Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-26
CHAPTER NJ.
THE GRAVE CHARGE OF Nj


&A4 dleton at her hotel after
W " lingering long enough to
have conversation with
fancho who was as simple and direct,
as STRAIGHTFORWARD and honest then as
he was with Burr Pcndleton the night
when he took him on horseback to the
duelng ground.
Before leaving the hotel Craig In
structed him not on any account to
leave the apartments of his mistress,
aud at the desk down stairs he gave
explicit instructions that Carmen was
to be denied to all callers, no matter
what name was given. After that he
felt easier, for now he also feared that
the enraged Mexican might attempt n
summary vengeance upon the sister Of
Burr Pcndleton.
From there he went directly to the
district attorney, who, fortunately, was
a personal friend and had stood in the
same relation to Burr, ana to him lie
related the whole story in detail be-
hind closed doors.
He omitted nothing. He began at
the moment of his meeting with Burr
after his arrival from Mexico and told
of every incident that had occurred
which could in any way relate to the
crime. He graphically explained the
discovery of the body, the consterna-
ton of james, his own deep pcrplexity,
but also the absolute certainty he felt
in his own mind of the innocence of
the valet He related how he himself
when boy had passed many months
in Mexico and had witnessed the knife
throwing exhibitions that are frequent
ly held there how it had occurred 10
him that this Mexican might have
thrown the knife and that when he
more minutely examined the position
of the body and the position Of the
knife the suspicion became a certainty.
Then he told how utterly hopeless
had seemed to him then the possibility
of fixing the crime upon Escudcra if
he were at once accused, but that he
believed if he could for the time being
cause suspicion to rest upon another
and thus allay the fears of the guilty
one he thought it might be accomplish
ed.
He explained how and why he had
sent James away and admitted that
the valet was at that moment in his
own rooms awaiting gladly arrest OF
anything else that would lift from his
shoulders the burden Of constantly liv
ing a lie, and then he told enough Of
the family history of the PendlctOns tC
make his point. He explained the pres
ence of Carmen in the city and told n,
much Of what she had told him as was
necessary, and finally he described the
scene in the restaurant and told how
this same man had attempted to as
sassinate him by the throwing of 6
knife.
THAT knife" he concluded, "is the
exact counterpart, so far rs the hilt /,
concerned, Of the one that took the
life of Burr Pendleton. ! have it will
me. If you will produce the other, We
viii compare them, for | have not the
slightest doubt of the result"
The district attorney sent his clerk t.
the cabinet for the weapon with which
Pendleton was killed. They We're plac
ed side by side and found, as Craig haC
prophesied, to he precisely alike.
"There is still another test to be ap
Piled" continued Craig. People wh'
are adept in the art OF knife tlEowinj
are most particular regarding tn,
weight of their weapons. The more ex
pert the thrower the more particular
he is regarding this point. | hay,
known them to file away substance
from one in order to make it weigh pre-
ciscly like the model from which it wa
made, so that placed upon either sid'
of delicate scales they would perfect!
balance Send for an apothecary'
scales and let us test these. If they d.
not weigh alike to hair l miss N.
guess"
The scales were sent for, and the!
proved that Wyndham was correct.
you have a strong case" said thu
district attorney. 1T is crcumstantial
but it is strong ! will have this MAJ
arrested on your complaint"
'There are two others who are &C
complies, who are accessories befor
Emilio Bustamente. They are in tn
city, but do not know where"
1--WE will find them" replied the on
Ger. ut will be strange if we canno
get state evidence out of one Of them.
They were interrupted at that mo
ment by the entrance Of clerk, VIII
laid n card on the desk before the dis
rrict attorney.
"sShow him in in exactly five mil
utcs," said the official TO the clerk, an
when the door had closed he added I
Wyndham: Were in luck. Your MeA
lean friend is outside, and unless | al
greatly mistaken he has his two friend
with him, for he can only have apple
10 me for enc reason"
ITO charge me with the crime"
Precisely. Step behind that screen