Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24

between 100000 and 100000"
"Of course that does not include the
Colorado tract?"
"Well, no; 1 was not thinking Of
that"
"What is that WORTH"
"That is impossible to say"
"N0tr have some idea?'
"If il should prove to contain gold
it would be very valuable piece of
land. If it contains no precious met
ais I should not think it was worth
song"
as it worth $4,000, ooo?" asked the
lawyer, quietly.
"Why, sir, ] could not place any
valuation on piece of land ! have
never seen and that has never been
mined"
"Well, I'll put the question in an
other way. If you could show clear
title to that mining tract could you
not sell it at once for S5,000,00O
cash?"
Franklin looked at his questioner
keenly for n moment, but the latter
was casually examining the contents
of a letter as if he were preparing
to PROFOUND another query from
something he found therein. The wit
ness answered somewhat savagely:
Eyes"
"Coudn't You easily get 100000
for that property"
81 suppose could"
There was u tremendous sensation
in court when Franklin, with evident
reluctance. made this admission.
"You have recently, | believe, been
in correspondence with capitalists re-
garding the Colorado tract?"
eyes"
81 believe that is all 7 want to know
on that branch of the subject, but
there is another point on which l wish
to question you"
Franklin was evidently aware of
what this point was. and he put on
a staggering air of victory.
"When all the Wright estate was
turned over to you 20 years ago, was
not a secret agreement drawn up be.
tween you and John I. Wright speci.
flying that no consideration was ever
paid by you. and that the transfer
was made in order to protect Wright
from damage suits that might be
brought by the family of jeremiah
BaXtcr?"
$40"
"And did not this paper state that
you pledged your honor to take steps
to rc-vcst the property in Wright
whenever he desired it?"
NO"
"And did not this agreement spec
! lily the Wright homestead. several
pieces of city property, plantations
in Louisiana, Arkansas and Missis-
| sippi, and tracts in Colorado and
| IeXaS?"
NO." said Franklin, with increas-
ing vehemencc. "There was no agree
ment of the Mad between us. 1t was
bona fide sale"
you were at my residence a few
weeks ago."
Yes" reluctantly.
81 received you in my library?"
eyes"
did you not at the point of re-
volver compel me to sell you a copy
Of this very agreement, which had
been in the possession of Wright, for
the sum of S10,00O?"
THE idea is prcposterous. You are
evidently losing your wits, sir. Such
a betrayal of trust on your part could
not be to your credit. I deny it in
toto"
you also deny in toto that there
was any such agreement"
Most emphatically."
Lawyer Everett now took from his
pocket n yellow paper which he light
| Iy shook at the witness as he pro-
| pounded the next question::
"When YOU came to my house that
evening, Colonel, l had just had the
agreement, whose existence you de-
ny, copied on an old piece of paper and
| dried thoroughly before the fire to
conceal its age. When you were an
nounced ] threw the original in the
back of one of my bookcases, and the
copy placed in my safe. AT the point
IF your pistol, was more than willing
to sell you the copy for $4,000. Now
you can refresh your memory suf-
ficiently to tell whether this is YOUR
signature appended to this paper,
and to reconsider your denial of its
existence"
Franklin cmtched the paper which
the lawyer politely extended to him,
and then pitiablc appearance Of de-
feat seemed to shriyel him up.
| 10 r1n A.
served a logged silence.
you have not answered my Gues-
lion" said the lawyer, bandly.
1T is not my writing" said
Franklin, savagely. "The whole thing
is clever, manufactured lie"
81 desire to introduce this paper
the case and have it read to the
jury" said Mr.. Everett "Subse-
9uently | shall prove how it came
into my possession, and the jury can
Judge of its genuineness."
This was done, and Mr.. Everett re-
sumcd; II presume, Col. Franklin,
that YOU remember that about year
lgo the safe of John 7. Wright was
entered by one of his clerks named
Morris and some of its contents alb
stracted?"
"Yes."
"And that Morris is now in China ?"
"Yes."
"By the way, do you know that he