The record-union., 1899-01-08

reeling with conflicting emotions in the
presence of the dead-but hairs
breadth from the grave myself made
the stupid blunder that so often gives
an unfortunate situation the appear
ance of an evidence of crime. l was
not brave enough to face the world on
the case as it stood; so I buried my re-
volver with the stealth of a criminal;
left his loaded weapon by his side, then
hurried home on my bicycle, leaving the
world to discover the body of the dead
lawyer where it lay.
December 25th-This is a gloomy
Christmas for me. l have been found
guilty of murder in the first degree. and
sentenced to be- hanged in ninety Jays.
Detectives tracked the peculiar wheel
print of my bicycle, by the indentations
made by the patch over the puncture
which I repaired on my way to the
Hermitage OF course the wheel left
it's record in this way, right up to the
scene Of Luken's death. The sleuths
also found piece of rubber by the way
side It fits the patch on the tire of
the wheel that rode on the fatal day;
and the patch and this piece lit each
JOAAA
the end of the roll of rubber from
which 1 cut them-and the roll was dis
covered in my Office. There seem 10
be no extenuating circumstances, as
the solemn Judge views the case; and
the public agree that 1 am guilty.
Besides all this, they dug up my re-
volver, minus the one exploded cart
ridge. Of course the murderer had
buried it. The case was now COM
plete, except the proof of a motive; but
that was soon brought to light. Mary
wilkins testimony made the motive as
clear as sunlight; for she came for
ward and explained that poor Willie"
and were rivals-and added, of course,
that 1 was SO jealous the lawyers
badgered her until she said violently
that she never dared to tell me that
poor Willie was her friend. Oh, the
wretch!
When I told the jury my story it
sounded like a cunning lie. NO Won
der. I trembled and halted on the wit
ness stand, feeling that was doomed
man, and that my explanations were
powerless to explain. l don't think
that my own mother would have be-
lieved me- Besides, the mystery of
Lukens' taking off puzzled me; and
the terror of the experiences had I'M
dergone had left me weak and erratlc.
In fact, my attorneys suggested the
defense of insanity-but l put my veto
to that at once, swearing with some
spirit that I'd rather be hanged than
set free on such humiliating grounds.
January 2d-My wits have returned
at last. after the racking experiences
of the last six weeks, though l am still
weak and nervous The newspapers
portray me as moral monster and
they have sent all sorts of reporters to
see me-women masquerading as
friends of criminals. and leaders of anti
capital punishment societies, broken
down preachers, hired to 'comfert me"
and report the results of their inter-
views; artists, under the cover of Dep
uty Sheriffs' badges, ETC., etc.
In all this uproar my mind lost it's
cunning, and I was seized with a panic
of fear which those who saw me re-
garded as an evidence of guilt 1t
was, therefore, freely predicted that 1
was breaking down. Those most IA
miliar with the conduct of criminals
said that 1 would surely weaken on the
gallows, and make clean confession
of the whole monstrous crime.
Not until yesterday did I remember
about the photograph of Lukens' note
Ny attorneys have secured the plate,
and dozen prints have been made
This will be conclusive proof that I was
invited to the Hermitage by Lukens;
but the States case was based on the
theory that lured him to that lonely
spot to murder him. This alone may
not be sufficient to acduit me, but it
will get me a new trial. 1t will also
divide public sentiment, and the jury
may not agree.
January 5th.-I am the happiest man
on earth. My attorneys have had Luz
kens' body exhumed and thoroughly
examined The result makes the case
the most wonderful in the history Of
criminal Jurisprudence, as will appear
by the report Of Professor Hazen. the