The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-28
CHAPTER XxIII.-Conttnued.
THE Claimant

Va the nurse. Hannah
Sargent who con-
fessed that 1t was
she who wrote the
anonymous letter saying that the
child had died soon after being stolen
for the purpose of easing the mind
oS1her former mistress, whom she had
otten heard say that she should teei
better to know her son was dead imam
living in the midst of evil associates.
she was sure that he must be dead, or
that trace would have been found of
him. And so she wrote that letter;
did an evil that good might come
Only weak and foolish people dare to
so lay their feeble hands on the Wneei
of human events. But she did 1T, and
from a good motive. she says. Her
written evidence will be submitted
In due order of the trial.
After his mothers death, Vane
Hamilton, the plaintiff, set out on
his sacred quest. 1t was IN the nontn
+. of May, the time set by his dying
mother Seven periods of search fol-
lowed, the plaintiff in the last two
getting upon the track of his long
lost brother. He was led into strange
places and haunts. If not OF crlme' OF
bad reputation until by degrees ne
became convinced that his brother
was no other than Ashley, the no
torious bank defaulter. at this time
fugitive from justice He also learned
that this man had wife named Le-
nora. or Nora. Thus far his knowl-
edge advanced up to the period Of his
seventh Journey. Mrs. Hamilton would
testify that her husband was greatly
disturbed in his mind previous to
going away; so much SO that she tried
to detain him. He was very thln' MS
weight was twenty pounds less than
usual; he had little appetite, and was
exceedingly nervous.
..The result of all this overwork
and mental disturbance was soon TO
manifest itself. But first he was met
and accosted by young and hand
some woman, who came out or the
- Essex house to speak to him. She had
curious colored hair, more green than
anything else, and by this the. plain
tiff recognized her as Lenora, MS
brothers wife, who was described by
the papers to have such mar: 49, 30
when she spoke to him as If she knew
him, he at once concluded that she
took him for his brother her husband.
You here.' she said The plalntl1t
assured her that he did not know her
when she said. oh, I forgot. Mrs
Fry, who was passing at the tlne 'ne
conversation occurred, will TESTIFY 10
this fact, and Miss Chase to the
woman's surprised manner when she
saw him coming down the street. lie
here!' Almost the identical words
with which she met the plaintiff. This
son, Newark, N. j.; but the name was
no doubt assumed. for she let out to
a. table girl named Mary O'Ne1l that
her name was Lenora. MISS omen
is present among the witnesses FOR the
prosecution.
-rtA1 this makes it evident that
Lenora expected to meet her husband,
but not in Grovedale, for she was
surprised when she thought she saw
him coming. This argues strong
resemblance on the part Of the twin
brothers, and which we know existed.
The woman said at the Essex house
that she was going to Coaticoke, no
doubt to meet her husband. When
Mr.. Hamilton recognized her, as he
did by her emerald hair, he asked her
if he might talk with her. and men
toned that he was intending to take
woman appeared puzzled, but replied
readily enough that she would talk
with him on the train.
What does this prove but that she
still supposed he was her husband,
and that from prudent motives ne dld
street? I shall prove to you that her
husband, Victor Hamilton, otherwise
Ashley, was a fugitive from justice,
and his wife's caution was needful not
to bring detection upon her husband,
whom unexpectedly she supposed she
thought he was safe In Canada. In
her first excitement she forgot her
caution but from that time was pru-
dent In proof of this wrong conclu-
sion regarding the identity of her nus
band, she took the train south instead
of the one north Why did she do this
Simply to travel with her husband as
she supposed him to be, and learn his
plans.
'My client remembers vaguely that
he saw her on the train and talked
with her, but recollects nothing that
was said for 1t was at this time that
his mind became ecl1psed. Conductor
Iibby's evidence comes In at this
point. He will tell you that he saw
the two together,--Mr. Hamilton and
the green-haired lady. Mr.. Hamilton
appeared strange. did not seem to rec
ognize him, tho they knew each other
well, for Mr.. Libby has been on the
train for matter Of thirty years or
more. The lady talked to Mr.. Hamil-
ton and seemed excited. He listened
vaguely, it seemed, as If he did moi
understand what she was saying
There was a strange look about his
ewes that Mr., Libby noticed.
what followed? The woman
doubtless convinced Of her mistake
left the train at Mechanic Falls and
went north to join her husband a. a,
Conticoke. Mr.. Hamilton went on his
way to Portland. Mr.. Libby testlt1es
that he saw him at the Portland depot
but after that lost sight of him.
Nov comes in the testimony OF
commercial traveller, named George
Barnstead. Mr.. Barnstead Is a vide.
awake man who runs for the firm OF
Eaton & Glover, of Boston, who VII
vouch for the probity of Mr.. Barn
stead His testimony is of SO astound.
ing a nature that it needs to be vel
authenticated and vouched for, as 1T Il
In this instance. Mr. Barnstead Is OF
an active alert nature, and little goes
on under his gaze without notice.
"And this was what he observed a
Portland depot, where he loiterec
for some time, expecting to mee1
another runner named Hurd. He saw
a rnan-whorn he has since recognized
as Vane Hamilton, the plaintiff, by his
MISUNDERSTANDING irresolutely by
himself, travelling bag in hand al1c
dressed as Mr.. Hamilton was dressed
when he left Grovedale. He stood
there in the same attitude for at leas
two minutes. He appeared to be
troubled in his mind, Mr.. Barnsteac
thought. At the expiration of the twt
minutes, more or less, another man en-
ferec and looked at Mr.. Hamilton az
if deeply astonished, literally as If NJ
could not keep his eyes off. He wa:
a. man of about Mr.. Hanilton's height
with long, dark whiskers and darl
hair In some respects he resemblet
Mr.. Hamilton, particularly about tht
eyes He looked at him so intently
walking away and then returning a: