West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-21

you pInDcd me n trick tonight"
that such step would bring me into
serious trouble, and l have thanked
God thousand times that / had the
sense to listen and obey. You will pres
emily see that it VAS bad enough even
with my staying.
Two of the policemen returned in
about half an hour TO pump Us Ton de-
tails. l told my story as straight aud
truthful as amy honest man could, keep
ing nothing back, aud part Of it was
OF course corroborated by Uncle John.
have no doubt the police believed all
our statements. as there was nothing
requiring stretch of the imaRination on,
but when had been pumped out the
sergeant dryly observed:
"You can, no doubt, manage 10 prove
all you say, but shall have to lock you
up as witness until you can fnd bail.
1t looks as if you were to be the main
witness Ill the case, which is one TO
create a. great sensation. -
L protested and argued, but he cut
me short with curt "Come uiCng,
sir, and some time between and q
O'Clock IN the morning / found my self
in prison cell for the first time iii my
life. AS sat OH the hard bench To fig
ure bit on the situation / was unable
to CLEAN much consolation. Being a
sailor man and without any fixed lab
ltation, heavy bonds would be- required
for my appearance when wanted. Who
was to furnish them? All my old chums
put together could not have qualified
for $500. There was only the hope that
MI =.
nesses that my testimony would not be
required. The sergeant had told MS that
Lady Dudley had been murdered by a
burglar whom she discovered in her
room about midnight, but had given
few details. However, things cannot be
bettered by worriment and by and by
laid down on the bench and fell
asleep, and for four hours / slept as
well as ever did on shipboard. Then
was awakened by an officer, who or
dered me to follow him into n room in
which half a dozen people were wait
ing for MS. 1 may tell you here that one
was Lord Dudley, a second Uncle John
Hampton, and third, fourth and fifth
were menservants from the castle. Il
was the chief Of police who took me in
hand and began:
Now, prisoner, we will hear your
story as you told IL last night. IL Ia my
duty TO warn you that anything you
may let drop tending to eriminate your
self will be used against you ON trial -
But what am 10 be tried for, STRIP
/ promptly demanded. being greatly
amazed at his language.
You are charged with being an ac-
cessory TO the murder Of Lady Dudley.
Here Is the warrant for your arrest Go
on with your story, on perhaps you'll
decide not to talk. "
He helping 70 murder Lady Dud-
leyp groaned Uncle John, while / stood
/ like man turned to stone. "Why.
gents, / hope that none OF you have
gone crazy. How could he have been q
sharor in that hOrrid crime whom no
was in my house from soon after 8
O'Clock till after midnight without
/ leaving his chair7'
you are not here TO ask questions or
/ give advice" cautioned the chief, far
ing up in his temper at the word.
Bless my blooming heart, Of course
not, but you'll only cover yourselves
with confusion If you 60 ON this way. -
DO you recognize tho man, my
lordf'' asked the chief Of the great man.
II have never seen him before, to my
/ knowledge"
/ The same question was asked ~ the
servants, but here n singular trait Of
human nature showed itself They felt
that IL would be q great consolation to
his iordship and the police II the guilty
parties were caught and punished, aud
80 the whole three hesitatod and STAN
mered and finally concluded that they
bad seen me IN the company Of Ben
johnson several times during the past
fortnight. Uncle John saw the chiefs