Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-02

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"You played me q trick tonight"
that. such step would bring me into
serious trouble, and have thanked
God thousand times that I had the
sense to listen and obey. You will pres
emily see that it was bad enough even
with my staying.
Two Of the policemen returned in
about half an hour to pump US for de-
tails I told my story as straight and
truthful as any honest man could, keep
ing nothing back, and a part Of it was
of course corroborated by Uncle John. i
have no doubt the police believed all
our statements. as there was nothing
requiring stretch Of the imagination,
but when I had been pumped out the
sergeant dryly observed: !,
'You can, no doubt, manage to prove
all you say, but shall have to lock you
up az witness until you can find bail.
Il looks as if You were to be the main
witness in the case, which is one to
create a great sensation.
I protested and argued, but be cut
me short with q curt Come along,
SIR" and some time between 1 and 3
O'Clock in the morning I found myself
in prison cell for the first time in my
life. AS / sat OH the hard bench to fig
ure bit on the situation was unable
TO CLEAN much consolation. Being q
sailor man and without any fixed bab-
itation, heavy bonds would be required
for my appearance when wanted. Who
was to furnish them? All my old chums
put together could not have qualified
for $500. There was only the hope that
they might have so many other wit
neases that my testimony would not be
required. The sergeant had told Us that
Lady Dudley had been murdered by 8
Srzglnr 1lghaa che 4diseeeerasda-i.-haz
room about midnight, but had gwen
few details. However, things cannot be
bettered by worriment, and by and by
I laid down on the bench and fell
asleep, and for four hours I slept as
well as ever did on shipboard. Then l
was awakened by an officer, who or
dered me to follow him into a room in
which half q dozen people were wait
ing for us. I may tell you here that one
was Lord Dudley, second Uncle John
Hampton. and third. fourth and fifth
were menservants from the castle. It
was the chief Of police who took me in
hand and began:
"Now, prisoner, we will hear your
story as you told it last night. 1t is my
duty to warn you that anything you
may let drop tending to oriminate your
self will be used against You on trial. !"
"But what am ! to be tried for, sir?"
I promptly demanded, being greatly
amazed at his language.
"You are charged with being an ao'
cessory to the murder Of Lady Dudley.
Here is the warrant for your arrest. Go
ON with your story, or perhaps you'll
decide not to talk"
"He helping to murder Lady Dud-
leyp' groaned Uncle John, while I stood
like a man turned to stone. "Why,
gents, I hope that none Of you have
gone crazy. How could be have been a
sharer in that horrid crime when he
was in my house from soon after g
o'clock till after midnight without
leaving his ohair?'
"You are not here to ask questions or
give advice" cautioned the chief, far
ing up in his temper at the word.
"Bless my blooming heart, of course
not, but you'll only cover yourselves
with confusion if you 60 on this way"
"Do you recognize the man, my
lord?" asked the chief Of the great man.
II have never seen him before, to my
knowledge"
The same question was asked Of the
servants, but here singular trait OF
human nature showed itself. They felt
that it would be great consolation to
his lordship and the police if the guilty
parties were caught and punished, and
go the whole three hesitated and stam-
mered and finally concluded that they
had seen me in the company Of Ben
johnson several times during the past
fortnight. Uncle John saw the chiefs
private secretary taking down every
thing said, but instead Of protesting he
gave me a wink which decided me not
to tell my story over again.
"Who says this man had hand in
that there murder?" asked the landlord
as the chief wanted to know if desired
to talk.
His pal has confessed and given him
away"
"Do you mean that Ben Johnson says
Ralph Tompkins was in it with him!"
II do. He says this man acted as his
lookout on the outside, and that he is
really the one who put up the job. y
"Well, of all the billing, blooming,
blossoming stories 1 ever heard this do
beat 'em allr' exclaimed Uncle John as
he struck his fist on table.
Ben Johnson had made clean breast
of it and had declared that Mary, the
maid, and your humble servant were as
guilty as himself. He was getting even
with me sooner than he had hoped to.
TO BE CONTINUED.