St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-09-02
ent. but as it was I thought had better

| ''Nell, l suppose you are rlgnI 1ronl
your point of view," said Mr.. Fogey, as
he slit the envelope methodically along
the top edge and opened the package. 1t
contained Il fColscap wrapper around ten
United States notes, each for $1,000. lie
counted the notes and laying them down
opened the paper and read without com
mcnt, while Mr. Lacey listened in silent
attention..
16 WASHINGTON AVENUE, April &c, is.
| DEAR FoGEY: l must begin by apol-
ogizing for committing the letter to La
ceys charge rather than to yours, as
might have seemed more natural, but |
have thought that as a lawyer you might
feel it your duty to make its contents
known before the appointed time. At all
events, you would have found yourself IN
a trying and difficult position. BY obey
ing me you would possibly, as lawyer,
incur censure; by opening the letter be-
fore the time YOU would defeat all my
plans and hopes, so I shall hand this to
Lacey in trust for you and beg you to
forgive we.
| am confident when you read this l
shall have been dead six months, muir
dered-for SO the law has doubtless did
cided-by 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 murderer or even motive for
his deed; | may therefore suppose that
by the time you read this he has been
condemned and sentenced, but not ex-
ecuted, since the law requires an inter
val between sentence and execution.
The legacy left him in my will, besides
supplying possible motive for his crime
and enhancing its Nervousness, has prob
ably furnished him means for proper de-
Tense on his trial. Yet, in spite of this,
he has been convicted and sentenced. Is
1t not SO?
And now to explain everything, to
make the dark clear and the crooked
straight
On the 10Th of November last I com
mitted suicide, having previously ar
ranged that everything should point
clearly to the guilt of James, my butler.
| secretcd the skewer, | sharpened 1T
with a file and placed the file in Thomp-
sons room. I stained Ills coverlet with
blood, my blood, for it came from cut
on my finger. | hid my purse in his
chimney, and finally, on the night Of
November 10th committed suicide by
stabbing myself to the heart.
And now give my reasons.
In taking my own life have doubtless
committed 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 If my death fulhls the
object | have in view then my life has
been we'll sacrificed; aud even if it fails,
the intention will absolye me.
Next | have inflicted great anguish of
mind on an Innocent aud virtuous old
man; but here again the agony, even if
it run to martyrdom of one, must be
weighed against the benefit of the many.
For James Thompson himself have en-
deavorcd to supply consolation, if not
compensation, in my legacy OF $40, goo
and the supplementary sum of $4,000
which | enclose herewith. May he I'M
derstand and forgive me.
stand what hope to have accomplished
by my death. but will cndeavor to ex
plain. You have heard me speak, you
have perhaps read my written words on
the use of circumstantial evidence. l
am convinced that SO long as men are
done to death on indirect evidence so
long must the constant possibility of
judicial murder lie heavy on the con-
science of the nation. b. my death and
Thompson's conviction,I hope to awaken
the public conscience to a sense of its
shameful burden. If | am successful,
then all has been done well.
Here is an innocent Old man sentenced
to death on circumstantal evidence Of
the clearest description, aud but for this
letter his sentence would eventually be
executed.
All that have done to fix my death
upon Thompson might have been done
10y third party had [ been really assas-
sinated.
In conclusion beg that copy of this
letter be sent to each OF the newspapers,
and that the nclOsure be handed to James
Thompson with the assurance of my af
lection and thanks for his services volun-
tary and others.
For myself l feel that if this case leads
to a revision of the law touching the
intliction of the death penalty neither
my life nor Thompson's peace of mind
will have been vainly sacrificed.
Your affcctionatc friend,
GEORGE WEATHERCRAFT
The two men sat silent for a minute
while the lawyer folded un the paper
and laid it on the little pile OF notes,
Then Mr.. Lacey spoke:
II always thought poor Weathercraft
was bit of a crank on ,cirCumstantial
evidence, but he must have been stark
staring mad. | wonder what old James
will think Of it. I wouldn't have gone
through it for a Million
Il doubt if old James would if he had
been given choice,' replied the man
of law; mot but what $50, 900 is good
round sum for the fellow to earn
in six months, though he might
have preferred earning it in some other
way"
''Do you think it likely to have the
desired effect on the minds of our law
givers?' asked the other.
"Not the least in the world" replied
Mr.. Fogey; "rathcr the reverse should
imagine" he continued with half smile.
People will say that Weathercraft was as
mad as 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
bis law nynerSas ou1 ,,1uc voct dool IF