The Irish standard., 1903-09-19

man whom he had Just killed. What
ever his thoughts were. it was my
impression at the time that the per-
son before me wanted to kill me, and
1 fancied that he was about to make
the assault-for the light of murder
still fingered in his face. He must
have had a somewhat similar feel
ing about me: for we silently faced
each other like two men who had
agreed on duel to the death. l was
not much troubled by the prospect
of danger, for l had long since lost
the feeling of physical fear. l had
stout cudgel in my hand and 1 was
desperate anyhow. This condition OF
mind gave me strength and agility.
did not wait for an attack, but
rushed at once upon him. My deci.
sion had been prompter than his, for
he was nnquestionably unncrved.
My first blow landed fairly on his
head, and. to my astonishment, the
tall and vigorous looking stranger lay
scnseless at my feet. Further blows
were Unnecessary. AS he fell some-
thing dropped from one of his over
coat pockets. l picked it up and
found it to be watch. This put an
idea into my head-put it there
strongly. burningly, and when I dis
covered who it was that L had
knocked down, [ did not stop to de-
bate against the thought. | had al
ways regarded Col. Franklin as an
enemy of the family rather than a
friend. | had been satisfied for some
time that he grew rich off my fathers
unfortunate crime, and that it was
he who kept alive my fathers re-
sentiment against me. l cannot say
that | reasoned all this out at that
enemy and somehow 1 was entitled
to the spols. In plain EngliSh | de-
termincd to rob the man whom | had
thus vanuui~hed In one of his over
coat pockets found knife and the
cuff buttons which have since been
pocket WAS the watch which has here
been identified as FranklinS: and in
his shirt bosom was the diamond pin
which has figured in this case. These
articles I quickly appropriated. y
pair of handsome sleeve buttons
which he wore attracted my atten-
ton. but they were fastened so firm
~ in as To resist my hurried cf-
forts. so I tore the cuffs promptly
from the shirt. noticed that they
had dark spots on them, which after
ward proved to be blood. In one Of
the oNcrrnat pockets | found Il pistol,
but | decided not to take it. 1T was
just about such Il weapon as that dis
played here. but | 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 vauahes on his person, and
satisfying myself he would soon come
to consciousness, ! hurried back to
town TO pawn the articles had OBJ
tanned. This ! did, never stopping to
think of he danger to myself after
ward, and then FASTENED homcward
over the short path. That evening
we had something of Il feast at home,
J. ilii\ NY Hl'tht w ~ Attl II w NY WIZ
to account for the food ] bought. 1
have here the blood-staincd cuffs
with the buttons in them, which did
not pawn. You will sec 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,
TT was not possible to doubt the
young mans evidence. for it was cor
roborat"d Ivy Il number Of minor cir
cumstnnces, and besides, it was a
complete explanation of the mys-
terry. Franklin had shot Wright
from behind, had perhaps in a sort
of mIrdernus 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 he crime: then while hmr-
ENIllG AWAY if''lll ti''' '>''ii'' VI iilt'
murder lie himself had been knocked
in 1hr head and robbed. The tcsti-
munv showed that h" had been in tho
bayou Woods with Wright, that he
had 4 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 probnbly his and the bail
fitted it,.
There was clearly no case against
Herbert Wright, and the prosecute
ing attorney himself moved that he
he 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 he grand Jury.
And so when Herbert Wright left
the court room with the congratnla-
tons of his friends ne passed by
Franklin, closely guarded by the
sheriff.
The trial of James Franklin took
place y few weeks later and he was
found guilty of murder in the first
degree ard sentenced to be hanged
| Persistent efforts were made 10 ever.
F., turn the Judgment of the cunrt and
f, the governor Was appealed to. but
! both the supreme court aud the chief
executives declined to Interfere and
Franklin cNpintcd his crime on the
gallows.