Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1902-02-07


three names;
Then have no delay, but make heiress
your wife
As soon as you can after ones lost his life,
Since one direct blow made you a rich
man,
You must not forget the villain who ran,
For the fetters that bind us are stronger
than steel,
And danger has fled if your lips you will
seal.
Two nights in garret and one on the
road,
With shot bag behind, was very big
l guided the blade of the sheath knife,
you see,
And now there's fortune for both you
and me.
You jingled that bell at an opportune
time
And can clasp in your arms an heiress
divine.
Gold satisfies me, you know very well,
For sending the soul of banker to HI
and one that came unexpectedly. That
poor devil, r. c., made fatal error en-
tering the bankers residence that night
1t will cost him his life, but it is better So
l feared to leave the house with the coin,
and had every opportunity during the COM
motion below to place it where you will
md 1t. Send its equivalent-Quick! Ad-
dress as before, Stephen Abbott, Balti-
more Md"
THAT concludes the letter." said the
clerk.
EXclamations of horror arose from all
parts of the court room, but they were
soon checked BY the voice of the judge
himself: Order in court. Mr. Sheriff
you will preserve order!''
How came that letter in your possess
sion, MIR. Sellars?" asked the judge. "And
to whom is it addressed?"
THAT letter, your honor, arrived at the
postoffice in Wilmington on the morning
of the twenty-fourth of September. The
envelope bears the address Herman Cra-
ven, Wilmington, n. c. On the left
hand corLer appears the word, Person
all"
"l-I never saw it! | know nothing
IL. a
foul plot here!'
Proceed, Mr.. Sellars," said the Judge
Il had for some time suspected that
Banker DeRosette was murdered by one
q. A. Stephens, and that Herman Craven
was an accomplice. had requested Post
master Grady to hold any mail that might
arrive addressed to Herman Craven,
marked Personal or out of the ordinary
line that the bank usually received, for
my inspection.
"On the night Of the twenty-third / re-
turned from trip South. | had visited
New Orleans, and had ascertained the
fact that Herman Craven had lied to his
uncle when he had stated that his father
fell victim to yellow fever two years pre-,
vious to his QIermans) arrival in Viii,
mington. The yellow fever had claimed
no such victim in New Orleans as Ste
phen Craven.
Il at once came to the conclusion that
Stephen Craven and G. A. Stephens were
one and the same man, and before | left
New Orleans | had formed the opinion
that Stephen Abbott was the same indi-
vidual.
son the morning of the twenty-fourth
Mr.. Grady handed me this letter. After
reading it / fixed up a dummy express
package in his private office and consigned
it by express to Stephen Abbott, taking
myself the same train for Baltimore that
bore the package. | was accompanied by
Adam, the cOlOred coachman of the late
banker, who on the night of the seven
teenth of August had seen G. A. Stephens
and Herman Craven conversng together.
In fact, who had driven them twice past
the bankers residence in the DeRosette
carriage on that evening"
II never saw that man before! There
is conspiracy here to blast my charac-
teri cried Herman.
Proceed, Mr.. Sellars." said the Judge.
ARRIVED in Baltimore, 1 took up my sta
ton in the express Office with Adam near
me, and at II a. m. on the twenty-sixth.
when this man entered the express office.
called for and obtained the package, | ap-
pretended him. He fought desperately
for his life, as you can see from this rent
in my coat sleeve, caused by thrust Of
his dirk, but l easily disarmed him. and
he stands before you. On his person I
found these letters. They were purloined
from package taken from trunk in the
attic of the late bankers residence, where
the assassin had secreted himself. and
where he remained for two days and
nights after the murder
81 had no trouble in obtaining a requi-
sition from Gov. Elliott of Maryland to
convey my prisoner from the State. We
arrived here at 9:15 this morning. found
the bag of coin beneath the brick hearth
before the fireplace in Miss DeRosette's
room at her residence. Adam, of course,
recognized this man as G. A. Stephens, the
man he had driven out in company with
Herman Craven, and although testimony
of his would not be admissible, it will not
be needed. | think have stated enough
In IL. Il