Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-19

you frankly that there Is nothlng IN slgnC
as vet to connect him personally with
the murder His interest clearly was in
Willmarth getting safely to him with
the money he expected to receive. But
it is not impossible that some other per-
son-perhaps some one closely associated
with him-might have had knowledge
Of his expectation that the banker would
come up there that night with large
sum Of money in his clothes I don't
mind telling you confdentially that we
know Mr.. Willmarth did have in his
possession when last seen alive ~, 600,
which has disappeared" "
"A pretty good haul for the theft"
eyes Looks 30 But it will not do
him much good, I guess. I don't see
any objection to your talking with Nc
Caffrey, only I must request that you
will not let anybody else know where
to find him until we get through with
him. The assistance Of our well mean
ing young friends Of the press is not
desired just at present
MI. Latham readily gave the desired
promise, and in return was supplied
with the address Of the man he had 80
persistently and vainly sought
Mr.. Michael McCaffrey's lack Of per-
sonal attractions was never more con-
spicuous than when John Latham found
him that night His curiosity and alarm
had been vividly aroused by Kitty's re-
port Of the extraordinary conditions pre-
yailing in and about the Willmarth
residence when she carried his letter
there, and he made It his business to
learn as soon as possible what had been
going on
"Get me q morpin paper, Kitty,
dear" he cried IF there's any bao
luck, sure that's the lkeliest place to
find out about it :"
The first bold, black headline that
caught his eye when he nervously
clutched the paper astounded and terri
fed him-"Banker Willmarth Muir
eredp'
It flashed upon him instantaneously
that his unlucky letter, having fallen
into the hands Of the police, would be
certain to provoke an inquiry into his
relations with the man now dead, and
how far suspicion might attach to him
as a party concerned in the bankers un-
timely taking off ne did not dare even
to conjecture. OF course that latter fear
had little ground, for the very fact Of
his sending the letter was in itself an
evidence of the absence Of guilty knowl-
edge from his mind, but he did not find
content in that reasoning. There WIS
much in his life that he did not want
exposed to the hazards Of official ques-
ton, even in an Incidental way.
"You never know what them divils
of laayers will spring on ye," he was
wont to say.
Perhaps the latter would be looked
upon as only shallow attempt to man.
ufacture circumstantial evidence for the
diverting of justiiable suspicion from
him. More violent perversions Of fact
had been known. He would have taken
to fight and disappeared for another 1S
years if he had dared to make move,
but the instructive sense Of the born
criminal warned him that he could only
prejudice his case by trying to get
away, as he would not be allowed to
escape.
Hour after hour he sat with his elbows
on the bare table, where he had waited
and cursed the night before, reading
and rereading the meager account Of the
horrifying deed which seemed to fasci-
nate his sight, taking frequent sips
from black bottle at his elbow to keep
his courage up, and quaking at the
sound of every football on the stairs out
side for fear it was the tread Of ap-effi-
Ger. At length, worn out and dizD from
the spirits he had drunk, he threw him.
self upon cot in an adjoining room
and slept. When John Latham entered,
they walked him up, and he came forth
touzled, grimy, red eyed and trembling
In his demoralized condition the old
rogue was an easy prey for the astute
young lawyer, whose whole heart and
mental energies were enlisted in the
winning of the case he had undertaken
"for love-" Bad as the situation SEEM
ed to Mr.. Mccartney before, it was
worse now. The last comforting assur-
ance the black bottle had given him was
to the effect that if forced upon the wit
ness stand he might be able to lie out of
his difficulty and continue to hide the
real nature of the transaction between
Dick Willmarth and himself. But that
was beyond hope now, since the facts
were known to this particularly danger
Gus looking r preventative Ct tie pro-
fession for which he had the livelitst
dread. Ard John went at him rlelci-
l. sslv, threatening criminal prosecution
for Lis completely in tic H;:ll conspiracy,
throwing oui dark hints Of holding him
accountable for the Willmarth murder,
promising to have him turned inside
out before jury" until his old brain
fairly whirled with confusion and fear.
"Och!'' he whined, his brogue increas-
ing under the influence Of his mental
perturbation. "Owld ar--HAlze as am,
it'd be the death av me to be baited an
badgered by thin laayers, an made to
tell about the many years I've been be-
knownst to the way Dick Willmarth
| -ohbo5 Abnar Hall an how I've ken