The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-06
Copyright 1905 by Irving Bacheller)

ton nor before the grand jury was al
lowed to make the full and frank state
ment that l. am making here. ] was
told simply to answer the questions
that were put to me. and to volunteer
nothing. and Obeyed.
know nothing about law. I wished
to do the best l could-tO act in the
wisest manner, for Henry's sake and
my own. l said nothing about the
green silk dress. They searched the
house for all manner of things, at the
time Of my arrest, but the dress was
not there-it was in Phoebe Dole's dye
kettle. She had come over after 1t her.
self one day when was picking beans
in the garden, and had taken 1t out OF
the closet. She brought 1t back her
self, and told me this. after l had re-
turned from Dedham.
1T thought I'd get 1t and surprise
you." said she. ITS taken beautiful
black"
She gave me a strange look, half as If
she would see into my very soul. In
spite Of me, half as II she were In terror
Of what she would see there, as she
spoke. do not know just what
Phoebe Dole's look meant. There may
have been a stain left on that dress af-
ter all, and she may have seen 1t.
I suppose II it had not been for that
flour-paste which I had learned to
make. should have been hung for the
murder Of my own father AS 1t was.
the grand jury found no bill against
me, because there was absolutely no
evidence to convict me: and I came
home a free woman. And II people
were condemned for their motives.
would there be enough hangmen In the
world?
They found no weapon with which
could have done the deed. They found
no blood stains on my clothes. The one
thing which told against me. aside
from my ever-present motive, was the
fact that on the morning after the MUIR
der the doors and windows were fast
ened. My volunteering that informa-
ton had, Of course, weakened Its force
as against myself.
Then, too, some held that l might
have been mistaken in my terror and
excitement, and there was a theory, ad-
vanced by a few, that the murderer
had meditated making me also a VIC
tim, and had locked the doors that he
might not be frustrated in his designs.
but had lost heart at last and allowed
me to escape, and then somehow fled
himself. Some held that he had an
tended to force me to reveal the where
abouts Of fathers money, but his cour-
age had failed him.
Father had quite sum In a hiding
place which only he and I knew. But
ne search for money had been made, so
far as any one could see-not bureau
drawer. had been disturbed, and IA
ther's gold watch was ticking peaceful
ly under his pillow; even his wallet in
his vest pocket had not been opened.
There was a small roll Of bank notes
in 1t, and some change; father never
carried much money. I suppose If IA
TIERS wallet and watch had been taken
should not have been suspected at all.
I was discharged, as have said, from
lack Of evidence, and have returned to
my home, free, indeed, but with this
awful burden Of suspicion upon my
shoulders. That brings me up to the
present day. returned yesterday
evening. This evening Henry Ellis has
been over to see me; he will not come
again. for I have forbidden him to do
so. This Is what said to him:
II know you are innocent. you know
I am innocent. To all the world we are
under suspicion-I more than youu but