Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-17

| the old man answering to the name o.
Mark Bentley? What was his business a
Burrville? The most careful inquiry hal
failed to elicit an answer to these questions
1t Is true that the remarkable state
ment made by Bentley to Martin Finch
keeper of the Blue Dragon. on the very
night of his mysterious disappearance
| coupled with subsequent events furnishe.
| the strongest circumstantial evidence o.
the guilt of Boyd Springer. and yet th'
absence of all tangible motive and thu
very mystery which surrounds the iden
| tity of the supposed victim. as well as th'
| circum stance of his strange disappear
| ancc give the whole affair an aspect oi
so singular a character as to furnish M
| basis for conclusion except that founded
| on conjecture.
| Many of the citizens confidently ex
pected that the body of the missing
lodrer would he found in the river, but
Il careful dragging Of the stream failed
10 fulfill these expectations.
| Meantime handsome Victor Laney
was using every effort to solve the mys
tary and had, in his own name. offered
a large reward for information of the
whereabouts of Mark Bentley, but al
to no avail.
When the day set for the preliminary
examination OF the accused arrived, the
| little courthouse was crowded to its ut
most capacity by an eager throng anx
ious to catch every detail Of the mys
terious case.
Several witnesses were called and ex
amined, but the evidence failed te
bring forth anything that was not al
ready familiar to the public.
However, when Detective Peel asked
to be placed upon the witness stand
ripple of excitement and expectancy
went through the crowd. He asked tc
be allowed to make statement OF
what he knew. His first words created
a sensation. and low buzz Of excite
ment went through the courtroom.
There has been nc murder commit
ted" he began. MARK Bentley is now
alive and we'll / have discovered his
whereabouts. And facts that have
come to light show clearly that the
prisoner Is the victim Of a conspiracy
In proof of this statement the detec
tive produced false beard and wig
which Bentley had worn while staying
at the inn. He stated that he had
found them in the garret over the room
occupied by Bentley. They had been
thrust through small ventilating aper
ture in the ceiling, and with the beard
and wig was found dead cat which
had belonged to the innkeeper and
from which the blood found in the
room had been obtained.
Here the detective paused in his state
ment, then added:
II have caused warrant to be Is
| sued for the arrest Of the conspirator
who is now present in this ROOM"
This announcement produced a won
derful sensation in the courtroom. and
some one tried to rush through the
crowd to the door. He was not sue
cessful, however, for he had not taker
q half dozen steps when the consta
ble's hand fell heavily on his shoulder
and that official said:
"You are my prisoner, Victor Laney!
Victor Laney and Boyd Springer were
cousins. On account of his dissipatec
habits Victor's guardian. a wealthy
bachelor uncle, had disinherited him
making his will in favor Of his nephew
from the west, who through his OWL
| exertions had elevated himself from
poor boy to a man Of education with
useful profession.
Laney could not get over his disap
pointment and plotted revenge. Learn
ing that Springer was coming to Burr
vile at a certain time, he laid his plans
carefully to bring the young lawyer IN
to disgrace and disfavor with the ole
uncle, who was sure to hear OF the
charges against his favorite.
A young woman whom Victor LaneJ
had deceived had tracked him from
Baltimore In a meeting which they
held In one Of the private rooms of the
Blue Dragon the woman had demanded
hush money.
Peel in an adjoining room overheard
enough to give him the right clew
which he was not slow to follow up.