Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-04-14


coats which he had made with his trav-
/ cling acquaintance, and muttered.
by Jupiterl I left the keys and the
/ wax Impressions in my coat pocket. I
/ hope they will not be the means Of get
ting the young fellow with whom I ex-
changed coats into trouble"
When Stuart Harland alighted from
the railway train the officers who were
on the watch when the stranger whom
/ We have followed, leaped upon the plat
form, were still at their post.
! Harland had not taken five steps,
when heavy hand fell upon his Shout
| der, and as the light of the policeman's
lantern was reflected full in his face,
! the officer said, in a stern voice, as he
| grasped the young mans arm:
! You are my prisonerl 1 arrest you
on the charge of being a fugitive from
! iustice!"
These two police officers were watch
ing for Stuart Harland, for TO them Po-
lice Sergeant Smith had wired the young
| mans description, and when they stop
| ped the man who had taken Harland's
overcOat, they were on the alert for the
latter.
STUART Harland's surprise was IN
| bounded, and he was indignant, as well.
What is the meaning of this outrage?
there is certainly some mistake!" he ex-
| claimed.
In few words the police officers ac-
| quainted him with the fact of John Oak
burn s murder, of which Sergeant Smith S
dispatch had informed them.
One of the officers added:
| My instructions are simply to arrest
you and return you to New York City at
once"
I suppose I must submit, but if you
will only permit me to visit the house of
a friend for a few moments, shall be
/ -nl.n7 %
Impossible; the return train will
leave in ten minutes, replied the officer.
Stuart groaned.
4 have had my journey for naught, :"
he muttered.
Then he thought of Marion Oakburn
and the singular circumstance that she
was in the brokers' office at midnight.
He recalled her frightened manner, and
his mind was troubled.
The reflection as to how the public might
construe his sudden night departure
made him nervous and apprehenslve.
He was not skilled in the art OF hiding
his emotions, and they betrayed what
was passing in his mind.
The officers who accompanied him
watched him closely, and they said be-
| tween themselves:
This business troubles him. He looks
as though he were guilty
Stuart never thought Of examining
| the strangers OvercOat, which had came
into his possession as we have seen.
His surprise and CONSERVATION were,
therefore, quite genuine when the szele-
ton keys and wax Impressions were
| taken from his pocket when he was
brought before the coroner.
In few words after this discovery,
| while the Coroner mOtiOned to the man
who had last entered the brokers' office
TO be silent, Stuart explained how the
| exchange Of OvercOats came about, as
we have related it.
But Stewards story was greeted with
a murmur of incredulity, and 1t was clear
that it was not generally credited.
Harland observed this, and he turned
to the young clerk who had been one of
his co-labOrers in the brokers' office,
and said:
I am sure no one of you would wish
| TO impugn my Yeracity, and I ask YOU to
say If you recognize this coat as mine
If you do not see that it was never made
for me-that it is at least three sizes too
large
The brokers' clerks replied affirma-
lively, and expressed their conviction
that Stuart's word was not TO be
| doubted. This was certainly a confirma-
ton Of Harland's statement.
The Coroner now addressed the man
who had last entered.
That individual was Mr.. Pratt, of the
firm OF Pratt & Weeks, who had ruined
Jason Garrison.
Pratt was a pOrtly, gross-lOoking man,
with black goatee, which owed its
color to dye, as did also his scanty hair
He was bald, but this evidence of age
was partially concealed by a skiliful
arrangement of the remnants of his
colored locks. His features were heavy
and sensual, but he had a smooth, in
| Gfnnaffprr al
in the height Of fashion. But he wore
too much jewelry, and his garments
were inclined to be loud.
You wish TO offer some evidence, sir? "
said the coroner.
Yes, sir; as informed the officer at
the door, who thereupOn Immediately
/ proclaimed the fact, much to my sur
prise"
Pratt was sworn and he said:
Having received the information at
hay Office that young Harland was under
arrest, charged with the murder of John
Oakburn, I deemed it my duty to appear
here to give certain testimony, which it
seems to me will establish the fact, that
he was actuated by powerful motive
when he committed the crime. The
murder, no doubt, was but an unforeseen
incident of the robbery Of the safe"
He paused, and at this iuneture the
stately old gentleman who had left the
| office after hearing the bankers COM
munication about the marked money,
re-entered, but he was unobserved, for
Pratt was now the central figure of the
assemblage.
The fact is, gentlemen, Stuart Har-
land has been INDUCING in speculations
far beyond his means, and, as he de-
ceived us regarding his financial status,
he has become our debtor to the sum of
ten thousand dollars. We were led TO
suppose he could control that amount of
the fortune which it is understood he
| will inherit. We hold Mr. Harland' s
note for the amount Of his indebted
ness, which is now several days over
| due. Here is the note, sir, continued
Pratt, as he placed the paper in the
coroner's hands.
The day preceding the murder, that
Is, the day before yesterday, We sent
him note, informing him that unless he
settled with US, we would apply TO his
wealthy aunt, whose heir he is said TO
be-. He replied that if we did so he was
ruined; that his aunt was particularly
opposed to stock specializing, and that
she had often warned him against it,
saying that her money should never be
risked in that way. In fact, Harland
stated that he feared his aunt would dis
inherit him if she found him out.
It was my wish to give the young
man time. for I pitied him. but my
partner is a hard man and he was mex
orable. Mr.. Harland had MORALLY Of
Tended him in some way, and he vowed he
would have his money or he would make
the exposure Harland dreaded.
-Harland declared that he had no way
to pay the money, but he obtained my
| partners promise not TO move in the
| ma To 70