The San Francisco call., 1897-03-29

| said: why don't they let me die here
If am taken back to California it will be
the death penalty, and | want to Ole
| here"
/ The "Dr. Scott" whom Blanther referred
to in his mutterings is believed by the
police to be myth. At least no trace o1
any such individual could ever be found
here, even though a most diligent search
was made. 1t will be remem bered that
not many weeks after Rlanther's Hight
| from this City one of the local newspa-
pers received letter from him, bearing
the postmark OF Atlanta, Ca. in which
he declared that he was innocent of the
murier of Mrs. Langfeld, and accused a
| "Dr. Scott of having committed the
crime. The police investigated, but as
before stated reached the conclusion that
such person did not exist.
The strange watch that was found
among Blanther's effects is accounted for
| in a letter addressed to lin by Mrs.
Nelson, "Forbes' alleged molher-in- law.
When jailed lie wrote TO her for sy ympathy
and assistance. In her reply she says
that her husband had been making in
quirles about the watch his ''son-in-law"
! had borrowe ed, but now that the latter was
in trouble he could keep it il it would aid
| h m in his trouble. So far as "Mrs.
Forbes" Blanther's alleged wife, is con-
cerned. Captain Lees says he Is satisfied
1 that they were never married.
That Blanther was never deficient IN
| the art of prevarication is evidenced by
| the letter he wrote to County Judge
Thompson of Meridian in reference to his
application for position as school
| teacher.
| Being without certificate or creden-
tials, he gave the Judge by way OF creden-
tials list OF places and schools where, he
| alleged, he had taught in Texas--I1ot a
| Of hsak - yty1 1trv
planned his temporary inability to produce
| his university certificate"
Blanther wrote to Mrs. P. I. Johnson,
| who was his landlady, in Texarkana, and
! endeavored to persuade her to prove an
alibi for him. Her reply is in the pos
session of Captain Lees, and was as fol-
lows:
TExARKANA March IS, 1897.
Mr.. arthur Forbes, Meridian Ter.-DEAR SIR:
Yours OF the 18th received and l hasten to re-
ply, as you request, feeling sure 1t is the best
way to express my sympathy and TO assure
you OF my sincere regret that you should be in
| such trouble. You came TO me from the
Bechem House June 3, remaining six weeks,
| or about that long. These dates are copied
from the daybook | constantly keep for day
bOarders or ToomerS. The books the
Beehem House book you the last of May. l
trust ou Will come out of your trouble all
right will see your grandma before send
this letter and get the date of your arrival In
| town. Yours very truly,
! Mrs. P. 7. JOHNSON.
Inasmuch as Mrs. Langfeld was mur-
dered on the night OF May l5 1896. it will
be seen that Mrs. Johnson's dates were of
no service to Blanther.
The story OF the arrest of Blanther, as
learned by Detective Gibson ard MI.
Dodge is interesting. Randall upon see
ing the picture OF Blantner in The Detect
i've had noticed its resem blance to the ma
w 10 qpL Lr
decided to go at once to Kopperl and az
rest him. When they reached tnat place
on March Is they saw Forbes at the sta
ton and heard his friends bidding him
good-by, as h e was about to lakNthat same
train to Cleburne, to which place he had
bought ticket. Stepping up to him Wo-
mack touched him on the arm and said, /,
Hold on.'
Forbes turned around and reached out
his hand, as if thinking it was some one
who was going TO bid him good by. Wo-
mack kept hold of Forbes hand and said :
Isn't your name Blanther?"
The schoolteacher said his name was
Forbes, the professor of that school dis
trict.
Womack told him he had information
that he was Blanther and that he would
have to take him to Meridian. where. if
he were not Blanther he would have
plenty of chance to prove it.
Blanther made struggle, but Randall
and Womack had hold OF him and he
could not get away. They searched Blan-
ther and took possession of such money
and other articles as they found upon him.
He accom- panied them quietly TO Meri-
! dian.
just how Blanther succeeded in carrying
with him into the prison the poison which
ended his life proved mystery to the
Meridian authorities. They searched him
thoroughly after the capture and deprived
him of every article he carried. The only
solution they can give is that he had long
| feared capture and had for many months
carried the death-dealing powder sewed
up in the lining of his clothing so that he
might be sure of having it when it was
needed.