the abduction he clearly proved by
comparing the distance between its wheels
with that between the tracks cut in the
earth about the old fish-house. II was an
old-fashioned vehicle, with a tremendous
breadth of axle. So it was quite unlikely
that any other conveyance should have made
those broad ruts.
The result of the detectives subsequent
Investigations was such as to fasten his
suspicious upon Fairfax, Oxford and Roger.
But, then, to offset the suspicion that the
Englishman and his servant were the inter.
csting pair that rnysteriously left the st.
Malo express at Dol, the station-master at
St Malo showed card, bearing the sigma
ture arthur Fairfax, requesting him ito
reserve compartment for two on $40 D. m.
express TO Paris 10 be called for by Mr..
Richard Oxford and valetv
Mr.. Oxford and valet had not only called
for this compartment but occupied it in per
son, during the entire trip to Paris so the
guard said
did the gentleman IN such a compart.
ment travel to Paris or get off at Dol.'
''He and his valet went direct TO Paris"
"Describe their personal appearance"
''Their hats were drawn down over their
faces, but | think one of them wore a light
mpstache. He was at least six feet in
height. The valet wore only short-cropped
sidc-whiskers. He was about FIVE feet
seven inches tall
This correctly described Dick and his
valet Yet Louvait was not satisfied.
But il was cOncmsvclv proved that Ok.
ford and his servant had actually arrived in
Partisan hotel little after midnight on
the day Of the abduction And, further.
more, it was shown that al me ueyy hour OF
the abduction they were both at the hotel,
which they left later ON in the evening for
Havre, whence they returned next morn
ing agreeabiy 10 message left by Oxford
with the clerk.
This. 20 an ordinary mind, was sufficient
evidence that Oxford and Rogers could have
had nothing whatever TO do with the affair.
as each could clearly prove an abb if called
upon TO do SO. Louvait was puzzled, but
not convinced.
But now how was II that this interesting
duo, which departed from st. Malo at half
past eight Ill the evening, travelling direct
To Paris, remaining there nearly all the fol-
lowing day, and then went to Havrc-how
was IL that this same conspiring pair also
left st. Malo at eleven O'Clock the same
evening, as we well know; got off at Dol
went back to the village; took part in the
abduction of the following day, and returned
TO Paris next morning! Simple enough.
Fairfax had received Nebbitt's permission
to select from the banking office Of lie Toilet
e. Co. any two clerks that might suit his
fancy. He had found there two young fell
lows, one about the height and figure of
Dick, and the other Of his valet
To a casual observer, who took no trouble
to notice them carefully, the former, by the
aid of a mustache and wig, and the latter,
in short side whislzers, made very pass
able Oxford and valet
The two clerks, delighted at the prospect
of frohc, went down to st. Malo under the
deiusion that they had been sent in disguise
for the sole purpose Of receiving and Of
conveying to Paris a bundle of valuable.
all the mystery and secrecy attending the
journey being adopted only to throw certain
prospective thieves off the scent.
The apartments engaged by Fairfax were
given them, and the salse Dick and Roger,
with their equally false but Ito them)
precious bundle, returned to Paris and
registered at the hotel as Richard Oxford
and valet, keeping quiet during the day. In
the evening they sent word to the Office of
the hotel of an immediate trip to Havre and
prospective return next morning, at which
time the real Oxford and servant appeared
and took up the thread of affairs where the
others had dropped it, leaving shortly after
Wards for England.