The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-19

entered the office Marion Oakburn
seemed attracted irresistibly by his face,
and she gazed at him like one fascinated,
until he withdrew. Beyond one swift,
passing glance as he came in, the aged
stranger had not seemed to notice her.
A few moments after the departure Of
the magnificent old man, Levi Kredge
also left the brokers' office, and II any
one had followed him they would have
seen him make his way swiftly to the
private entrance Of the Office Of Messrs.
Pratt and Weeks, and enter unceremoni-
ously, as though perfectly certain Of his
reception.
Before Paxton and the Coroner came
out Of the office in which they had heard
the bankers statement, the detective
took the latter aside and asked him to
grant him the opportunity to give his
version of the investigation which he
had conducted the preceding night.
Immediately upon his return to the
main office the Coroner called Paxton as
the next witness.
The detectives statement, until he
came to speak Of the discovery Of the
broken fastenings on the window shut
ters, did not differ in substance from the
testimony given by the police sergeant.
Thereafter, however, he continued:
But, gentlemen, the fastenings Of the
window blinds were not broken from the
inside. On the contrary they were
forced by means Of an iron bar inserted
under the shutters from without and on
the ground beneath the window are the
tracks Of the assassin. There are also
marks on the side of the building which
we're made by his shoes when he clam
bered into the Office through the rear
window. It seems clear, therefore, that
the assassin and thief could not have
been resident Of this house, and also
assume that he had no positive knowl-
edge Of the money in the safe. have
made careful study Of this case and
have arrived at the following conclusion;
When the assassin entered the office,
John Oakburn was not in it. He came
soon after. The assassin was in the
outer Office and he concealed himself
beside the desk near the door. Oak
burn did not discover the intruder,
and opened the safe to assure him
self that the large sum Of money
which he had placed there was
secure. The assassin saw the moDey:
sight determined MIN. he meant
to leap upon the old man then, but
before he did 30 the latter locked the
safe and turned away. At that moment,
while his back was turned, the assassin
leveled his pistol at the old mans head
and discharged the fatal shot. But no
one heard the report Of pistol. I ex-
plain that point by assuming that the
weapon used was an air pistol, which is
discharged without detonation. After
Oakburn fell the assassin secured the
safe key, committed the robbery, and
then let himself out through the street
door. He selected that route for his
departure because he knew there was
less danger in it than by going through
the window. He reasoned that even II
he was seen leaving the house boldly, by
the front entrance, he would not be
questioned, while, on the other hand, if
be chanced to be discovered getting out
Of the window he was lost.
II am satisfied that it is erroneous to
suspect Stuart Harland, and 1regard the
fact Of his departure on the night of the
crime rather as evidence In his favor
than otherwise.
Suppose any person Of ordinary in
telligence planned and executed the
crime, he certainly would have compre-
hended that fight would be tantamount
to confession Of guilt, and he would
not for moment think Of taking such
suicidal course. On the contrary, his
natural proceeding would have been to
conceal the stolen money, and, putting
bold face on the matter, remain here at
kn Innocent man. *'ss: Is
WHO the assassin is, 1t Is true, I can.
not vet determine, but I shall solve the
mystery, and Sooner or later place my.
hand upon the right man. -..:s-
Paxton had arisen, and as he spoke his
Intense, resonant voice, clear and pene;
trating, thrilled his hearers, and turnod
the jurors opinion to certain extent in
Stuart Harland's favor.
II the verdict of the coroner's jury had
been rendered then, it would have been
that John Oakburn came to his death at
the hands of some person or persons un-
known.
But it was decreed that the inquest
should net terminate then.
ITo BE CONTINUED