The Portland daily press., 1893-07-21

Cn2Ir asked now no oouAA o0A f0 lilAs w
which Mr.. Lacey replied by producing a
packet FROM his pocket and laying it
down on the table in front of MIR. Fogey.
Then he sat down and began:
"Mr. Fogey," he said, II have come
here today in obedience to request OF
poor, dear Weathercraft. There is
packet which he gave me some SIX
months or more before he was murder
ed, asking me to give it to you or your
successor exactly six months after his
death. The time is up today, and here
am"
The lawyer took the packet. Tt was
tolerably thick one. inclosed in long
business envelope. He turned it over IN
his hand and then remarked:
81 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 legal
point of view replied the visitor, "but
I promised, you see, and didn't see any
reason in the manner of his death for
breaking my promise. If it had been
suicide, now it might have been differ
emit, but as it was 1 thought I had bet
ter wait"
"Well, I 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 a foolscap paper wrapped
around 10 United States notes, each for
ST. 600. He counted the notes, and lay
ing them down opened the paper and
read without comment, while Mr.. Lacey
listened in silent attention:
16 WASHINGTON AVENUE, April 26, 1s-.
DEAR FoGEY 81 must begin by apologizing
for committing the letter to Lacey's charge
rather than to yours, as might have seemed
more natural. But I 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
trying and difficult position. BY obeying me
you would possibly, as @ lawyer, incur censuI'e
By opening the letter before the time you
would defeat all my plans and hopes, 80 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 so
the law has doubtless decidedly old James,
my butler, with a skewer, part of the silver
committed to his charge.
There will not have been wanting abundant
evidence legally conclusive against my muir
derer even motive for his deed. Imay there
fore 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 so2
And now to explain everything, to make the
dark clear and the crooked straight
On the 18th of November last | committed
suicide, having previously arranged thatevery
thing should point clearly to the guilt OF
James, my butler. / secreted the skewer. |
sharpened it with file and placed the file in
Thompson's room. stained his coverlet with
blood, my blood, for it came from a cut on my
finger. l hid my purse in his chimney, and
finally, on the night of Nov. 49, 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
possible good to the community. If my death
fulfills the object have in view, then my life
has been well sacrificed. And even If it fails.
the intention will absolve me.
Next have inflicted great anguish of mind
on an innocent and viftuous old man. But
here again the agony, even if it run to martyr
dom of one, must be weighed against the bone
fit of the many. For James Thompson himself
have endeayoged tosupply consolation, if not
compensation, IN my legacy of $4,000 and the
supplementary sum Of $40. GOO which inclose
herewith May he understand and forgive me.
Perhaps even now you scarcely understand
what hope to have accomplished by my death,
but l will endeavor 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 SO 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. II l 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.
Ali that have done TO fix my death upon
Thompson might have been done by q third
party had been really assassinated.
In conclusion beg that copy of this letter
be sent to each Of ,e,newspapers. and that the
inclosure be handed to James Thompson with
the assurance of myafection and thanks fol-
his services voluntary and others.
For myself feel that if this case leads to a
revision of the law touching the infection OF
the death penalty neither my life nor Thomp-
sons peace of mind will have been vainly sac
rificed. Your,afectionate friend,
GEORGE WEATHERCRAFT.
The two men sat silent for a minute
while the lawyer folded up the paper
and laid it ON the little pile of notes.
Then Mr.. Lacey spoke:
"I always thought poor Weathercraft
was bit of crank on circumstantiai
evidence, but he must have been stark,
staring mad. Iwonder what old James
will think Of it. I wouldn't have gone
through it for millions"
ct doubt If old James would if he had
been given chance" replied the man Of
law; met but what $4,000 is a good
round sum for the old fellow to earn in
six months, though he might have pre-
ferred earning it in some other way"
ssDo you think it likely to have the de-
sired effect on the minds of our law Civ
o,.cS, oe1yad tho other