Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-11

superintendent asked to see Georges
photograph and this tailed with the
descriptions of him given by the bus
conductor and by those Of the pursuing
crowd who had given information. 1t
was further admitted that George had
left the house the previous evening in
dress clothes. His friendship with the
unhappy woman was not denied.
The chain of circumstantial evidence
seemed complete, and warrant was ls-
sued that same night for the arrest OF
George Fenton for the murder OF Har-
riet Staples. Earlier in the day ver-
dict of willful murder had been brought
in by the coroner's jury.
The suspense and agony of the next
few days for Mabel and her parents
were simply awful The father and
mother we're bowed down in terrible
grief. Mr.. Fenton entertained no doubt
of his sons guilt, his connection with
the murdered woman having fully pre-
pared him for believing the worst, and
it was pitiable to see the old man
crushed by the awful blow. Mrs. Fem
ton was utterly Frustrated, but her an1-
iety was all for her hoy. She never
spoke of the murder, but sat all day IN
her room piteously asking each new
conner whether there was any news OF
George Mabel alo1e in that house pre-
served an appearance Of calm. Her pale
drawn cheeks. her anxious eyes, told OF
her inward suffering, but she moved
about seemingly unconscious OF the
blow that had fallen. busy with her
household duties.
At last there arrived the news OF
Georges capture, and it came almost as
a relief to u.s. Better this than the
dreadful uncertainty which had hung
over US like an awful nightmare. The
moment Mabel heard of his illness she
announced her determination OF going
to nurse him, and, accompanied by q
maid, she set off for Yorkshire to the
wilds of Craven. She would not hear Of
my going with her on her journey. I
must stay in town to look after her "a
ther and mother and arrange for the de.
fense
In q weeks time George was fit to be
moved He was brought up to London
and formally charged before the police
magistrate with the murder Of Harriet
Staples. Chiefly on the strength OF my
reluctant evidence he was committed
for trial at the Old Bailey.
All the while the unhappy lad stout
ly. maintained his innocence, but his
solicitor and counsel were in despair.
Against his own improbable account Of
what actually had taken place there
was arrayed a mass Of overwhelming
evidence, from the conclusions of which
it seemed impossible to escape. 1t could
be proved that he had been in the habit
of waiting for Harriet Staples, and that
they had often been seen together.
There was evidence that on the night
In question they had been out for a
walk, and that in Back Saville street,
on their return. high words had passed
between them, while the very presence
of the dagger pointed to premedita.
tion. A clearer case there could not be
made, and it seemed certain that unless
other important evidence was forthcom-
ing the prisoners life hung by q very
slender thread. At the earliest moment
possible ! obtained an interview with
him.
He had indeed altered in the last few
weeks, and it was scarcely possible to
recognize In this broken down wreck,
with worn face and haggard eyes, the
strong, bright, active man OF few
short weeks ago. For one moment a
trace Of his old look crossed his face
when he saw who was his visitor.
"Ah, you have come, Brettl I knew
you would. Good God, isn't it awful?"
And ha buried his face III his hands
thin, wasted hands.
l had determined to find out at this
interview whether there was possibl
chance Of his being innocent, so after q
few minutes ] asked the brutal ques-
ton:
"What on earth possessed you to kill
her, Fenton?"
He drew back as if had struck him.
Then he looked at me steadily, and re-
piled:
Brett, l thought you knew mel I
murder Harriet? would have given
my life willingly for hers at any mo-
ment. Brett, by all that is holy, I swear
have nothing to do with her death. "
"Tell me all that happened that aw-
full night" I rejoined. "We are ylov.
ing heaven and earth for evidence. Per-
haps you may give me clew."
"It's weary work going over it all
again, Brett. Harriet and l had been
out for walk together, and as we turn
ed toward Spiegeleisen's I again urged
her to give some reason for refusing to
marry me. She would not do so, and
told me she wished l would leave her
forever, as l was only making us both
unhappy by my persistence. There was
Just enough in her words, or, rather, her
tones, to make me hope, and caught
hold Of her hand and begged her to pity
me. She tried to withdraw it from my
grasp, but would not yield it. And
this l suppose some passerby took for a
quarrel. l could not make her alter her
determination, and 80 l left her. / had
not gone far away-certainly not more
than a score of yards-when / heard q
smothered cry and dull thud. look
ed back to see Harriet on the ground
and man running away. / rushed to
her assistance, and the first thing I saw