Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-14
CHAPTER III.


The first thing the police Of any
country do when murder has been
committed is to find 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 80 far out Of the way in hold
ing her ladyships maid for examina'
ton, for oil circumstances were against
her, but in my case one hours intelli.
gent work by detective ought to have
set me at liberty. My mother, Uncle
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
was in the 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 was an innocent man, but
they never work to clear a 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 provo my innocence were promptly
refused. was pretty we'll satisfied that
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 do with
law before except to make affidavit,
own that I 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 murder out Of hand, but
that Lady Dudley came to her death by
a shock. There is no evidence that Ben
Johnson laid finger on her."
But what have to do with that?"
/ asked by way Of reply.
"It is necessary, if take your case,
that we have an understanding, he
said after giving me searching look.
II am agreeable to that. hope you
didn't come here believing me guilty
MANI"
johnson persists in his declarations,
and the police evidently believe they
have good case against you"
johnson and the police be hanged,
and you on top of them. II you haven't
more sense than the men who locked me
up here, I want nothing to do with
you"
"What will be ourline Of defense?"
he calmly asked, paying no attention to
my temper.
why, that had no moro 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 left Liverpool and my where
abouts during every hour afterward. d."
l gave him my story, and when / 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
our case in proper shape"
My stoven skiff had f1oated 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 his blood, and
Uncle John would not allow it to be
washed away. 1t seemed like turning
your hand over to establish al alibi and
prove my innocence to the satisfaction
Of every body. Indeed, Uncle John and
others declared with much feeling that
if 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 30 far as to
promise that the chief Of police would
apologize to me in public.
Perhaps l should have stated in the
preceding chapter that the full name Of
her ladyship's maid was Mary Will.
liams, and that che was the daughter Of
q small farmer few miles away. She
had been in the family SO long and had
been found SO faithful that l am sure
Lord Dudley would never have doubted
her innocence but for the police.
Neither do think the police altogether
astray. Had it been any other man than
Ben johnson, her lover, they would not
have reasoned as they did. In the good
ness Of her heart the girl had insisted
on attending her ladyship that night,
and in the light Of subsequent events
that was point against her. Some of
the servants also confidently remem-
bered Of having heard her talk about
America and wish for life of ease, and
that was put down as evidence.
However, after the shock Of the affair
had worn off bit the girl made rally
and showed her spirit Feeling herself
to be perfectly innocent gave her great
strength. have always believed that 1T
was Lord Dudley himself who engaged
lawyer to defend her and hunted out
tho points in her favor, and it was
something greatly to his credit. Ben
Johnson was furious with the girl be.
cause she had baffled him and furious
with me because I had brought about
his capture He was not an educated
man. but be was gifted with powerful