The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22

eeThe Hepsworth Millions "The Mystery of
Mollie waited time wondering how Lester
could lie in bed such beautiful morning.
Presently the door opened
But it was not Lester, it was the andlady.
II can't make it out miss. He's not in his bedroom;
in fact, he's not been in bed all night and the door
if his sitting is locked, and can't make him hear
Perhaps he didn't come home last night suggested
"oh, yes he did, 'cos him. gentleman
called took to his room-a Mr.. Botherham, or
some like that"
.Rotherham said Mollie, with catch in her voice.
AYE, I think that was it. Would like
if you make hear?"
Molie followed her to the second floor
The bedroom side of the passage, the
sitting the other
Molie knocked at the locked door.
"Lester Lester!"
There answer not a movement within.
Something is the matter she said, turning to the
landady. "The door must be opened may be dead"
"Dead!" The andlady thought that
Miss do know thing about this Mr. Rotherham?
Eyes, know him.
'IIe and Fenton was quarreling last night"
Molie turned sick with anxiety, remembering her
conversation with Myles yesterday
Have the door broken open. You must she said.
The landlady thought too, and sent servant for
a policeman Molle stood leaning against the wall while
the policeman forced the lock- sound,
from within at the unusual noise Lester
must have gone out last night perhaps with Myles
yielded o'0' was no. . very one anu SUN
Lester Fenton had not gone out He lay stretched
full length face downwards, upon the hearh-rug and
casual glance enough to show that he had not
fallen there in fir or as the result of sudden heart fail
He dead had been dead hours, yet it
not death which made the so horrible. The
mans skull had been smashed by heavy and repeated
blows The sunlight fell the hearth-rug pointing
to the dead-ponting out murder.
The of Myles Rotterdam and his subsequent
trial would probably have caused little sensation had it
the that both the victim of the murder
and the father of the girl who had found him, had
evil reputation amongst certain section of the commun
They were racing known capable of
sharp practices, if not of dishonest ones and be-
sides interested in gambling club where fools
with plenty of and not too sober were especially
welcome and the club only day two before had been
notice police argued that the
prisoner had probably been shamefuly heeced had
The trial proved however to be even sensational,
than was anticipated and Mollie Templeton found
herself uneviabe heroine. brought
corning father and overwhelmed her. added
which obliged to into the witness box and
away the life of the had always been her
friend.
That the crime of disappointed love and not
of only made it the more interesting Th'
prisoner pleaded guilty. terrible
evidence against him. First, there Moies testimony
of the quarrel the cause it, Then landady
cared that it the prisoner she had taken to Mr.
Fentos that night that high words had be-
tween them and that no one had seen Mr. Rotterdam
leave house, Evidence called of the finding Of
the key of Mr. Fentons in the and to
that the murdered man had had no other visitors that
night. crossexamination, would admit
possible that front door might
left open that might have gone upstairs
without anybody knowing The front door left
For the prisoner witnesses called to speak
to his character, but the prosecuting counsel
pointed out such evidence did not count for much
the circumstances The verdict inevitable yet the
jury long time celebrating and to their verdict
added recommendation to That they did
great surprise and could only be accounted for their
sympathy with the prisoner. When asked whether he
had anything to before sentece of death passed
him. the prisoner turned towards the spot where
Molie Templeton and for a moment their eyes
met
"I only say that innocent, my lord" was
the firm answer
To few words, the manner, may have carried
conviction; but not to those hardened to such
How guilty soul has made it's last bid for freedom
by declaring innocency similar spoken just
firmly
Myles Rotterdam listened to the sentence with bowed
turned and left the dock unfalterngy he
had entered it.
first that awful ordeal terrible
ones Mollie Templeton. yet could bear to
talk her father of what had happened of how he lad