Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06


lar in the faint glimmer of the pale counte-
nance startled me.
There were matches in my overcoat
pocket lit one, and by it's flash was hor-
flhed to recognize the face of my neghbor,
Douglass Morrison
Even with the evidence of the unpro-
voked attack upon myself, l would not
have suspected the truth. But when 1 saw
that the upper part of his face had been
concealed by mask or wizard. which had
slipped to one side as a result of my blow
and his fall the conclusion flashed upon
me irresistibly that this man the rob-
Der whose deeds had startled all.
Il believed then. and still believe, that he
was insane: that his crimes were the result
or nonomania and had no moral signif-
canoe; that they cast 40 true disgrace upon
his name. nor call for shame on the part
of those TO whom he was near and dear.
What should l do? Should call for help
and denounce him as the highWayman? i
believed him to be dead He was no longer
an enemy Of society. He was an object of
pity rather than hatred. What course Of
action would cause the least pain to all con-
cerned? Ia an instant l recognized that If
he were found dead under such circum-
stances, he would seem to have been 4 vic
tim of the highwaynlan of whom we have
all stood more or less in fear. Would not
that be less painful toto his daughter. to
his son, than the truth would have been?
so believing, | Snatched the mask away.
and fled Ike a guilty man. This IS no place
for me TO tell the agony | have suffered. !
ask for no pity. nor do / crave forgiveness.
except that have told what believe would
better have remained forever a secret. /
have been forced to do il. The perilous posi-
ton ia which William Morrison stood would
nave caused me TO speak had not / learned
of his strong defense which seemed to me
Knowing his innocence as | did-tO be
stronger than II was, and quite sufficient to
clear him absolutely.
Then came this examination. and the
revealing Of this chain of evidence. forged
Al ~ 4
SO. might have maintained silence bet for
the single fact which absolutely required
explanation. | refer TO the testimony of
i)r.Blshop regarding the attempt to s.rangle
Douglass Morrison.
1T seemed as If that could have been made
by 70 one but his son, yet | think that my
evidence vii! make another eXp!anation
seem more probable. My blow did not Kill
douglass Morrison instantly. | had sup
posed. He recovered sufiil ientiy to find his
way home. and to hide the weapon which
he had attempted to use against me Then
he must have fallen unconscious He was
found as his son and daughter have de-
SCRIBE q. believe tina: afterward he re-
gained consciousness, remembered what Ia 4
passed and knew that his guilt had been
discovered. Not knowing whether his in
jGlieS We're fatal he attempted 70 insure his
death. 1t was he. | have no doubt who
twisted the handkerchief about his own
throat"
THIS conclusion seemed to be accepte.! by
al VINO heard II. | would have thought that
Cummings extraordinary story would have
been received with doubt. if not with de-
riSion. But 50 impressive was the manner
of narration that it carried Instant c0nvic-
ton. On my own part. ] did not doubt for
moment that he was telling the truth
and did not need Prebles whispered words
to convince me.
'1lie truth has come ont al last ua c
what the detective said.
ought to have checked the witness -
ien n"i MI me coroner, somewhat APOLOGIZE
caIly. The closing portion of his remarks
Is theory, not evidence. However | trust
that no harm is done At this point | think
II best to recall William Morrison"
Inc young man took the stand Immediate
~. He was very pale. but had acquired the
ca!mness which comes to one who feels that
the fight is over.
He testified that his father had regainod
CONSCIOUSNESS during the few minutes when
they Were alone together. In broken words
ne had begun to confess his guilt, to beg
that an effort might be made to hide the
truth from his daughter
The younger Morrison had rushed away
10 OBTAIN restoratives for his father. Re
turning. he had found Douglass Wor-isa,
dead, with the handkerchief tightly drawn
about his throat. The sons attemnt In con-
ceal 1t is easily understood
mus the case closed. In commenting
upon 1t to me, Preble said thar # va
undoubtedly an instance of monomsnia
Douglass Morrison had had for many vears
an insane dread of robbery He had her
somewhat misery, and had conc ea!ed at
various times large sums of money in the
mousse About year before his death one
or the New York newspapers had made a
sensational attempt to show a great in
crease OF burglary and crimes of violence
especially highway robbery-in the CITY.
Among Douglass Morrison's papers was
round an enormous bundle Of clippings
dealing with that subject.
There can be little doubt" said Preble,
that he brooded over that subject until
ne became insane, and his mania took the
form of the extraordinary robberfes which
made the name of Brent road conspicu-
Gus. he had always been eccentric and 1t
needed but little more to push him over the
line. He worked with the cunning Of a
maniac. and his great strength and agility
extremely remarkable in one of his years
made him truly Formidable
1t appeared that he never disposed of
the proceeds Of these robberies. A more