West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-28
CHAPTER III.
"GUITy" AND "NOT GUILTY. -

COnllnltted Is 10 ma prisoner and
they always assume that whoever they
happen TO lay hands on must be guilty
because they have got him. The officers
were not so far out of the way in hold
ing her ladyship's maid for examina-
ton, for oil circumstances were against
her, but in my case one hours intelli-
gent work by "a detective ought to have
set me at liberty. My mother, Unclo
John Hampton, Jerry Simpson and
others could account for every minute
of my time since landing in Dudley. At
the hour the murder was committed l
was IN She company of five or six men,
all of whom were law abiding and hon
est.
/ say that it would have been easy
enough for the police to satisfy them
selves that l was an innocent man, but
they never work to clear man. On the
contrary, they bend their energies to
prove or to try to prove the guilt of the
one arrested. Uncle John was repri-
manded for expressing his astonish-
ment. and his offers of assistance to
help prove my innocence were promptly
refused. l was pretty well satisfied thas
Lord Dudley himself doubted my COM
plicity, but the police had the case, and
it was not for him TO interfere.
1t was not until after the funeral of
Lady Dudley that was taken to court
for examination. Being only sailor
man. and never having had to 90 with
law before except TO make affidavit,
own that was badly upset and could
not plan what to do. Uncle John and
mother fixed it, however. They sent me
in lawyer, telegraphed to Liverpool
for Captain Clark and got all my wit
nesses together. / came very near hav-
ing row with the lawyer before he
had been in my cell five minutes. As
soon as he had introduced himself he
LED off with:
81 am glad to be able to tell you that
it was not "a murder out of hand, but
that Lady Dudley came to her death by
shock. There is no evidence that Ben
Johnson laid finger on her.
But what have L to do with that?''
I asked by way of reply.
1T is necessary, if 1 take your case,
that we have an understanding, he
said after giving me a searching look.
81 am agreeable to that. / hope you
didn't come here believing me q guilty
man?'
johnson persists in his declarations,
and tho police evidently believe they
have a good case against you.
johnson and the police be hanged,
and you on top of them. If you haven't
more sense than the men who locked me
up here, / want nothing to do with
you"
what will be our line Of defense?'
he calmly asked, paying no attention to
my temper.
why, that had no more to do with
it than the chief of police himself"
1--WE shall have witnesses to prove
an alibi, then?'
'Of course we shall. We will prove
the hour 1 left Liverpool and my where
abouts during every hour afterward 4"
gave him my story, and when l had
finished he rubbed his hands and smiled
and said:
Really, now, but this does me good.
] was prepared for hard struggle be-
fore the courts, and here our case is
already won. Half day g work will get
DhI cdSt III proper shape.
My steven skif had fioated away
down stream, but was recovered. The
one which had run into me was care
fully lifted aside. The spot where John
sons head had rested on the inn floor
had been stained with bis blood, and
Uncle John would not allow it to he
washed away. 1t seemed like turning
your hand over to establish AN alibi and
prove my Innocence to the satisfaction
Of everybody. Indeed, Uncle John and
others declared with much feeling that
II Lord Dudley did not present me with
at least ESQ for catching the murderer
he WAS not the man to retain their re-
spect. Some even went SO far as 20
promise that the chief Of police would
apologize 70 me in public.
Perhaps / should have stated in the
preceding chapter that the full name Of
nor iadyship's maid was Mary Will.
iiams, and that che was the daughter Of
q small farmer q few miles AWAY. She
had been ia the family so long and had
been found 20 fsithfpl that am sure
Lord Dudley would never have doubted
her innocence but for the police.
Neither do think tho police altogether
astray. Had it been any other man than
Ben Johnson, her lover, they would not
have reasoned as they did ia the good
ness 81 her heart the girl hhd insisted
on attending her ladyship that night,
and in the light Of subsequent events
that was a point against Der Some Of
tho servants also confidently remem.
bcrcd of having heard her talk about
America aud wish + r. life q ease, and
that was put down as evidence.
However, after the shock of Che affair
had worn on o bit tine girl made a rails
and showed her spirit Feeling herself
70 be perfectly innocent gaze hcr great
strength / have always believed that 81
was Lord Dudley himself who engaged
8 lawyer 70 defend her and hurried oul
She points iD her favor, and it wa.
something greatly 20 bis credit. Der
Johnson was furious with TIE girl BE-.
cause she had baficd him a.d furiou.
with me because ! had brought aDouI
RS capture. lie was not a educated
man, but be was gifted with powerful
as arancc and uatnsal cunning, and 10
comn'ffslv fcefiVe7 his lawyer and tha