The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-18
ID'IBBTTD

out any popularity about Mr.. Weather
craft, anything to distinguish him
from other hale, genial old bachelors
of the same class. He was commonly
supposed to have no eccentricities no
hobbies and few strong opinions; in
fact, those who knew him said he was
only crank on the subject
To be called a crank is the penalty
nowadays for holding and airing any
opinion in which at least nine-tenths
of the community do not concur
Mr.. Weathercraft was what may be
called a circumstantia l evidence crank,
He held indirect evidence in the deep
est distrust, and though as firm be-
lever in hanging for murder as any
criminal lawyer on or off the bench,
vet held that no evidence save that of
putable eye witnesses should send
man to the gallows.
On this cheerful topic he was much
given TO after dinner discourse, nor
was his rather hating style unkno wn
to the correspondents columns of the
daily papers. He was known to have
written a magazine article on the sub
iect, which, however. never saw the
light, though it spent a whole year
making the rounds of the magazine
offices. Such is the blindness of the
editorial mind His letters to the
editor" got him interviewed once or
twice when news papers were very hard
up for copy. He enjoyed the process
hugely and always asked the reporter
to call again.
When the old man was dead and his
butler arrested people said it was clear
case of Nemesis, that the evidence
against his slayer should be so conclu-
sive and at the same time so purely cir
cumstantial, and some wag of a re-
porter was heard to wonder whether
after Thompson's trial, conviction and
execution old Weatherc crafts ghost
would address ghostly denunciation to
ghostly newspapers from mere force of
habit, or would sullz in corner of
ghostland and refused to be inter
viewed. The case indeed seemed clear
enough Mr. Weathercraft had gone
to bed on the 10th of Novem Der well
and in good spirits; on the following
morning he was found dead, tabbed to
the heart The weapon which was
found buried in the old mans heart was
an old-fashioned silver skewer, part Of
the family plate, and had clearly been
shsrpened for its deadly purpose. The
sharpening seemed to have been done
with file or some such rough nipple
ment. There was very little external
hemorrhage, only few drops of blood
being visible.
The last person who saw his master
alive was the accused himself Accord
ing 10 his story he had gone up TO Mr..
Wea thercraft's room with the plate
chest. it being the old mans habit TO
keep the silver in his own room at
night. though the key was always left
had been locked up. This had been
the custom IN the house for many
years. His master was in bed reading
novel and said good night in his
usual way. Mr.. Weathercraft never
locked his door at night, as the foot
man was expected 10 come in at s
O'Clock in the morning, fill the bath
and light the FIRE.
This was all the accused could or
would say beyond denying ali knowl-
edge OF how his master had come 10
his death
The footman on being examined tes-
tilted TO having found the body. lie
had entered as usual al S o'clock
scarcely waiting 10 knock. and had
made arrangements for his masters
toilet thinking hirn asleep. M.
Weathercraft was heavy sleeper.
b,I; usually a1voSe when the bath was
being flied As his master I'D not
move the witness went 20 the bedside
AUD 70 use the poor teilows own ex-
preston. As 7 hope fo- mercy. s5r.
TIE face was the face OF 3 dead corpse
This witness further added that the bed
was bat little dssordered. lie lamp was
ont and the novel lay open on its face
On the dooE. Ke ali not remove she
skewer or attempt 20 co -. bat ~an
and told the houseiSeepzs- v tao sent him
for the police The hcUsezeeper being
summoned i5eu tIsiea ti4e slsevve- Is
part ~ the usna. contents 81 the pia.e
caest, yehieh ed 20 the recall q Sic but
.er, who. a,inS asszed vsaettser Re bad
eoease1 the silver on the Right q t!ss
murder ans =ysrs4s in ths 2sArna.-F--