Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-23


 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 can see, these two plantations are all the assets in sight"
 "I remember 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 I judge from some imperfect memoranda left by your husband was sold to some mining company organ ized 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 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 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 $so,ooo being realized so far as can make out"
 "What became of that?"
 'I 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. Tt cost a cold $25,0oo, and he had to have the money ready. Of course,' he went on, smiling, I cannot say anything about where it went, nor need I account for the fact that cer- tain officers, by dealing very gingerly with. the law and the facts, made it comparatively easy to bring in a verdict of acquittal.' need hardly tell you, madam, what r think of such an admission coming from 8 member of my profession. Franklin's explanation, in short, is that MT. 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- tion 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?"
 ''You have struck, madam, hard question to answer. It may be he was in the employ of the company that bought him out; but what I cannot account for is the fact that profits of his business in improving and clearing up these planta tions in Arkansas and Mississippi. ], intend ascertaining if there is any law for claiming the value of these improve ments, and in this way I shall prob- ably make the real estate company show it's hand. During my partial in- vest,~ation of your husbands papers I came across a memorandum 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 8 paper, evidently of secret design, with a drawing upon it.
 "On 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.
 "I have no idea whatever" said Mrs. Wright.
 '"That is strange. Tn the examina% tion of your husbands papers I have come across several references to pa- pers which I cannot find, hints of something hidden in his busines4 Papers which I am satisfied are inn portant are missing"
 "You may not remember it, but my husband was robbed by ono of his clerks few months ago. The thief, l who has never been caught, took | several hundred dollars Tn money and he may have accidentally disar ranged or carried off some of the pa l pers." "Or he may have done so purpose ly. Among Mir. Wright's last corre spondence I find an unaddressed anc unfinished letter. It is dated few days before he was killed. Let me read it to you"
 Mir. Everett then read the following fragment:
 1 "'Dec. 1s.--.
 1T have misplaced my copy of the l agreement. All danger is now past and 1t is time that we should carry out the terms of the contract; and would like for you to appoint q day for & consultation. Recent ad vices have satisfied me that the Colo l rado-'
 This fragment as you will see re- fArr fn contract nr an arraaYnenf