Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-03-29
THE PARK MYSTERY.

1t was lut cNCulb6 VI wv "'NN
dtv of the DOltshire aSsizes. Inc
Judge, on the application, had fix
ed the following morning tor tue
trial of Capt. Charles Oliver for
the murder OF Miss a ice ID 9spard.
the gOverness of Sir r jbert R)l
and'S children by his first vile.
Tom b llely, the leading counsel
for tue defence, had just arrive q
from town, and he, with his jnnioT,
Mr.. BellOe, ana the solicitor, MI.
Hooker (of the frn of Harry Y
HoOker), were in conference as
to the course to be followed the
next morning.
81 haven't had time to look at
my brief as yet said Mr.. BrteIy'
81 know nothing of the facts in the
case. You conducted 1t before the
magistrates, RellOe, didn't your
Perhaps you wouldn't mind giving
me an outline of tue facts proved
ia evidence"
"With pleasure" responded MIR.
BeIlOe. "The victim was a Miss
Alice Despard, gOverness of the
children o! Sir Robert r land by
his first wife. The prisoner Is a
Capt. Charles Oliver, a friend OF
Sir Robert and the present Lay
Roland. He appears to have made
the acquaintance Of the gOverness
during his visits to Roland park,
but nobody suspected that there
was more than tue merest ac
Guaiutance between them until the
engagement of Capt. Oliver and
Miss WavertOn was announced.
"Who is Miss WavertOn?" asked
Mr.. BIitley.
"Tne halt sister Of LIdy Roland,
Ibelieve," repiie Nc. Hooker.
ooh, | wasn't aware OF that
said Mr.. BellOe.
eyes, and they say all thelI
fathers property went to her," add
ed the solicitor, "and that there''
not any love lost between them"
"Yes," said Nc. Brite y, as he
made a note in the fold of his hrief
"wer, any waS," MIR. Bello'
went on, "afler the announcement
OF Capt. Divers engagement
was noticed that Miss Desp ird be
came very despOndent. Oliver
engagement was announced oil
TuesGay. S4pt. I, and on Saturday
the 1lth, Miss Despard retired
rather early. 1t is clear now tha
instead of going to bed, she wen
into the park, aud, as far as Cal
be discovered, she never returned
again, but her absence wasu'
noticed till The morning. Tdcn
,earch was made for her, hu
1t wasn'C till evening her body
was found. 1t was ultimately dis
covered among some laurel bushe
not far from the high way, with
bullet wound right through he
head. At first it was thought t
he suicide, but as no pistol coul
be found near the spot, the polio
eventually suspected murder. Tue
searched the glrIs boxes and can
across number of love letters
They were simply signed Charlie
but there seems to be no dOul
the, were written by Capt. Oliy r
"Does he dispute il?' asked M
Britley.
"Not seriously bat he say
ueerly enough - said Mr. HOOke
"Let us hear the evidence give
first" interrupted Mr.. Brlley.
"Well, this discovery led I'll
police TO make inquiries as
divers whercabOuis on he Digl
of the murder. He refused
give any information, and he W;
arrested. After his arrest tt
groom-HoTsley-stated that
bad seen BIN, he believed, on u
night of the murder IN R0lar
park not far from the place whe
the body was found, and that
was then accompanied by a lad
: Horsley seemed reluctant to gi
l. bis evidence, and refused to swe
pos lively that the lady with II
= prisoner was Miss Despard. TS
Independent witness swoie pO
70 lively to seeing Oliver in or abo
20 Braxby the same evening, and
policeman met him after midme