The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1897-08-15
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masculine looks and department, all the
young men gave her wide berth 1t
was said that she had no wonanly feelings,
and the idea OF her ever falling in love
was laughed to scorn. And yet, only u
few days after saw her for the first time
that very thing happened. There came
to the town of Stratford, as an employe
or the bank, young man named Charles
Fletcher and at their very first meeting,
which was business affair, the young
woman was smitten with his good looks
Fletcher was twenty-five years old, and
although flattered by The young woman'S
preference for him, was not ready to fan
III love with her. Indeed, althougilin time
he escorted her about and was fire.
quent visitor at her home, he denied that
his intentions were serious She, hoYg eyer,
was determined to have Fletcher for her
husband. and became SO jealous OF him as
to excite public ridicuIe. In time he re-
seRted her bondage and sought to break
with her. and it was this action which
caused the tragedy am about Co relate.
When the young woman became thoroughly
convinced that she had lost her lover she
insisted that ne visit her upon a certain
evening to have last talk Fletcher
had been guyed and ridiculed by his fell
bow employees until he hated the name OF
the woman. He was willing TO see her
once more and have it over, but not will
ing THAI any of his friends should know
he was going to the house. He pretended
to call elsewhere TO uislead them, and
wien something was laughingly said next
plOFIii n he 10 ~ n
had called upon the evening before. TWEEN
ty-fonr hours later he was under arrest
for the murder of Nancy Jones, aud a
hundred men Were searching for her body.
Fletcher's story was straight and clear,
but unfortunately ii served TO convict him.
He had gone out to Fern Castle as the
young woman had ronlantically named the
few acres with its, cottage, and had been
cordially received Miss Jones confessed
freely that she loved him, but as willingly
declared that since he was unable to
reciproeate, they would part friends and
continue te respect each other Supper
WAS served. and while being waited unon
by the domestic Miss Jones made use of
several singular expressions She an
nounced in an abrupt manner that even
II her life were threatened she was not
would know who had an object in remov-
ing her, and other thing of the sort 1t
WAS plain that she was taking fer the
benefit Of the servant. and as she would
offer Fletcher no explanation, lie concluded
that she bad an attack of bysteria and
was trying to throw it off Soon after
dark the domestic asked leave to 90 into
town The request was granted, and in
the M Of 81,
TO her:
You may never see me alive again
Sarah, but If any one tries TO murder me
shall fight to the last
Such language startled the domestic,
and she decided not to leave the house,
but the spinsler laughed at her fears,
and babe her run along. Soon after
her departure, Fletcher and Miss Jones
started out for walk. 1t was d suni-
mer evening, and at Miss Jones sug-
gestion they crossed two or three fields
insetad OF going along the paths. At the
edge OF a forest, where they stopped
to rest for few minutes, the woman
suddenly uttered several shrieks, and
when cilided by Fletcher she Claimed to
have stepped on a snake. They returned
horne by a different route, and at 10
town. They parted with a handshake
and kind words, and she walked short
distance with him. The girl, Sarah, re-
turned home about midnight and went
to bsd. When she got up in the morn
Ing she discovered that her mistress was
not in the house-in fact, her bed had
not been slept In during the previous night
Thinking she might have been called away
unexpectedly, the girl raised no alarm UNI
til afternoon. Then the story she told
resulted in Fletcher's arrest. At first,
everybody secuted the idea of murder. but
in day or two all Were satisfied of it,
Fletcher had lied To conceal the fact thar
he had gone to the house. The domestic
had overheard her mistress saving that
her life was in danger She evidently
stood in great fear of the young man.
but was determined not to call for out
side help. When they came TO the mo-
tive, gossip said that Fletcher had be-
trayed tae young woman, who insisted
upon marriage as PREPARATION. As he
was not willing, he had murdered her to
escape exposure and scandal. These Cos
sips lied shamefully. but they We're search
ing for motive for the crime, and were
bound 10 find one.
1he domestics story was Sineularly cor
roborated. Several people had noticed the
couple walking together. a farmer had
heard the young woman scream for help
over by the woods. A light shawl be-
longing to Tier was found in a ditch.
and her handkerchief was caught on a
bush near the woods. She had ALWAYS
kept at least f100 in the house, and was
possessed of considerable jewelry. Money
ana jewelry were found to be missing,
and the contents OF her boxes Were tossed
about. Fletcher had not been under ar
rest twenty-four hours before they had
made out a fair case against him, but
there Were just two requisites lacking
to las him by the heels. The money and
Jewelry We're not found upon his person,
and general search of the country for
miles around lad failed to secure any
trace OF the body of the murdered woman
The young man had left the village at
o clock In the evening, and walked two
miles and a half. He had returned shortly
before IL, as he could prove by three
Witnesses Out OF five hours must be
taken the time TO walk five miles, eat
supper. etc. 1t was figured that he would
have only about two hours in which 10
dispose OF the body of his victim. AS he
was slight man, and Miss Jones rather
fleshy, it was clearly impossible that he
could have carried the body any distance.
There was no river nor any pools near at
hand.
The woods and every field for two
miles were gone over foot by foot. but
the body could not be found Then they
inspected the house and the cellar, out
bftilH Ia