West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-28


more especially magnificent diamond
necklace, was in the safe that night
The cold blooded villain went still far
Their. He declared that she had left a
gas jet lighted for his convenience, and
that she had suggested chloroforming
Lady Dudley TO give him full swing
He even declared that che commanded
him to kill the woman when she arose
from her he'd and discovered them.
Those who heard Ben Johnson's testi-
mony said that he looked the Judge
straight in the eye and never hesitated
or Numbered. When he was through.
nine-tenths of the people in the court
room regarded her as the more guilty Of
the two Then came the defense and
the reaction. Lord Dudley himself tes-
titled to her long and loyal services. He
said the key of the safe happened TO be
in his own pocket that night aud for
three days and nights previously, as he
had taken the necklace TO a jeweler for
repairs and was waiting for its return.
There was no money in the safe, and
indeed but little jewelry. There was no
gas in the ROOM as her ladyship objected
to it. There were marks ON the sash to
prove that the catch had been sprung
from the outside. There was no chloro-
form about the house, nor could Mary
have got any at the drug store without
an order. The servants at once denied
what they had said regarding Mary, and
she was promptly discharged from Gus
tody. The police evinced their disap-
pointment and chagTin at the outcome
of the case, but were probably solaced
by the fact that had no lord to testify
in my behalf.
You have guessed my line Of defense,
and you know that I had half a dozen
witnesses. 1t shouldn't have been a sur
prise TO the police, but it certainly was.
; This was due TO the bold faced lying Of
/ the villain Johnson. The story he told
when put into the witness box against
me made me pinch my legs to see IL
/ was awake or dreaming, and his man
ner Of telling 1t almost satisfied me that
+ was an accessory. Such calm, cold
nerve WAS never seen before. He began
\ by stating that he bad met me in Liver
T pool a fortnight before and told me Of
the Job and that had readily agreed
+ TO join him. He claimed that had
been in Dudley three days; that he was
the one who entered the castle while /
kept watch outside; that as VIC were
making Our escape by boat / charged
/ him with playing mo false aud struck
/ him down before ne could defend him
self-all this and much more, and a
( man telling tho solemn truth could not
/ have assumed a more honest demeanor.
We showed, Of course, that the Hindu
/ was still 1T sea ON she date he gave and
4 in all other ways upset his yarn, but he
1 was taken 20 Jail declaring that every
+ word he had spoken was gospel truth,
! No sane man could dispute my inno-
eence, but / presently found that the
I public looked az me askanco. have
! been told that there is always a bit u
feeling against the man who proves that
be had nothing to do with the crime for
which he was arrested, particularly IL
IL is heiuous one and the public has
made up its mind that hs is guilty.
They somehow can Q quite forgive him
for disappointing them. Tn my case the
chief Of police even had the impudence
70 say 20 me.
Well, my man, IL seems that some
how you have slipped the halter Of
your neck. but let me warn y0u that I
shall have an eye upon your future
movements presume you will Leave
town very goonf'
y shalt leave when ref ready to. "