The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1898-08-05

grave IN the penltentlary practically
self-conyicted. and not by open confess
sion, as has 10 often been the case. but
through the medium OF remarkable
novel which he wrote detailing n muir
der. and which the jury was made TO
believe was the tale Of the murder for
which he was tried The manuscript
was accidentally found by the police.
read TO the jury with a telling eject
by the prosecuting attorney and doubt.
less served to fasten the mysterious
murder OF Lafayette Ladd upon the
author. Higgins Is a most remarkable
character among criminals. Gifted
with a splendid Imagination. a good
education and n fine flow Of language,
he speaks and writes more like pro-
lessor Of rhetoric than a burglar and
murderer. which the courts have pro-
nounced him 20 be. Last April La
fayette Ladd. n wealthy man OF Adrian.
was shot In HIS home by a midnight
Intruder. and no trace was left for the
officers 10 follow. For months the
crime bafiiod their efforts and II had
been almost given up as an impenetra-
tive mystery. when Hlgglns was ar
rested In Toledo for burglary. He told
the police he had disposed Of some Of
the allyerware In Adrian and a search
OF the place he named in that city
brought TO light not only the plumber,
but the manuscript Of n story entitled.
"A Life for a Life" written by the bur
glar. and which has now served to send
him TO Jackson for life. This story
Included an account Of a crime that
Tailed 20 closely with the circum-
stances surrounding the Ladd Murder
that suspicion ut once fell on Higgins
and an Investigation convinced the Of.
iicers that he was the man who COM
mitted the murder. With the manu-
script OF the story aa the groundwork
for their operations the authorities
brought TO light the evidence that Sc
cured Higgins conviction. II In quite
remarkable that the literary abilities OF
the man are what led TO his being sent
TO state prison. This II the opening
OF Higgins novel as II was read dra-
matioally for the benent Of the Jury:
Twas the last day OF June. All
nature rcycled In aplendor. Beautiful
green foliage chung TO the gently sway
ing boughs Of the treea under which
] stood, My gaze was fixed immoyably
on the western horizon. and was I'M
der n spell. enchanted. a. Il were
Heavens day star had disappeared
yet there fingered for n distance OF
many miles vast expanse Of won
drous beauty. Green. yellow. carmlne
and other huea. such as had never be-
fore pleased my eyes. Il seemed. as
| stood there looking. that a master.
piece had Just been finished and hung
on the horizon by an invisible hand.
Gradually the colora became blended.
the expanse became smaller A mo.
ment more and they seemed 10 be
moving toward the center from both
ends. not unlike n panoramic Wow
when rolled upon a stan At last they
disappeared. 4 mighty change was
taking place. My eyes we're diverted
and yonder. In the distant blue.
twinkling star looked down upon me.
Another sprnng into view. followed by
others, until the great, Ynulted arch
was one complete crown, replete with
brilliant gems. ! turned. and away In
the east. 80 majestic as To inspire me
with awe. appeared the pale. mystic
rlous star OF night"
Here the writer INDUCED in a few
thoughts OF his childhood home among
the hills OF Tennessee. aud tells OF