The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-03
A MIDNIGHT
TRAGEDY;
che Crime Of The
Brokers Office.
w. F. MOTT.
w. F. MOTT.
Bly,
-B CHAPTER vHLfcont,nued.)


coats which he had made with his trav'
cling acquaintance, and muttered:
BY Jupiter! left the keys and the
wax Impressions in my coat pocket.
hope they will not be the means Of get
ting the young fellow with whom I ex.
|changed coats into trouble
When Stuart Harland alighted from
the railway train the officers who were
!on the watch when the stranger whom
we have followed, leaped upon the plat
form, were still at their post.
Harland had not taken five steps,
when heavy hand fell upon his shoul'
der, and as the light Of the policeman 6
lantern was reflected full in his face,
the officer said, in stern voice, as he
grasped the young mans arm:
you are my prisoner! I arrest you
on the charge of being a fugitive from
Justice! ~. ---s- .,'==>=-~.'- 49,
~ These two police officers were watch
ing for Stuart Harland, for to them Po-
lice Sergeant Smith had wired the young
mans description, and when they stop
ped the man who had taken Harland' s
ssoyercoat, they were on the alert for the
latter. zs~s-si=---ssr-.-~s's'e-- -ros-- q
-, Stuart Harland's surprise was un-
bounded, and he was indignant, as well.
+ What is the meaning Of this outrage?
there Is certainly some mistake!" he ex-
claimed, =~a--.e-aS ..---s.--,-
;: In few words the police officers ao-
quainted him with the fact Of John Oak
burn g murder, of which Sergeant Smith 8
dispatch had informed them.
One Of the officers added:
My instructions are simply to arrest
you and return you to New York City at
once"
Il suppose I must submit, but II you
will only permit me to visit the house OF
. friend for few moments, shall be
under obligations to you, said Stuart.
Impossible; the return train will
leave in ten minutes, replied the officer.
Stuart groaned.
Il have had my journey for naught, !"
he muttered.
Then he thought Of Marion Oakburn
and the singular circumstance that she
was in the brokers' Office at midnight.
he recalled her frightened manner, and
his mind was troubled.
Therehection as to how the public might
construe his sudden night departure
made him nervous and apprehensive.
0O Wd0 aOG oh111Oo Ill IuO Oh v VI
his emotions, and they betrayed what
was passing in his mind.
The officers who accompanied him
watched him closely, and they said be-
tween themselves:
This business troubles him. He looks
AS though he were guilty"
Stuart never thought Of examining
the strangers overcoat, which had came
into his possession as we have seen.
His surprise and CONSERVATION were,
therefore, quite genuine when the skele-
ton keys and wax impressions were
taken from his pocket when he was
brought before the coroner.
In few words after this discovery,
while the Coroner motioned to the man
who had last entered the brokers' Office
to be silent, Stuart explained how the
exchange Of overcoats came about, as
we have related it.
But Stewards story was greeted with
. murmur Of incredulity, and it was cledr
that it was not generally credited.
Harland observed this, and he turned
10 the young clerk who had been one Of
his co-laborers in the brokers' Office,
and said: -.....--.-.-
NJ am Sure no one Of you would wish
;to impugn my veracity, and ask you to
say if you recognize this coat as mine.
II you do not see that it was never made
TOR me--that it is at least three sizes too
large" -: s.sss;-zzss>s%
+.-Tt5 brokers' clerks replied afirma-
lively, and expressed their conviction
that Stuart's word was not to be
doubted. This was certainly confrma-
49,, - uorlondie eto1aTo1t -, Il.
- The Coroner now addressed the man
who had last entered.
That individual was Mr.. Pratt, Of the
firm Of Pratt & Weeks, who had ruined
Jason Garrison.
Pratt was portly, gross-looking man,
with q black goatee, which owed its
color to dye. as did also his scanty hair.
He was bald, but this evidence Of age
was partially concealed by q skillful
arrangement OF the remnants Of his
colored locks. His features were heavy
and sensual, but he had q smooth, in
sinuating manner, ana always dressed
In the height Of fashion. But he wore
too much jewelry, and his garments
were inclined to be loud.
You wish to offer some evidence, sir7"
said the coroner.
Yes, sir; as I informed the officer at
the door, who thereupon Immediately
proclaimed the fact, much to my sur
prise
Pratt was sworn and he said:
Having received the information at
mx. Office that young Harland was under
arrest, charged with the murder OF John
Oakburn, deemed it my duty to appear
here to give certain testimony, which it
seems to me will establish the fact, that
he was actuated by powerful motive
when he committed the crime. The
murder, no doubt, was but an unforeseen
incident of the robbery Of the safe"
He paused, and at this iuncture the
stately old gentleman who had left the
Office after hearing the bankers com
munication about the marked money,
re-entered, put ne was unoDserved, Tor
Pratt was now the central figure Of the
assemblage.
The fact is, gentlemen, Stuart Har-
land has been indulging in speculations
far beyond his means, and, as he de-
ceived US regarding his financial status,
he has become our debtor to the sum OF
ten thousand dollars. We were lea to
suppose he could control that amount OF
the fortune which it is understood he
will inherit. We hold Mr.. iiarland's
note for the amount Of his indebted
nrss. rhich is now several days over
due. Here IS the note, sir" continued
Pratt, as he placed the paper in the
coroner's hands.
The day preceding the murder, that
is, the day before yesterday, we sent