The herald., 1893-08-09

II am not sure, Mr.. Lacey, whether
| in view Of his strange and sudden end
YOU should not have had this examined
before"
Probably you are right from a legal
noint of view" replied the visitor, "but
| promised, you see, and didn't see any
reason in the manner of his death for
breaking my promise. If 1t had been
suicide, now it might have been differ
ent, but as it was thought had bet
| ter wait" #
"Well, l suppose you are right from
your point of view," said Mr. Fogey as
he slit the envelope methodically along
the top edge and opened the package. 1t
contained foolscap paper wrapped
around 10 United States notes, each for
&1 600. He counted the notes, and lay
ing them down opened the paper and
read without comment, while Mr. Lacey
listened in silent attention:
I6 WASHINGTON AVENUE, April 20, 49,.
DEAR FooEy-I must begin by apologizing
for committing the letter to Lacey's charge
rather than to yours as might have seemed
more natural. But | have thought that as a
| lawyer you might feel 1t your duty to make Its
contents known before the appointed time. At
| all events you would have found yourself in
trying AID difficult position. BY obeying me
| you would possibly. as a lawyer, incur censure
BY opening the letter before the time you
| would defeat all my plans and hopes, so shall
hand this to Lacey In trust for you and beg
| you to forgive me-
am confident when you read this shall
have been dead six months, murdered-for 30
the law has doubtless decidedly old James,
my butler. with skewer, part Of the silver
committed to his charge.
There will not have been wanting abundant
evidence legally conclusive against my muir
derer or even motive for his deed. may there
foro suppose that by the time you read this he
has been condemned and sentenced. but not
executed. since the law requires an interval be-
tween sentence and execution.
| The legacy left him in my will, besides sup
plying possible motive for his crime and en-
HANGING its Nervousness, has probably fur
nished him means for proper defense on his
trial. Yet in spite OF this he has been convict
! ed and sentenced. Is it not SOP ~,
| And now to explain everything, to make the
dark clear and the crooked straight.
On tho 10Th of November last committed
suicide. having previously arranged that every
| thing should point clearly to the guilt Of
James, my butler. / secroted the skewer.
sharpened 1t with a file and placed tho file In
| Thompson's room. stained his coverlet with
blood, my blood, for 1t came from cut on my
finger. l hid my purse in his chimney, and
finally, on the night OF Nov. 10, l committed
suicide by stabbing myself to the heart
And now for my reasons.
In taking my own life have doubtless COM
mitted crime against the laws Of God and
the state, but believe that the life of one man
is of little value when weighed against even a
possible good to the community. II my death
| fuifilis the object have in view, then my life
has been well sacrificed. And even If 1t fails,
| the intention will absolve me-
! Next, have inflicted great anguish Of mind
on an innocent and virtuous old man. But
here again the agony, even II it run to martyr
| dom OF ono, must be weighed against the bene-
| fit of the many. For James Thompson himself
| have endeavored to supply consolation, If not
| compensation, in my legacy of $4,000 and the
supplementary sum Of $4,000 which inclose
herewith. May he understand and forgive me.
| Perhaps even now you scarcely understand
| what hope to have accomplished by my death,
| but ! will cndeavor to explain. You have
| heard me speak, you have perhaps read my
| written words on the use Of circumstantial
| evidence. am convinced that SO long as men
are done to death on indirect evidence 80 long
| must the constant possibility of judicial muir
| der lie heavy on the conscience OF the nation.
By my death and Thompson's conviction
hope to awaken the public conscience to a
sense of its shameful burden. If am success
| full, then all has been well done.
! Here is an innocent man sentenced to death
on circumstantial evidence Of the clearest de-
scription, and but for this letter his sentence
would eventually be executed.
| All that have done to fix my death upon
| Thompson might have been done by third
party had been really assaseinated.
In conclusion beg that copy Of this letter
be sent to each of the newspapers and that the
| inclosure be hanied TO James Thompson with
the assurance of my affection and thanks for
| his services voluntary and others.
| For myself feel that II this case leads to o
| revision 6e ths ilaw toiching the infiiction Of
the deatEpenaifg nsither rayllife nor Thomp-
sons peace Of mind viii have been vainly sac
riiced. Y9rS afsectiorateI friend.
The two men sat silent for minute
while the lawyer folded up the paper
and laidnit on the little pile of notes.
Then Mr.. Lacey spoke:
81 always thought poor Weathercraft
was bit Of crank on circumstantial
evidence, but he must have been stark,
staring mad. wonder what old James
will think of it. | wouldn't have gone
through it for millions"
81 doubt if old James would if he had
been given chance" replied the man Of
law; mot but Ehat $4,000 is good
round sum for the old fellow to earn in
six months, though he might have pre-
ferred earning it in some other way"
"Do you think it likely to have the de-
sired effect on the minds Of our law CIV
ers?" asked the other.
''Not the least in the world" replied
Mr.. Fogey. "rather the reverse, l should
imagine" he continued, with half
smile. People will say that Weather
craft was as mad as o March hare and
may even infer that everybody who
shares his views is little cracked too.
No, no! Poor Weathercraft has thrown
his life away, old Thompson is richer by
$40, 900 minus his law expenses and plus
vast deal of experience, and the law
will remain just as it was before.
"Now good by. I'm of to show the
letter to the governor. It's rum case
anyhow. ."-Philadelphia Press