Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-04-22

readiness of resourceful intellect
and makes unusual demands upon the
ingenuity, he very cordially despised
that other sort which inflicts dull
drudgery. 1t was popularity supposed
that the colonel was interested in
number of enterprises outside of the
law, which paid him more handsomely
than his profession. In Arkansas he
owned plantation which yielded him
fine cotton crop every year, and it
was said that he had some interests
in common with his friend John T.
Wright. He came to Nilus about 20
years before the opening of this mar
rative, and by his affable manners.
his dash, his decidedly handsome face,
and the mesmerism, as it were, of
his personality, he was soon success
fully launched. He happened to win
at the start several cases that -occu-
pied notable places in the popular
fancy, and this at once made him
famous. But his financial success
dated from the time when he defend
ed John L. Wright from the charge of
murder. In fit of passion the lat
ter had killed the overseer of his
plantation, and when his anger sub
sided and his reason returned he
found himself in by no means envi-
able position. Public sentiment was
against him, and in those days that
was more potent than the law. While
the invisible statute allowed one man
to kill another for insult or SANDER,
it was often brought to bear with
equal force against the wanton per-
petrator of crime. Franklin was
employed to defend Wright. He at
once saw the desperate situation of
his client, and the necessity of secur-
ing an acquittal by other means than
trusting to the luck of jury trial.
He worked on the case like remorse-
less machine, and he did not hesitate
to use his clients money freely. Pub
lie sentiment was subsequently van
pushed by the corruption, and Wright
was acquitted. From that time on u
close intimacy existed between the
client and his lawyer. The popular
idea was that Wright had given him
an enormous fee and that he had al
lowed him share in his own business
and in addition had probably assisted
him in embarking in several independ-
ent enterprises. In any number of
ways did the planter show his graft
tude for the services rendered him
by the lawyer.
AT the time Wright was murdered,
Franklin was about 40 years old. He
was tall of stature and he dressed
with srcupulous care. He was very
handsome man, and it was matter
of pride with him to groom himself
well. The correctness of his attire,
the faultless linen, and the rose that
he always wore in the lapel of his
coat were all intimately connected
with the suavity and courtliness of
his demeanor. His hair was partly
frosted by Times blighting touch.
His eyes were small and soft and
brown; the set of his mouth,
Swallowed by small mustache, was
resolute and masterful, and the gen.
cral expression of his face was dig
nified and gracious. Evidently he was
G man of resolute nature, whose
friendship was as valuable us his hos
tility would be dangerous. Such a
man seemed to Warde in the nature
of a special dispensation in this
emergency, for he would doubtless
1 enter with all his soul into any efforts
made to bring the murderer of his
friend to justice, and it need hardly
be added that Warde had now become
prey to a rather absorbing interest
in the mysterious crime and had made
up his mind to unrayel it, if that were
| possible.
When he entered Col. Franl,lin's
law Office he found that gentleman
smoking cigar and reading Byron's
| poems, book of which he was ex-
cessively fond. He seemed to think
it necessary to explain that whenever
he did not feel like working he did
feel like reading Byron; "the greatest
Of all the poets" he would say, with
Embarrassing touch upon the worn
volume.
He received the newspaper man
courteously and laid the book aside.
81 come to see you," said Warde,
"about the murder of your friend,
Wright"
HAS anything come to Ight?"
"No; nothing tangible; but I
thought perhaps you might be able
to suggest theory concerning it,"
81 am afraid" said the colonel,
"that can throw but little light on
that terrible affair. Everything seems
yelled in the densest mystery. Wright
was killed in the woods where no
human being could have been q wit
ness to the deed. For two or three
days the body lay there, and no one
but the murderer knew that the
crime had been committed. In the
meantime the homicide, whose object
seems to have been robbery, but who
may have used robbery to veil
deeper motive, has no doubt left this
section of the country, and will not
be likely to make his appearance here
again for some time-unless, indeed,
he can be apprehended and brought
back by the law"
| 81 have some reason to doubt
whether he has left Nilus," said
Warde.
Indeed" replied the colonel, keen
ly interested.
"Of course, it is only surmise on
my part, but there are certain circum-
stances which lend color to the idea
that the murderer was not an ordi-
nary thief, and that his motive was
something else than robbery. 1t is
my opinion that he is now in the
city"
''That is important news, surely, If
true. What proof have you in sup
port of such q theory?"
"You see," answered Irving, smiling,
II have contracted the detective craze
recently, and I have made some inves-
LEGATIONS on my own hook, and be-
lieve the murderer has not only not