Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-09

tial evidence in one of the most famous
murder trials in New York, and also
remembered how, long after he starved
himself to death in his cell and so cheat
ed the gallows, another man had made
voluntary confession of the murder, ex-
planning every one of the circumstances
that had helped to convict Rubenstein
and explaining them in perfectly ra-
tional way, although his story was one
that no lawyer would have dared to
submit to Jury as an imaginary one.
it had led me to fear and distrust anv
chain of circumstantial evidence, no
matter how strong it might seem.
1t is now five years since lost my
money 50 strangely. My name is really
Arthur Levinson. | had been left an
orphan when a lad only fourteen years
of age, and had been allowed by my
guardian to do pretty nearly as | chose
after that He was strict on one point
only. That was that must apply my
self to study until | should reach nv
majority. He allowed me to choose my
own schools, and had attended an ex-
cellent private school in Boston until at
seventeen had qualified for college
course. When he asked me what college
] preferred going to | chose a university
course in Germany. He approved of the
choice, and | went abroad. So it hap
pened that, although was born in New
York and had spent my childhood there,
! had not seen the city more than two or
three days at d time for ten years, for
after finishing my studies | had chosen
to travel for some three years before
coming home.
Before | returned my guardian died,
10 that when landed there was not
single person i'll the city whom ! could
claim as a personal friend, and as it
happened there was none of the aC-
qaintances of my boyhood whom | cared
TO look up. My fortune had been invest
ed in United States bonds and these had
been placed for safe keeping with the
old banking firm of Fotheringay q
WitherwaX. My guardian had opened
an account there for me when | came of
age, and the bankers had honored the
drafts | made on them from time to time.
On my arrival at home had naturally
gone almost Immediately to the bank.
On producing my papers Ireadily proved
my identity, and had very pleasant in
tervlew with the two partners in the
mouse. / remember that They scrutinlzed
the papers very closely, as was proper
and natural, and compared my signature
carefully with several specimens of my
writing which they had. Moreover, they
looked at me again and again, both of
them, and | could see that they were
studying my appearance so as to be posi-
tive in their personal knowledge of me.
This pleased me greatly, for l had one
hundred thousand dollars i'll bonds in
their keeping and something like a
thousand dollars on deposit, and their
caution was really as much i'll my inter-
est as il their own. My guardian had
nursed my property carefully until 1t
reached the exact sum of one hundred
thousand and had put it in the safest in
vestment he knew, and had lived up
to my income without touching the prin
Cipal,
Are you thinking of embarking in
any business, Mr.. Levinson" asked old
Mr. Fotheringay as we sat in the old
fashioned business Office the day | first
called at the bank.
No" l answered, Il have made no
plans whatever for the future. | have
come to New York to see whether l
shall prefer to live here, but think it as
likely as not that | may go abroad again.
There is nothing to keep me here ex-
cepting an abstract feeling of patriot
ism, and, on the other hand, | have some
very pleasant associations in France and
Germany both"
THAT is natural enough" said Mr..
Fotheringay, land | only asked because
/ hope you will take no rash steps. OF
course we do not wish to obtrude any
advice, but we will be glad to aid you in
any way within our power in case you
desire to change the nature of your in
Vestments."
Unfortunately | was annoyed by what
seemed to me ofhciousness. l was young
enough to feel that stood in no need of
advice, and l am naturally of sus-
picious temperament. / answered as
coolly as knew how that had no pres
ent intention of making any change, but
that could not undertake to say what
might do at any time.
The good old man felt that was try
ing to snub him, and with a dignity
which i would have given much to
equal he bowed and said: pray do not
think that | intend to be superservice-
able. We are always glad to render any
legitimate aid that lies in our power to
our customers"
| was still more annoyed, feeling that
had put myself in the wrong without
cause, but l was too diffident and too
young to set myself right, as / might
have done with few manly words, and
after one or two commonplace remarks
i left.
The next day was riding horseback
in the park and was thrown. So much
! remember. From subsequent inquiries
l have been able to learn something of
what happened to me during the follow
ing month, but strive as | may ] am
never able to recall the slightest Incl
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