The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-18

RAINFORTH'S STRANGE CASE.
by WILL LIsENBEE.


Eugenio who had been murdered? /
must know the truth and at once. dis
guised myself in a suit of the COACH
mans clothes and went to the place
where they had taken the murdered {
man. One glance told mo that it was
Don Eugenio. Then was his murder
essl How l managed to get away from
the place and fsturn homeI never knew.
For the next few days remember little
that trsnspired. When at last heard
that another had been arrested, susIsct-
ed of having committed the crime,
FASTENED to the court to make confess
sion.
This is my story. Am ! guilty Of
murder? God only knowsl But can
not suffer much longer. 1t is more than
can bear.
Here ended the lines she had written.
As laid the manuscript aside Gerald
cast an eager glance at my face.
"You do not think her guilty" he
asked.
"No-neverr'
"Thank God!" no exclaimed fervent-
ly, clasping my hand warmly in his own.
''It must have been hours after the
murder was committed before she left
the house" replied. Hers was sim
ply a somnambulistic state brought on
by overexcitement, and 1t is impossible
that she could have committed the deed
in that state. Then she may be labor
ing under some peculiar hallucination,
which will pass away when her health
is fully restored. But what is this you
tell me about the real criminal being
caught? Do you really believe that such
is the case, and what did tho detectives
say regarding the picture?"
"Of course they smiled at me when
told them of the picture and explained
how it had been produced, and it was
| plain tha>they considered me insane on
that subject, but when offered S., 900
reward for the arrest of the man cor
responding with the picture they agreed
to commence the search. Yes, think
they have caught the murderer. Thank
heaven, this mystery may yet be cleared
upv'
After an hours conversation with the
| prisoner quilted the Jail.
That evening Detective Rawson re-
turned with the strange man he had
taken. But while on the way to May
burg the prisoner had attempted To es-
cape by leaping from the moving train
and had been badly injured He was
brought to the Redfeld inn in a dying
| condition. He was man Of about so,
with short, stubby beard, and bore a
perfect resemblance to the picture
drawn by Gerald Rainforth. At first he
was silent and would say nothing, but
at last, knowing he could live but
short time, he made q confession.
His confession was taken before a no.
tary and three witnesses and was as fol-
| lows:
my name is Mark Leon. Most of my
life has been passed in New Orleans.
am a stone cutter and am poor man.
Ten years ago my wife died, leaving me
an only child-a daughter 16 years old.
had managed to give her good edu-
cation in spite of the fact that had
nothing save what earned by working
at my trade. At the age of IS she went
to live with family of the name of
Bentley, where she had accepted a stu
alton as governess. While there she
made the acquaintance of Don Eugenio
Sanchez, rather dissipated young
man, but wealthy. He succeeded in
winning her affections and induced her
to elope with him. A bogus marriage
ceremony was performed, and they left
for New York, where they lived for six
| months under an assumed name.
He treated her cruelty, and finally
telling her Of the duplicity he had prac-
ticed he left her and went TO Cuba. My
daughter returned home broken hesred,
and in three weeks she died. I then
swore to kill Don Eugenio should ever
lay eyes upon him. / sold all the prop
erty had and went to Havana in search
| of the villain, but learned that he had
| just been married to lady of the name
| of Grace Dangerfield and sailed for
Europe TO be gone for years. l returned
to New Orleans and from there came to
New York city, where was employed
by the Excelsior Building company at
stone cutting. About two months ago l
was sent by the company to the Bedford
quarries, two miles from this place. On
the evening of the 10th of September
was coming to Mayburg on foot. had
stopped to rest in the shade OF tree
near the road when saw man pass by
carrying a valise. l recognized him as
Don Eugenio Sanchez, and 1 followed
him, determined to be revenged upon
him. He did not see me, and about sun
set he came to Darkwood Hall and en-
tered tho grounds. hid in the shrub
berry close to the road and waited for
him. had no weapon but large
pocketknife, but taking this in my
hand waited for him to return. Pres
emily be came out at the gate, and
after following him a short distance |
stole upon him and struck him with the
knife. He sank down in the road. 1
left him and bid myself in the bushes
for q short time; then seeing no one near
] walked on to Mayburg, avoiding the