South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-02-17
THEINTELLIGENcER
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1898
THE CAPTAINS MURDER.


forty, with gray hair and no whis-
kers, and with nothing remarkable
about him except deep cut over
his right eyebrow.
When he first came into the
neighborhood the gossips of Brad
towc had speculsted q great deal
as to who and what he was. but
without any basis for their conjec-
lures.
About the time our story Gem.
mences the Captain had got into
some trouble. His landlord, an
easy-going, well-to-do tradesmau,
began to think that, as he said, he
should like to see the color Of the
Captains money.
The patience of his creditors was
nearly exhausted, when one day O
circular letter was sent to them APP
pointing meeting for IL o'clock
on the following Monday, "when,"
the Captain wrote, che would sat-
isfY all claims, as legacy left by a
distant relation had been paid into
his account at the BaIstor Bank"
On Saturday the Captain hired a
gig at the Kings Arms to take
him to Balston. Johnny Wilson,
the landlords son, drove him to
the bank at Balston, where he staid
about ten minutes, and came out
at the end Of that time buttoning
into the breast pocket of his coat q
fst-looking pocket-book. Johnny
waited for him while he made q
few purchases In the town, and
then drove him straight home to
the building"
At 6 o'clock on Sunday morning
the inhabitants Of quiet High
street were aroused by a violent
knocking at the door of the police
station.
The policeman who was on night
duty opened the door and Mary
Wilcombe, the Captains servant
white with terror and painting with
exertion, nearly fell into his arms,
gasping out that her master, the
Captain, had been robbed and m mr.
dered in the night.
The Inspector vas Immediately
called and the whole available po-
lice force Of the village, consisting
OF two policemen, set of with him
for the building"
Mary Wilcombe, who seemed ut
terly Frustrated, remained under
the care of the Inspectors wife.
On reaching the 'building" the
Inspector found the front undis-
turbed, the windows closed aud the
doors locked.
On going round to the back the
door leading from the dining-room
to the garden, which sloped down
to the river, was found to be open,
and on entering the sitting-room
drops Of blood were seen along the
carpet between the staircase and
the garden door.
On the staircase itself the drops
OF blood were moro frequent.
The bedroom, however, wac clear
J the place where the muir Ter had
been committed. The table by the
window had been pushed out Of it's
place; the only two chairs in the
room we're found lying on the floor.
The bed, which had not been
slept in, was deluged with blood,
and in the middle of it was deep
indcntation as il heavy body had
been pressed down upon it.
A large clasp-knife, stained with
blood, was lying on she pillow, and
by the door on the floor was an op-
en- pocket book.
So much the inspector saw at a
glance as he entered. He took the
pocket-book and looked carefully
throught it,
It was empty; but lying near is
and behind the door was a piece Of
nestly-folded paper. II had evil
IDENTIFY fallen from the pocket-book
while the murderer was emptyiRg
the contents.
It was half-shsot OF note paper
folded in three, and written On il
we're the numbers and value Of the
bank notes. she total Of which
amounted to R27O.
Policeman JOnes vas immediate
~ sent of to Balston With the pa
per to inquire Of the bank manager
whether those we're the Rumbsru Of
she notes which had been paid 10