Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-07-01

each other like two men who had
agreed on duel to the death. I was
not much troubled by the prospect
OF danger, for had long since lost
the feeling of physical fear. I had a
stout cudgel in my hand and was
desperate anyhow. This condition Of
mind gave me strength and agility.
did not wait for an attack, but
rushed at once upon him. Ny deci-
sion had been prompter than his, for
he was unquestionably unnerved.
My first blow landed fairly on his
head, and, to my astonishment, the
tall and vigorous looking stranger lay
senseless at my feet. Further blows
were unnecessary. As he fell some
thing dropped from one of his over
coat pockets. picked it up and
found it to be watch. This put an
idea into my head-put it there
strongly, burningly, and when dis
covered who it was that had
knocked down, did not stop to de-
bate against the thought. I had al
ways regarded Col. Franklin as on
enemy of the family rather than Q
friend. I had been satisfied for some
time that he grew rich of my fathers
unfortunate crime, and that it was
he who kept alive my fathers re-
sentiment against me. cannot say
that l reasoned oil this out at that
time, but felt that I had felled an
enemy and somehow I was entitled
to the spoils. In plain English. I de-
termined to rob the man whom I had
thus yanquished. In one of his over
coat pockets found knife and the
cuff buttons which have since been
identified as my fathers; in his vest
pocket was the watch which has here
been identified as Franklin's; and in
his shirt bosom was the diamond pin
which has figured in this case. These
articles I quickly appropriated. A
pair Of handsome sleeve buttons
which he wore attracted my atten-
ton, but they were fastened so firm
~ in Us to resist my hurried eff
forts, so I tore the cuffs promptly
from the shirt. I noticed that they
had dark spots on them, which after
ward proved to be blood. In one OF
the overcoat pockets I found pistol,
but I decided not to take it. 1t was
just about such a weapon as that dis
played here, but I would not like to
swear it was the same. He also had
a heavy stick, which being useless to
me did not take. Having secured
all the valuables on his person, and
satisfying myself hewould soon come
to consciousness, I hurried back to
town to pawn the articles had OBJ
tanned. This I did, never stopping to
think of the danger to myself after.
ward, and then hastened homeward
over the short path. That evening
we had something Of a feast at home
having made up q yarn to my wife
to account for the food bought. /
have here the blood-stained cuffs
with the buttons in them, which did
not pawn. You will see that Col.
Franklin's initials are written on the
linen in India ink"
Wright took from his pocket a
small paper, which he opened, and dis.
played the cuffs, which were given to
the jury to examine.
The prosecuting attorney examined
him at considerable length, but could
not shake his testimony.
It was not possible to doubt the
young mans evidence, for It was cor
roborated by number Of minor cir
cumstances, and besides, it was q
complete explanation Of the mys-
terry. Franklin had shot Wright
from behind, had perhaps in q sort
of murderous fury beaten him about
the head with his stick and had then
robbed him in order to create the
impression that robbery was the mo-
tive for the crime; then while hur-
rying away from the scene OF the
murder he himself had been knocked
In the head and robbed. The testi-
mony showed that he had been in the
Bayou Woods with Wright, that he
had wound in his head, that his
watch and pin had been pawned, that
Wright had secured the cuff buttons
and the cuffs, that the pistol with
which the murder had been commit
ted was probably his and the ball
fitted Il.
There was clearly no case against
Herbert Wright and the prosecut-
ing attorney himself moved that he
be discharged from custody and that
the court order the arrest Of James
Franklin on the charge of murder
until his case could be Investigated
by the grand jury.
And so when Herbert Wright left
the court room with the congratula-
tions Of his friends he passed by
Franklin, closely guarded by the
sheriff.
The trial OF James Franklin took
place o few weeks later and he was
found guilty of murder In the first
degree and sentenced to be hanged.
Persistent efforts were made to over
turn the Judgment Of the court and
the governor was appealed to, but
both the supreme court and the chief
executive declined to interfere and
Franklin expiated his crime on the
gallows.
CHAPTER XIX.
The people of Nilus were naturally
much interested in knowing the ac-
tual value Of the Colorado mine
which had been the exciting germ OF
such an elaborate conspiracy, but II
was sold to Frederick Merivale for a
sum which was entirely acceptable to
the Wright family, but was never ac-
curately made public.
OF course the memory Of the tragic