La Junta tribune., 1898-12-17

| he would not be long before he sold
| them and went on to Australia"
The day before the murder Luke had
been much put out by his masters
finding fault at the way in which the
silver was kept. and he said to Bartlett
in the pantry that he had had enough
of Mr.. Hughes nonsense. and he did
not intend to put up with II much
longer. Bartlett swore that Luke was
much upset throughout the day on
which the dinrer-party had taken
place. and had been drinking freely.
though he had no; taken enough to
make his behavior noticeable.
The two maids. Sarah and Anne
Dodson. also gave evidence. but there
was nothing particular to be elected
from them.
Tho jury. after prolonged trial.
brought In a verdict of Guilty" and
William Luke was condemned to death.
A week before the execution was to
take place, however. it was rumored
that the police had fresh suspicious.
and that there was reason to believe
that Luke was not the guilty man
after all. So far did these rumors
prove correct that Luke was reprieved.
but detained during her Majesty's
pleasure
Much to the worlds astonishment,
suspicion seemed to have fallen upon
the young footman. Edward Bartlett,
and still more were people surprised
when 1t was reported that neither he
nor Anne Dodson. the under-house-
maid, was to be found
The day after the conclusion of the
trial they had left their respective
lodgings In Lewes. and nothing more
was known Of them. Weeks passed by
and still the police were unable to dis
cover the slightest trace OF the miss
ing man and woman.
Sarah Dodson. the elder sister, was
arrested on a charge Of completely: but
she was soon set at liberty again. as
there was not the slightest evidence
against her. She persisted in her orig
inal statement. that she was In total
Ignorance OF the whereabouts OF Ed
ward Bartlett and her sister. Anne,
and also denied any knowledge OF
there ever having been any more than
ordinary friendship between the pair.
Had there been any love-making be-
tween them. Anne. she declared, would
have been sure to conflde in her.
Meanwhile the public grew clamor-
GUS for the pardon OF William Luke.
as fresh evidence OF his innocence
came to light and circumstances
which had been overlooked during the
trial and which pointed most suspi-
ciously towards the guilt OF the miss
ing couple were now brought forward.
Luke was accordingly pardoned. and
his many sympathizers raised money
enough to purchase for him the good
will OF a small business In London.
Much was said and much was writ
ten to the papers about the ineficiency
OF the police. How two people could
suddenly disappear without leaving a
trace behind them was a mystery
which caused not only perpiexity to
the chiefs at Scotland Yard, but un-
easiness to society in general.
A reward of one thousand pounds
was at last offered for any information
which might lead to their arrest, and
a minute description was given OF
them and posted up In every town and
seaport o. the kingdom. Edward
Bartlett was described as being nine
teen years OF age. with fair hair. good
features. and gray eyes, and five feet
Ave inches in height Anne Dodson
was twenty-one years of age. OF a dark
complexion. with large hazel eyes,
dark brown hair. and clearly-cut
profile. Her expression was described
as pleasing and her stature as tall"
she being Ave feet seven inches or
thereabouts in height.
But neither the tempting one thou
sand pounds nor the gibes OF the press
at the failure of the police brought
forward any information regarding
the missing couple.
Edward Bartlett and Anne Dodson
had disappeared as completely as If
the earth had opened and swal-
lowed them up.
m l. 0-