Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-12-07

tened slowly and softly pushed it open and
went in, followed by the officers. The
next moment the innkeeper exclaimed In
a tone of alarm and agitation:
Gracious heavenl what's the meaning
of this?"
The bed was tumbled, but vacant-no
traveller was there-and the sheets and pill
low cases were stained with bloodl
The officers looked meaningly at each
Dther and then at the host, who, pale and
trembling, sunk half fainting upon the
nearest seat For a few moments there
was deep and ominous silence, and then
one of the officers said, slowly and with
pointed emphasis;
Landlord, this is very strangep
1.-THE strangest thing ever knewW fairly
gasped the innkeeper, glancing around him
in frightened bewilderment. Where can
the man have gone tot"
"And this blood tool" sternly chimed in
the other officer what does this mean,
If not some foul play"
"Oh, gentlemen" said the host in low,
tremulous tone, 81 hope you don't suspect
me, for Pm as innocent as a child unborn.
And now remember, too, when l went to
the door to let you in l found it wasn't
fastened, and Pm right sure fastened it
myself before l went to bed"
1--WE certainly do suspect you, sir" said
the other officer; "for how can we help it
since the man is gone and you, as you have
confessed, have his money in your posses
sion2"
"But he gave me the money to keep for
him." cried the frightened host, land I've
got it yet"
Undoubtedly you have, but that, you
see, so far from proving you know nothing
of the affair, only tends to make matters
the worse for you"
! perhaps he's about here yet some
whereI" suggested the innkeeper. IF he's
bank robber and heard your knocks, he'd
be quite likely to hide himself, or run away,
should think"
The idea was worthy of attention, and a
search for the missing man was forthwith
begun. On looking under the bed blood
was discovered on the floor, and the trail
of this was found to lead out Of the room,
down the stairs and out of the front door
showing that the object of search, either
living OF dead, had gone out of the house.
Beyond the building there were no traces,
for the storm had obliterated them. The
hostler was called, the only other man
about the house, but he appeared TO be a
| klDu VI eJuDlu ltliOWs anu hhCN
nothing of the matter, and a look in the
barn showed the strangers horse still
there.
About an hour later the neighbor men,
toned came over to the inn in great agita-
ton and alarm, said there was the body OF
murdered man lying by the roadside, and
also stated what he had heard during the
night.
All hurried to the scene of the tragedy,
and there beheld the body of a coarse
featured man of forty. which the officers
believed from its general appearance to be
that of the villain they were seeking; but
whether that of the stranger who had
lodged at the cabin no one could tell. The
body was covered with blood, and the mar
had evidently died from knife wounds IL
the breast.
Throughout that thinly peopled section
the news spread rapidly, and before nigh
large number of excited spectators, in
GLIDING the sheriff, coroner and two mag
istrates, had collected at the inn. Al
inquest was held and a verdict rendered
in accordance with the facts; and, though
there was no direct evidence against tn
| landlord, yet suspicion pointed so strongl
to him as the murderer, that he was take
into custody and committed for trial.
, In due time the trial came on, but tn
7 jury could not agree and were finally dis
. charged A second trial resulted like tn
first, and the innkeeper, whose name wa
Williams, was kept in prison over a veal
, How the affair would have eventual
' terminated had the mystery not bee
T cleared up in an unexpected manner it
/ impossible to say, but ere the time fxe
) for the third trial arrived a stranger AZ
' peared before the magistrate Of the couT
ty and deposed that he himself was the IL
/ dividual who had lodged at the inn on tn
e night OF the murder, and for taking who's
? life the landlord was still in prison.
In the course of his evidence he state
6 that he had been a merchant in Philade
$ phia, who finding himself on the eve {
4 failure had collected a large amount {
4 money and run away; and that all trace {
4 himself might be lost and his death e.
|. pected, he had adopted the plan Of putin
J, a small part Of the money in the hands {
d the innkeeper, ostensibly for safe keeping
l. and secretly departing in the night on foo
d not supposing anything very serious woul
a result to the landlord from this course (
q action.
3, On getting up somewhere about mi,
J. night his nose had set to bleeding whic
/, would explain the traces of blood he ha
d left behind him. He made his way to Be
timore, and thence sailed to Havana, whel
q he had been so fortunate in his specul
e tions as to find himself in condition
return and settle honorably with all b
creditors. On coming home and giving 9
account of his adventures to a friend
had for the first time learned with horr'
Of the almost fatal consequences to the In
g keeper of his unjustifable Disappearance
Is and had FASTENED to make what repair
lie ton lay in his power. His testimony VI
II subsequently corroborated on all impC
n tant points, and the innkeeper was hone
ably discharged, to the great relief al
ID Joy of his sympathizing friends. As pa
d, tial recompense for what he had suffer-
on his account the merchant made him
IT present of the horse and money he hi
d left with him and 5000 besides.
&c But the clearing up of one part Of tn
strange affair only seemed to involve q
st other in still deeper mystery. A murd
n had surely been committed, but by whoI
%, And who was the unfortunate victim2