Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-04-24


what my fathers objection to my
marriage has to do with his murder"
ut may have great deal to do
with it," said the coroner, significant
ly.
"Oh, 1 see," said Wright, with cool
sarcasm. you think that perhaps
this may furnish a clew to connect me
with his death. Very well. If the
troubles that have overtaken me and
mine will satisfy your curiosity and
entertain this crowd, why l am ready
to narrate them. Ask me what you
will"
II will repeat my former question"
said the coroner. "Why did your
father oppose your marriage?"
Ills objection was to my wife,"
ION account of her poverty, OF any
thing of that kind?"
Not that / know off,
His objection was a personal one?"
Hardly that. For she was beauti
| full and amiable as WELL"
II don't understand then what his
objection to her could have been.
Will you explain it?"
/ NVIls Ou AAuSv AIdNC NY
father many years ago got into a
difficulty with his overseer, Jefferson
Baxter, and killed him. 1t was very
unfortunate affair in every way, and
reference to it was carefully avoided
in our family. My father was very
taciturn man naturally, and he never
told me anything about it. 4 was
from home great deal, having been
| sent to college when was Is, and
never knew the full details of the af-
fair. Indeed, only knew that years
ago he had killed his overseer and
that he had been cleared by jury.
To make long story short, my wife
is the daughter of Jefferson Baxter,
and when my father learned that I
was about to marry her he moved
heaven and earth to break off the
match; but I would not listen to his
objections, and he accordingly disin-
herited me and forbade me to ever
come again into his presence"
you have sometimes solicited aid
of him, have you not?"
eyes; have been very unfortunate
in business. My wife's continued ILL
ness has been the cause of my losing
several good positions, as 1 have al
ways thought that my first duty was
to her. At times we have been in
great distress, and have gone to my
father to see if he would not relent
and help us. The last time l went
was few days before his body was
|, discovered; indeed, it was the day
before he was murdered"
"Did you quarrel with him and
threaten him on that day?"
sour interview was n little stormy,
but was half crazy with hunger and
: despair. am certain, however, that
I never threatened him, and I never
entertained any idea of wreaking ven
geance upon him; for, of course, it
was his privilege to make himself
= granite toward me if he SO chose"
Can you think of anyone who
would have motive for committing
this crime?"
II suppose l could; but l decline
to give my sur1nises for testimony
This answer created considerable
speculation, but insist as they would,
the witness could not be made to say
whether he had any suspicious, or
what they were. Ills testimony di-
vided sentiment, some thinking that
! he was the guilty person, others sid.
ing with him because they believed
he was innocent, or because they
= could not blame him much it he had
: rid the earth of such man us John
L. Wright.
The next witness was a young man
by. the name of Frank Bradley, who
had been out hunting the same day
as Wright. He was asked whether
: he had hunted anywhere in the vi
;, entity of the murder. IL replied il
the affirmative.
II dropped in at Uncle Dicks cabi1
!. to get warm" he said, land after
y / had left him and was going to the
= city, l met Herbert Wright between
i. there and the CITY,"
"Who is Uncle Dick?"
HE is an old hunter who lives b,
himself in cabin in the Bayou
Woods. Doesn't have much to do witt
= the world, but he's always very glat
to see anybody who comes to hi.
: place.
~ Where is his cabin?"
= Its on the long road through thu
- Bayou Woods"
- you know Herbert Wright?"
: Eyes; I have known him since W,
" were boys"
= did you stop and talk any?"
20 ut was bitterly cold, and h
- 20 seemed almost frozen. spoke to hir
and asked him where he was going
that was all"
). ibid he reply?"
:, "He did"
= "What did he say?"
=, HE said he was going to INCL
- Dicks"
:, "What time was it when you sa,
him?"
y, "It was about quarter past five
), / think"
~ "Did you notice any weapon o
lo bludgeon about him?"
"I think he carried stout stick.
While this witness was giving hi
~ testimony, detective came hurried
=, into the room and called the chief Q
police aside. They engaged in cage
conversation for some minutes. Whe
y the chief returned to his place h
10 whispered something into the ear G
~ the coroner, who listened attentivel,