The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-04-18
A VITAL CLEW.

my life hangs on that scrap of paper
Ifit cannot be found, Edith, it is impOs-
sible to prove my innocence. The facts
are dead against me-"
"Glbert, l am so confident that you are
innocent and that all you have said is
true that viii not rest until the paper
Is found"
He took her in bis arms and impressed
q passionate kiss on her brow.
Gilbert Stanton was under arrest on
suspicion Of having eause1 the death of
Raymond Wild. The facts of the case
we're, as be said, dead against him."
Stanton lived in chambers in Whites
inn and was reading for the bar. Wild,
who justified his name, WAS an old col
lege acquaintance, who had attempted
several things in life and failed in all.
Gilbert had not seen him for several
years, when Wild suddenly turned up
at his chambers and announced that he
was @stone broke"
The man had no claim whatever on
Gilbert Stanton, who told him so, and
also gave him the benefit of some can
did opinions as to his past career. Ray
mond Wild was hot blooded, and high
words resulted.
The quarrel was at its height when
Mrs. Morton, Gilbert's old laundress,
who had been completing her morning
duties in another room, closed the door
Of the chambers and passed out
Shortly afterward the tempers Of the
two men coold. Wild apoIogized for
some offensive remarks he had made,
and they shook hands.
Gilbert now promised to do his best to
help his old acquaintance and invited
Wild to remain for an hour, while he
went out to keep an appointment.
When Gilbert Stanton returned, he
mounted the stairs to the door Of his
chambers, but he did not immediatly en-
ter. He stood for few moments on the
landing. considering what course be
should adopt with regard to the man in
side. Should be give him money? Or
might not that be doing such person
positive injury.
AS be leaned against the door smoking
a cigarette be was startled by loud ex-
plosion inside.
What could IL be >
He hastily unlocked the door and went
in. The place was full of gunpowder
smoke, and he rushed into the sitting
room.
1t was empty.
There was door communicating with
the bedroom, and be opened it.
A horrible sight was before him.
Stretched upon the floor was Raymond
Wild-dead.
Stanton Immediately found that bull
let had passed through the mans brain,
and that his own revolver, which be al
ways kept loaded in the room, was lying
on the floor besides the body.
The evidence at the inquest was sim
ply this: The police, when called in,
had found the dead body Of man, iden-
titled as Raymond Wild, with bullet
wound in his head. A revolver was also
discovered, which Gilbert Stanton had
admitted was his, and the contents of
one Chamber had been discharged. Mr..
Stanton had said: The man commit
ted suicide | was not inside the cham
bers at the time"
William Carey, q solicitors clerk, de-
posed that he was looking out Of the Of
fee window on the ground floor, when
be saw Mr.. Gilbert Stanton enter the
building and heard him run up the
stairs About five minutes sfterward-
certainly when enough time had elapsed
for Mr.. Stanton TO enter his chambers
be heard the explosion.
The result was that Gilbert was arrest
ed, brought up before the magistrate and
committed for trial.
His defence was that Wild had found
the revolver during his absence that he
was standing outside the door Of his
chambers, as We have described, when
the shot was fired that although they
had quarreled, they were on pacific terms
when he went out, and that the deceased
had left written confession Of his own
guilt and Gilbert's innocence.
But where was this written confession?
Gilbert Stanton declared that he found
it on the bedroom mantelpiece, but dur
ing the excitement Of the hour had mys-
teriously lost or mislaid it. He had
searched everywhere for it, but without
avail.
He distinctly remembered that, after
examining the body and finding it was
lifeless, he went into the sitting room
with the confession in his hand 10 con-
siJer what he should do.
ua riaoar the uanar On a crn al fahia