The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-16
ROland Park Mystery
Solved Just i'm Time to Save Captain oliver from
Am Awful Doom.


| conducted through Miss Despard Ia
prevent discovery. Miss Despard was
Lady ROland's confidante. All the let
| ters found in Miss Despard's box were
| written by him to Lady Roland, he
| said. and the obstacle referred to In
| them was old Sir Robert. He further
said that the letters were either put
| into Miss Despard's box by Lady Ro-
land or else they were kept by Lady RO-
land there for safety. He asserts that
| the whole thing is plot OF Lady RO-
lands to get revenge for his throwing
her over for her sister-in-law."
The solicitor paused to watch Mr..
Britelys surprise as these statements.
| Mr.. Britely showed none.
VERY clever" he said. quietly: "very
clever. indeed. Does he say why ne did
not tell you this at first%'
Yes; he said he didn't want to raise
| a scandal about Lady Roland-especial-
| ly since he is engaged to her sister,"
Yes; sufficient reason" was Mr..
Britely's comment Then, after a
pause: Did he say anything as to how
Miss Despard came to her end?"
Yes. sir; he said he thought she had
committed suicide. She was always Of
! a fidgety. eXcitable character, ne said:
and he hinted that she was put out. too.
by his engagement"
"Oh! there was a little affair with her
| also. was there?' said Mr.. Britely.
Then, turning to Mr.. Belloe. he added:
Mice defense; that will appeal to the
higher feelings of the jury, eh?'
He seems to be a bad lot," answered
Mr.. Belize.
Yes: but If he hasn't murdered the
girl he shouldn't be hanged" replied Mr..
Britely. His statement squares re-
markably with the proved facts. If it's
all a lie, it's a clever one. You knew
nothing about this when he was before
the magistrates?'
''No, nothing"
$50 much the better, in a way. The
prosecution and the witnesses won't be
prepared for it. Now. let me see. Has
he any proof that this correspondence
was. as he says, with Lady Roland"
Nothing but his word" answered
Mr.. Hooker.
And that's nothing. HAS ne no let
ters from herr"
mo; she always wrote through Miss
Despard."
''The story looks bit thin. doesn't
1t? 1t seems incredible that two lovers
should carry on all their correspondence
through a third person."
oh he says he once received a letter
from Lady Roland when Miss Despard
was away on u HOIludy.
Where is it?'
He destroyed it at her request"
Mr. Bradley reflected.
How along ago was it?" he asked at
last
About two months ago"
well. then, he must remember pretty
accurately its contents. Now, listen,
Mr.. Hooker. l am rather impressed by
the prisoners statement, and / want
you to test 1t for me. Go to him tomor-
row and ask him to give you as nearly
as he can remember copy. word for
word, of this letter. You write it out
again on paper similar to that on which
he says it was originally written and
bring it to me. Before leaving him ask
him again in the most solemn way
whether or not his story is true. Tell
him from me that will act on his word; !;
that as the case stands now, without
his story, there Is no chance of his es-
cape. but If l act on his story. and 1t
turns out untrue, he'll be hanged as
sure as death. If however, his story Is
true and l act on it he'll probably es.
cape"
What are you going to do?" asked
Mr. Belloe.
You'll see tomorrow. I'm off to
bed was Mr.. Britely's only answer.
was called on Mr.. Britely and Mr.. Bel
loe came into court. A minute later
Mr.. Hooker joined them.
Captain Oliver" he whispered to Mr..
Britely, says his statement Is literally
true. but he leaves it to your discretion
whether or not you shall act on it,"
But for that hedging l would believe
the fellow" answered Mr.. Britely.
Now, scarcely know whether to be-
lieve him, or not. Is that the copy Of
the letter."
Yes, SIR answered Mr.. Hooker.
Let me see It,"
He looked it over carefully.
Very we'll" He then said: well
see how things CO.,
Just then the Judge entered. I'M
mediately afterward the jury were
sworn in, and soon the counsel for the
prosecution was opening the case. Wher.
ne had concluded witnesses were called
to prove the plan Of Roland Park, the
place where the body was. found, the
nature of the wound and the time when
death had probably taken place.
Mr. Britely crOss-examined none of
these witnesses except the two sur.
geOns who examined the body. The
first one In cross-exa nina ton admitted
that he had at first regarded the case as
one of suicide. and. further, that still he
considered the wound most peculiar
one, In position and direction, to be in
ficted by second person. The second
surgeon did not go so far, but while he
contended that the wound might easily
be caused by second person, he al
LEVIED that its direction and position
were as consistent with suicide as with
murder.
The witnesses who We're called to
prove the prisoners presence in Brax-
by were not cross-examined at all,
much to the establishment Of the court.
Horsley, the. groom who was called to
prove his presence In the park in COM
pany with Miss Despard, was cross-ex-
amined, but again, to the astonishment
OF the court. not with the object OF
showing that Oliver was not in the
park. but that the lady with him was
not Miss Despard.
You. say" Mr.. Briefly said to him,
that the lady you saw with the pris-
oner was Miss Despard?"
80 / thought, sir" answered the
groom.
But were you sure?" asked Mr..
Briefly.
Eyes. am sure, SIR"