The Redwood gazette., 1896-07-16
BY A MARROW WMARGIN
HOW A MANS LIFE WAS SAVED By a
MARKED $40 BILL.

MARKED $40 BILL.
Accused of Numbering Neiehbor, and
the Circumstantial Evidence Was Very
Strong-A Government Official Tells why
He Changed His Ways.
"Were you ever suspected Of mur-
derr" inquired government official Of
Star reporter.
Never" responded the reporter as
calmly as if questions Of that pleasing
character were his daily food
"Well, I was once, and if you have
any feelings at all you need never want
to be-"
The reporter nodded for the official to
proceed, and the official proceeded.
when I was 90 or thereabout," he
said, II was hard case. l don't know
why, because my family were decent
people and had some money, but some
how few the track, and before I had
attained my majority I was gambler,
a drunkard and generally tough char
acter, though up to the time am about
to tell of had never been in the hands
Of the law. Living In my neighborhood
was man whom ! hadn't much use
for, and it was known we were pot
friends, though we were on speaking
terms and had some business relations
Our town was about three miles from
the railroad station, and one November
evening, just about sunset, as was
coming to town afoot ! met him walk.
ing to the station.
HE stopped me. much to my sur
prise, and asked me If had any money,
because if had he would sell me his
watch for almost nothing, as he was
going to the city unexpectedly and
needed cash As it happened. I had two
$40 bills and three SIS, which had re-.
ceived from the statiou agent not an
hour before, and as the mans watch
was a good gold one thought had a
chance to turn an honest penny, some.
thing I didn't do very often. So opened
negotiations. Several persons we knew
passed us as we were dickering, and at
last went on home with the watch, and
Guiding $40 bill with the station
agents name on it in red ink, which
had caused a part of our delay in the
trade, as he didn't want it, and I in
sisted that he take 1t.
''As it turned out, he had a reason
for not wanting it, and I can't say why
l was so anxious for him to take it.
Well, next day the mans dead body
was found in the woods quite near the
station and mile from where we had
met and made our trade, and it was
evident that he had been robbed, for his
pockets were turned inside out and ev-
erything taken. My connection with
the matter did not strike me until the
day after when was arrested on suspi-
cion. wase so badly ratified by the
shock of the arrest on such charge
that I made my case worse by talking,
and when the mans watch was found
on me and it was known that / had
been treating the crowd the night o1
the murder, hadn't any show at all
''Of course protested my innocence
and told my story, but people took i,
with little grace, for my character was
known, and after an examining trial
was jailed without bail. What suf
fered nobody except myself can know,
and before week had passed / haG
made up my mind to commit suicide
and end the whole thing. l am sure
would have done so, but providence hai
something else in store for me, and sem
it by stranger. This man was arrested
as drunk and disorderly ten days after
my arrest, and when he was searched
in the station house $40 bill was founc
on him bearing the station agent
name.
1.-The officer who searched him was &
friend Of mine, and as soon as he go1
his hands on the bill he thought he hao
found way out of my difficulties anG
went after my lawyer. Then they saw
the station agent. and he identified thu
bill as the only one he had ever put his
name on, and remembered that hae
jokingly asked him to do it to make il
good The next move was to make {
few inquiries Of the stranger as to how
he came into possession of the money.
This was done by waiting until mex
morning, when he was sober, and charg
ing him directly with murder. 1t wal
so sudden that he weakened on the spot
as most murderers will. and the result
was that was saved Saved in mors
senses than one, too..' concluded the
official. "fOr from that verv dav LIVED
new life, and. thank God, I have
never fallen into evil ways again, an6
that was 80 years ago."
''How do you explain your notion tt
have the station agents signature or
the BILL and your insisting on the mar
taking itT' inquired the writer.
"God moves in mysterious way hi
wonders to perform, was the reveren
reply.
"And the man who did not want tx
take the marked billT'