The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-05

eence. In vain he urged that, having
been alarmed by the groans, he had
seized a dark lantern and knife. the
only available weapon. and rushed into
the room only a moment before the guests
had done So AID for the very same pUr-
pose. He had been discovered by the bed
side with a weapon in his hand. The
portmanteau Of the murdered man lay at
his feet opened and ready 10 be riied.
II was shown that he must have over
heard the statement as 10 its contents
At the trial the jury speedily brought in
verdict Of gusliy.
The night before tie execution he made
remarkable confession He admitted
that he had gone 10 the room to do the
deed which he had found already COM
mitted. When his light fell on the scene
his courage failed and just then he found
himself In the CRISP OF the two travel
ers- Eighteen months later Hayes valet
made a deathbed confession, acknowledge
ing that he was the real murderer, that
his object had been robbery, but that be-
fore he could rife the portmanteau he
had been frightened by approaching foot
steps and had Just had time to escape to
his own room before Bradford entered.
On the road between Albany and Science
tady there formerly stood the picturesque
old Dutch tavern, the Blue Horse. One af--
ternoon several young men had gathered
there. drinking and carousing. Presently
popular young fellow. Harry Blake. got
into heated alteration with one Wiekliff.
an ugly-lookiDg, short, sQuare-built man.
From words the eOmbatants came TO blows.
and were then separated. WickIif left, NUT
teTing curses and threats under his brezth.
Shortly after Blake left also.
Two Of his companions, riding shortly
afte-ward along the road. were startled by
hearing sudden cry for help Whipping Up
their horses they turned round a cOpse OF
trees and came face 70 face with q fearful
sight Stretched on the road before them
lay a human form In a pool Of blood And
bending over him was a man grasping the
handle Of . knife. whose blade was plunged
into the bosom Of his victim. The dead man
was Wicklin. tEe apparent murderer was
Blake. Yet Blake protested that h had
arrived at the spot only a moment before,
that he had found the corpse and was
merely drawing out the knife. No one be-
heved his story. Had he declared that
he had committed the murder IN self-de-
fence or in the heat OF passion he might
have got of with his life. The quarrel the
threats Of the vietim-all these were in
his favor But he alienated public sympa-
thy by protesting his innocence. He was
found guilty and executed.
A few months later prisoner, under SEN
lCAINC VI ACGlA AN4 d4ANtlCI
that it was he who had murdered Wicklifl
He gave a detailed account Of how he had
lain in wait for an enemy. had mistaken
Wieklih for him. plunged a knife into his
breast before discovering his error, and es-
capped at the sound Of approaching foot
steps.
Pauline Druaux lived on bad terms with
her husband near Rouen in what vas
known locally as the lime-kiln cottage
because a kiln was built up against its
side by q neighboring land owner. In the
ho1Se boarded a stone setter and witch
doctor named LebOrgne, with whom she
was said by neighbors to be on terms Of
undue intimacy. One night after an espe-
eislly violent quarrel between husband
and wife he ordered her out OF the house
but afterward relented. He was subject
TO headaches, and q day or two after this
scene she said TO the neighbors: IF I
only had the luck that he should die"
Three days after the reconciliation, on
Easter Sunday, 1887, Druaux and his
brother-in-law, young Delaeroix, who
boarded with the couple. were found dead
one on the cellar stairs and the other on
the first floor Of the cottage. Pauline
gave the frst news. appearing at the win
dow eff the house apparently drunk
Il WIS clear U-oa investigation that