The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-04-01

verSation on the man l wanted.
"'Ah! I've just seen him. said the
fellow. About an hour ago or mayhap
a little more. He was going to Maccles-
field, he said, to catch the early train
in the morning into Staffordshire, where
he's got another job. He seemed in n
mighty hurry. too
Il had reason afterward to think thai
this man was the one who had given
Lamprey warning, but whether that
was so or not his informat ton that night
appeared to be correct, for met scvera!
people who had seen Jack going across
the fields toward Marple, which was
his best way of getting to Macclesfield
from the place he lived in; but when
arrived at Marple station l was at fault
again, for no train had been out for
quite two hours. and although | waited
till the last train to Macclesfield had
left Lamprey did not show up.
Tried aud vcXed beyond description.
tramped back and got what rest l
could, hoping that something might
turn up in the morning to assist me in
|
afraid that for once had let my quarry
slip, and that might never catch him,
now that he was aware he was being
| tracked
Sure enough. something did turn up
in the morning. and something which
confirmed my fears. though | felt that
| had got my man dead if had missed
| hi
soon after Z, before it was quite light,
and had only just got up when a boy
came running in with 4 letter, which
had been delivered ut the police station.
1t bore the Marple postmark, and was
addressed to The Detective from Lon
dom
Tearing it open, read something
like this:
"'From John Lamprey. know you
are after me. and ! know what for. |
| managed to keep out of your way to-
night and | meant to try and get down
south, but you are sure to have me,
sooner or later, so I've determined to
make an end of it. Look at the church
steeple when you get this tomorrow
| morning.
The church steeple was tall and
prominent feature whichever way you
turned, and l had only to go to the end
of the street to get a full view of it.
When l got there and looked up saw
something that gave me start. In the
uncertain light of the early morning l
could discern against the gray sky.
hanging by the neck to one of the iron
loops which serve for a ladder on the
side of the spire. the figure of man!
so much for Jack Lamprey. l said
to myself, as l hurried to the police
station. He has saved me any more
trouble
by the time had been to the station
and back to the church it was broad
daylight. and of course the body hang
ing aloft had been seen and crowd
had already collected. every one recog-
niZing it as that Of Jack Lamprey
"A strange freak remarked to the
sergeant who was with me.
~ don't think So he replied Jack
had made himself a sort of hero over
going up the spire to repair the vane and
there was nothing more likely to occur
TO his mind than to finish his career at
the same place.
There was no one round Stockport
who would venture up the spire and a
telegram had to be sent to Stalybridgc
for man to come and get the body
down. 1t was past midday before the
steeplejack arrived and by that time
half Stockport had heard of the affair.
Work was discarded and an immense
crowd collected to witness the sight.
Every foot was watched by thousands
Of eyes and when at last he apprOa ched
the swaying body of Jack Lamprey the
tongues which had been loudly wag-
gng were hushcd as by common CON
sent.
Il shall never forget the few minutes
that followed, while the steeplcjack
mow looking the size of a little child
made his way very cautiously close up
to the body. and. fixing rope to it,
made his preparations for lowering it
to his assistant. who was waiting on the
top of the square tower to receive it.
There was something awfulIy sad and
solemn about it all.
in due course the assistant received
the corpse. which he let down to the
ground and everyone around me re-
marked that he swung it roughly to the \
earth. without showing the respect
which might have been looked for. In
fact some actually called out 'Shame-
But all at once the hush which had
fallen upon the crowd was broken by
storm of jeers and laughter! The thing
which had given us all trouble was
nothing but guy. And l never felt
such fool in all my life.
$50 that he might get nearly Il days
start Lamprey had cleverly misled me
the night before. While | had been
wasting my time at Marple he had been
employed in stutfing the suit of clothes
which he had taken from his lodgings
with straw, making a very passable rep
resentation of himself. and in the mid
die of the night he had climbed the
steeplc (Which was child's play to HIM
and left his cffigy to deceive me and lull
me into inaction.
Il need not dwell upon the chaff re-
ccived. 1t is too painful. even now. for
me to recall without annoyance. but you
may be sure that l quickly made myself |
scarce"
Did the fellow get clear?" asked |
someone Yes. He took the train to |
the east coast and succeeded in getting
to Holland unnOticed," replied Hookyer. |
But he hanged himself in earnest some |
considerable time afterward, leaving
a letter behind admitting his guilt and |
stating that his conscience troubled him |
so that he could not bear to live"-Tit- |
Bits.
Well-Paid Clergy.
The Established Church in England
pays its preachers well. The salary %
the Archbishop of Canterbury is S15.-
900 per annum. The Archbishop of
Il.