The evening world., 1890-03-01
CONFESSION OF MABEL sMiTHeR Rs,

am tWenty-heVen years OF axe anu nave
known the Countess, as We used TO call
Margaret, about three years. We were very
good friends. except for occasional rows;
but latterly she got nasty because Joe took
too much notice Of me. She always was
jealous.
I'VE had one or two rows owing TO this,
and Joe left her for me. We stayed about
at Que or two places. but he only went to
Poplar 4 few days before the murder after
he had seen Mr.. Andersen.
1.-THE first tina | heard about Lord Chal-
mers was from Margaret herself about a
fortnight before the murder. Previous to
that she used to talk when she was in drink
about Berthe Byham. her husband, and how
the old lord had cast her off and all that.
but We never used to pay any attention to 1t.
''But one afternoon ] happened to meet her
III a pub, when she was very Affection
ate all of a sudden and wanted to make IL
up, and then she told me how she had heard
that the old lord was dead. and that her
husband had como into the title aud was
married again. After that she asked me to
write the letter produced at the inquest.
which l did. not exactly believing her ta!e.
but thinking 1t was a good Joke, and wou-
derlng what would come OF 1t.
THE next i heard was from Joe. He told
me that Anderson had been to sec Margaret,
wouldn't listen to reason, had come TO ask
him TO get her ont OF the country. ,Joseuh
said he WAS going 70 Try, Ind was In high
chance OF getting Eomsthing out OF the
noDs; -
idea OF his going back to Margaret, EOr
two or three days l did not rec HIM again.
Then he told mi, that Margaret had hrst
consented to go, being pleased at his com
ing back to her. and then altered her mind,
and said she would stick out Ior her rights.
He also, said that the passages were booked.
sens BANKER would not know the difference
between me and Margaret. o.,
margaret would never stand it, said
Joe. and, ,gnless she was to keep quiet, the
." sErd that he had better ask her, and
tell her that n she would let MS get the hrst
$500 out OF Andersen by going 10 PhilAdei-
phiH. the could then speak mp aud have her
rights or anything elise she could squeeze
ont OF Chalmers. Joseph told her this, but
she answered hat she would see him some
"f was not going TO lose the chance of
$500 il 1 could help il. so | thought | would
zee Margaret myself, Knowing that she was
s sbs Eaa m q dso i5t ef drTin fl'P / waited q a bS T' iaf
her at various pubs the night before the
murder; JOseph, / must tell you, had u JON
on that evening with 4 pal up Hiangaie-way
| and il was on account uf this that. he had
left Poplar and taken his traps To his. pals
place. 1t was arranged that when this Job
was done, lie should meet ME at the GEORGE
the Fourth.
-" couldn't find Margaret till about eleven
o'clock, when met her accidentally and
took her TO the George tie Fourth. we had
a drop or two there, Margaret being as
friendly az could be, aud after, q bit Joe
came 10. Joe had a bottle OF Whisiey Ia his
pocket. and as II was getting near closing
time, we al went back TO MATGarets to
When W got there | began to tai, 70 her
about the American plan. she got MIA III
Nery angry with her and told her she VAS a
hog in the mangeT, wanting To, nave her
rights 9s the Lords wife, and yet Jealous ot
he gong ~ with me- ! don no" how
MargarGt got stupid'llke with the drink, and
presently she tmhled down and We picked
her NJ ana laid her on the bed.
Well, Joe ard me sct 10 taking Ahout
hsr. 1 don't know who sAidlt hTsL. Per,
haps IL Bas him, perhaps u "a me, HAD
thought OF 4 before; aud III bet h. hhd.
her, and how We could hide IL, aDi all that.
once or twice be- wa, on the point OF doing
lie Job. lie had his Aniie ost. but some
how he couldn screw hinltelt M to u.
mucI for u. W. bnth Went to sleep.
- Ws- woke up by a nluttcrlng noise,
aud hearluy my name and an oath. u MAS
MArgrfct. She was awake, cuTS,Ig me 10?
being there, and telling ne TO 90, she
caught up Jos's knife. which le had lett
lust at hand. aud game At me. screamed
out, And Joe woke NJ. lie sprsug On
Margaret, aud caught her wrist just IN time;
We both gtappled with her. Joe wIosied
the knife from her, and she vent down
An We had been saying Just before came
back to me-.
'Nows your. time stick her, said to
Joe, IN a sort ~ a whisper.
''BaJore either Of ~ had time to think
apy more about IL. he lid the iob, cutting
her throat right acrosr.
I'VE looked az her for aminute. lust a
bit dazed, nov u wCs dore. Thea We began
20 think what To DO next You must re-
plan. la the night.
= There were tao WAys, We had decided,
70 Keep it lark. One was to back the body
up somehow and take IL with rs TO America
The other VAS 70 put some of my clothes on
her, disfgure her past Tecogution. and
Leave the body somewhere, 80 - II might be