Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-29

amined the contents, of course, to see to whom it belonged, and as tho contents were rather surprising, I kept the letter for my collection of curios in crookedness. I have it here." '.
 The witness paused and had the following letter read: ..
 ''New York. May 10th. 1s-.
 Colonel Franklin: Send me money to Yokohama through some one in New York, I leave for the west to-day and expect to sail for Japan from San Fran cisco. I have enough money left to get me to Yokohama. Suppose you got the paper all right
 Yours respectfully, .,seE THOMAS MORRIS" When this letter had been read and the hum of interest incident thereto had subsided, Hillsman resumed his story: Whether Col. Franklin sent him the money I cannot say; but I heard no more of that agreement until two days before MT. Wright's death. Mr. Wright was in the office that afternoon and heard him tell Franklin to come to his place in the morning and fix up matters in ac- cordance with the terms of the agreement. I heard him say that he was going hunting in the afternoon of that or the following day, and he wanted to settle the business in the morning. Well, the next morning, of the fatal day--it was showing, re- member-the colonel left the office after looking over the mail. He bor-. rowed my arctics, I remember, too, and he did not return to the office any more that day. remember it all very well, for it was the day Mir. Wright was murdered, and that event created a great impression upon me. didn't see the colonel again until the next afternoon. He was sick then, complained of having a terrible headache. One thing about the colonel struck me as strange he kept his hat on whenever anyone came in to see him, but in spite of this | discovered that he had been hit on the head. put it up that he had been on secluded bum, had got whacked over the head some way, and naturally did not want anybody to find 1t out. He actually bought himself wig, with which he man aged to conceal the wound when he had to appear in court. he was so soueamish about it."
 The witness at this point was shown a pair of arctics, which he de- clared were his. These were then compared with the sketches and fig ures made by Irving Warde, which had already been placed in evidence, and were found to tally herewith, thus establishing the fair inference that the man who wore those rubbers on the morning of the murder was the man who made. those tracks which had been studied so sedulously by Irving Warde.
 "The day I quilted the employ of Col. Franklin devoted to celebrat- ing," said Hillsman, resuming his tes- tinony. q know that I had the agreement I have referred to in my pocket when met Irving Warde at the restaurant; and remember say ing something to him about 1t. but I couldn't swear I gave 1t to him, as I do not recall everything that passed; and when looked for the paper the next day it was gone. Col. Franklin has never since that day made any demand on me for 1t, and in fact have seen very little of him."
 HilIsman was then questioned re- garding the attempted poisoning of Herbert Wright. He said: T was responsible partly for the publica- ton in the Journal. Col. Franklin told me that Herbert Wright had tried to commit suicide, and he gave me the details that afterward ap- peared in the Journal. He said an effort was being made to hush it up, and he thought had better give the facts to the paper under a pledge of secrecy as to the source of it's infor- nation. Under no circumstances was to give the story to Irving Warde. So about midnight I met Jim Holcombe, the city editor of the Journal, and told him the colonels fairy story"
 The cross-examination which Fol- lowed did not shake the testimony, but brought out some amusing and curious facts concerning the varie- gated talents and tastes of the wit ness. Finally he was dismissed.
 Uncle Dick Norris, the old hunts man, gave in some testimony which was pertinent. T recollect the day John T. Wright was killed very well,' ,'' he said.
 Did you see him that afternoon?" asked MT. Everett.
 ''Yes, sir"
 Where was it?"
 ''I saw him pass my house."
 ''Was he alone?"
 ''No, sir; Col. Jeems Franklin was with him; but Col. Jeems just seemed to be out for the exercise and didn't have any gun with him"
 Did you see anything more of them that day?"
 II saw Col. Jeems come back by himself an hour or so afterward, but never saw MT. Wright come back at all."
 "You are positive that Col Frank lin was in the Bayou Woods with John T. Wright the day when the lat ter was lxilled?"
 'Yes, sir, I am positive"