The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-11-13

of the storm. AS development proceeded,
distinct, | was surprised to see several
human figures portrayed in it. With a
magnfyipg glass gave it closer examina-
ton, the result OF which made Inc tremblt
with excitement.
Good heavens!" | exclaimed. "This is
photo of the murder OF Solenskir' And
indeed it was, taken at the identical mo-
ment that the crime was committed
There was the whole scene unerringly
depicted on the plate by that brilliant fash
of lightning. examined the plate more
infinitely, and the result was startling in
the extreme. There was the murderer in
the very act of plunging the knife into
Solenskis breast.
The faces Of both men were plainly dis
tinguishable, and-that of the murderer
was not Gerald Merrilees but of short,
thickset man with heavy beard, and
there, farther in the background was an
inanimate form, with upturned face, lying
upon the earth
Good heavensn' / again exclaimed.
$50 Merrilees is innocent, after all! How
wonderful that we should have taken this
photograph and thus be able to prove his
innocence! Tomorrow | will 90 to Win
chester with it and procure his release"
Suddenly reeed as if shot. Tomor-
row, did say? Why, tomorrow is the
for it is after o'clock In five hours all
will be over, another victim sacrificed to
miscarriage Of justice. What was | to do 1?
Twenty miles from Winchester, with no
means of communicating with the author
tiles to avert the tragedy which would so
soon be enated here was | with evidence
that would save an innocent mans life,
and that man a very dear friend too.
What could do? | groaned aloud in
my anguish and great beads Of perspira-
tion dropped from my brow
Just then my wife and son returned ard
were alarmed to see my agtated state, Int
upon explaining matters, my wifa's ready
wit suggested that | should ride to Win
chester on my bicycle. The very thing!
jumped with joy, and soon after started on
my dark and dreary but Hateful ride, with
the priceless negative carefully parbed 70
avoid the Iisk Of breakage aud its terrible
consequence
viii not 20 into details Of that ride, for
only those who have ridden over strange
crossroads on pitch dark night, when a
rjcnd's life depends upon their speed and
dispatch, can sympathize with me.
At 6.l5 that same morning rode up to
Winchester jail and demanded to see the
governor imu ediatcly, and upon be NJ at
mitted to his presence showed him the
heaven sent Witness which he deemed OF
such Importance that he telegraphed at once
TO the home secretary, giving him details IF
my marvellous photograph, with the result
that in this eleventh hour Gerald Merriees
was reprieyed-he was saved.
The nature Of the evidence that estat-
lished Merriees' innocence and all par,iru-
lars concerning it were kept strictly secret
by the police, who had my negative en-
larged and sent copies of the photograph
wherein the features of the murderer were
clearly portrayed CD to all the police stations
in the kingdom, with the result that within
ten days the real culprit was arrested in the
foreign quarter Of Soho, aud upon being
charged with the murder confessed his guilt,
stating chat Solenski was an absconding
nihilist, who had fled to England to avoid
carrying out a horrible task imposed on him