The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-06
GARDENERS LETTER
What a CIairvoyant Told Him
About 1t.
The Young Woman Wrote to Him Proposing to
Hide Her Shame by Suicidt---Sent-
m ut Of The People.
(Staff Correspondence

Goldsboro. n. c., Jan. 5.-Because of
the prominence of the parties interested,
there is widespread eagerness on the
part of the public to know more of the
Gardner -Barnhill sensation. Gardner
was widely known throughout Eastern
North Carolina, where he had many
friends Public opinion is not divided as
to his deserving punishment, for our
people are not disposed to condone
crime, and especially of this character.
and yet, the public, who is in possession
of certain facts, do pity Lawrence Gard
ner in his present plight.
About two months ago several travel
ing men were standing in front of the
Hotel Kennon, this city. and among the
number was r. L. Gardner and a gentle
man, whose name is not recalled, but
who is the we'll known representative of
"Bucklen's Arnica Salve." This gentle
man is a clairvoyant, or mind reader
This fact being known. interest centered
in the man. Gardner faced the gentle
man, who remarked to him: You are
in trouble. You have received a letter
that is worrying you; that matter may
pan out all right" At once Gardner was
interested, and the other boys were also.
for they realized Gardners embarrassed
condition. Gardner replied: Il have
that letter with me- and the two step
ped aside some ten feet, but in full view
of the crowd. Taking the letter from his
pocket ne placed it in the hands of the
mind reader who holding the document
in his hand proceeded to tell Gardner
tc in apt xrh or
They separated. Later the sensation.
THE LETTER.
This letter conveyed to Gardner the
condition of the young woman. 1t was
written in August, / believe, and while
it was an appeal, yet the appeal was
coupled with the assurance that Gard
ner was not to blame. The letter
further conveyed the intelligence that
to hide her shame, the poor unfortunate
woman proposed suicide. This threat of
self destruction was coupled with the
further assurance that no trace would be
left duplicating Gardner.
That Gardner was deeply troubled was
evidenced by the fact that he showed
this letter-the name of the young wo-
man in each instance not being dis
ClOScu-IO several OI nlS ITle0uS anu
sought advice. To one, a prominent
gentleman at Kinston, discussing the
letter and what it conveyed, he said
eff knew l was the author of her ruin
l would go at once to Williamson and
marry the girl"
Notwithstanding, this much was known
in these parts weeks before the unfor-
tunate climax of December 21st, with
its later disclosures. When this last in
formation reached the ear of the public
1t was received with misgvings, and yet
created the greatest possible sensation.
AS heretofore intimated, the public eye
has scanned the daily papers in search
of more and later developments Where
is Gardner? is a question uppermost in
the public mind. Some hold that he has
gone to California, others say Texas,
while yet others venture the assertion
that he is hiding in the neighborhood of
Grifton, his old home from which hiding
place Gardner hopes, with the flight of
time, to make good his escape. The
affair is most unfortunate The family
of the deceased young victim has tho
fullest sympathy of the public every
where in this sad visitation
c. J. RIVENBARK.