Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-09-16

But" began Mrs. Wright.
and continued the lawyer, eve
Will be very fortunate if we can
snatch from the estate enough to
secure maintenance for yourself
and daughter''
why, Mr.. Everett, there-there
must be some mistake It is true
that was never my husbands con-
hdante IN his business, but [ have
known of several of his investments.
This place which we are now occupy
ing is one of the most valuable in
this section of the state
VERY true; but it did not belong
to your husband"
Not belong to my husband?"
1T was sold many years ago to the
Shelby Real Estate & Investment
company"
"But-my husband owned several
plantations in Arkansas and Missis-
sippi."
''That is also true; but all those
were sold to the same company at
the same time, with the exception of
one plantation in Mississippi and one
in Arkansas, which your husband
purchased three years back. So far
as l can see, these two plantations
are all the assets in sight,
Il remember a good many years
| ago my husband bought large tract
of land in Texas, and he invested in
some mining lands in Colorado
Very true; but all of that prop
| erty was sold. The former to the
same real estate company, and the
latter | judge from some imperfect
| memoranda left by your husband was
| sold to some mining company organ
| lied under the laws of Colorado.
Everything that your husband then
| owned was sold"
But what could have become of
the money!"
| THAT is the question I asked my
| self. The answer I got from the old
| records in part. You are, of course,
aware of the fact that your husband
many years ago was tried on the
| charge of killing Baxter, his foreman.
| By referring to the records 1 discov-
cred that his property was trans
ferred just after that event and be-
fore his trial took place. The prop
erty was sold at an enormous sacri-
flee, only $4,000 being realized so far
as I can make out"
| ''What became of that 81
81 called upon Col. Franklin, who
was one of your husbands lawyers
at that trial, and asked if he could
| give me any idea as to the disposition
| that had been made of the cash. He
smiled rather significantly and said
he could. DO you know he said,
what it cost to clear John T.
| Wright?' of course not answered.
1t cost cold 5000, and he had to
have the money ready. Of course,
he went on, smiling, Il cannot say
anything about where it went, nor
need I account for the fact that GER
tain officers, by dealing very gingerly
with the law and the facts, made it
comparatively easy to bring in a
verdict of acquittal.' I need hardly
tell you, madam, what I think of
such an admission coming from a
member of my profession. Franklin's
| explanation, in short, is that Mr..
Wright had to sell off his property
to raise ready money for the pur-
| pose of buying an acquittal. But
there are some aspects to this case
which will render further investiga-
ton on my part necessary
eff my husband did not own this
| place and the plantations to which
he was constantly making visits,
why did he show SO much activity in
improving and supervising them?''
'sYou have struck madam, hard
| question to answer. 1t may be he
was in the employ Of the company
that bought him out; but what [
cannot account for is the fact that
he should have spent nearly all the
profits of his business in improving
and clearing up these plantations in
Arkansas and Mississippi. I intend
ascertaining if there is any law for
claiming the value of these improve
ments, and in this way [ shall prob
ably make the real estate company
show it's hand. During my partial in
vestigation of your husbands papers
I came across memoranda upon
which you can perhaps throw some
| light
''What is it?''
This paper, as you will observe,
is map or plot of piece OF land"
| The lawyer here handed Mrs. Wright
paper, evidently Of secret design,
with a drawing upon it.
con the back Of this paper" said
he, ''you will observe the memoran-
dunn which I cannot understand"
Mrs. Wright turned the paper over
and read the following:
See schedules in agreement with
Franklin
Can you tell me what agreement
it is that is referred to in this memo
randum % asked the lawyer.
81 have no idea whatever" said
Mrs. Wright.
THAT is strange. In the eXamina-
tiOD of vO11r husbands DaDerS 7 have