The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-02-05

"'Ahl I've just seen him. said the
fellow. About an hour ago, or mayhae
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
mighty hurry, too
II had reason afterward to think that
this man was the one who had given
Lamprey warning, but whether that
was so or not his information that
night appeared to be correct, for met
several people who had seen Jack 60
ing across the fields toward Marble.
which was his best way of getting TO
Macclesfie!d from the place he lived
in; but when | arrived at MARBLE station
was at fault again, for no train had
been out for quite two hours. and al
though ! waited till the last train to
Macclesfield had left, Lamprey did not
show up.
"Tired, and vexed beyond description,
I tramped back and got what rest /
could, hoping that something might
turn up in the morning to assist me in
recovering the ground had lost, but
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, the something did turn
up in the morning,and something which
confirmed my fears, though | felt that
had got my man dead, if had missed
him alive. The postman came round
soon after seven, before it was quite
light, and had only just got up when
a boy came running with a letter,
which had been delivered at the police
station. 1t bore the MARBLE postmark,
and was addressed to The Detective
from London
Tearing it open, read something
like this:
From John Lamprey. l know you
are after me, and know what for. /
managed to keep out of your way to-
night, and l 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 lit. Look at the church
steeple when you get this tomorrow
morning.
"The church steeple was a tall and
prominent feature whichever way you
turned, and ! had only to go to the end
of the street to get 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 ladder on the
side of the spire, the figure of man!
so much for Jack Lamprey!' said
to myself, as hurried to the police sta.
tion. He has saved me any more
TROUBLED
by the time had been to the sta.
tion and back to the church ii was
broad daylight, and, of course, the body
hanging aloft had been seen, and
crowd had already collected, every one
recognized it as Jack Lamprey.
"A strange freak l remarked 10
the sergeant who was with me.
There was no one round Stockport
who would venture up the spire, and
telegram had to be sent to Stalybridge
for a 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 of the mans way up to the
steeple was watched by thousands of
eyes. and when at last he approached
the swaying body Of Jack Lamprey, the
tongues which had been loudly wagging
were huslled as by common consent.
Il shall never forget the few minutes
that followed while the steeple-jack
(now looking the size OF 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 awfully sad and solemn
about it all!
I'm 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: 'Shauc!'
"But all at once the hush which had
fallen upon the crowd was broken by
a storm of jeers and laughter! The
thing which had given us all this
trouble was nothing but guy. And
never felt such fool in all my life.
$50 that he might get nearly days
start, Lamprey had cleverly missed me
the night before. While had been was,-
ing my time at MARBLE he had been en-
ployed in stuffing the suit of clothes
which he had taken from his lodgings
with straw, making very passable rep
resentation of himself; and in tine mid
die of the night he had climbed The
steeple (Which was child's play TO hin.I.
and left his effigy there to deceive me
and iull me into inaction.
Il need not dwell upon the chaff re-
ceived. It is too painful, even now, for
me to recall without annoyance. but
you may be sure that quickly made
myself scarce"
Ibid the fellow get clear away?"
asked some one.
Eyes. He took the train to the east
coast and succeeded in getting to Hol-
land unnoticed," replied Inspector Hook
Yer. "But he hanged himself in real