The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1904-03-26
nr'gnt. He came to Nilus about 20
years before the opening of this mar
'Aave' and ~ his aRabls msnners.

ms dash, his decidedly handsome face,
ana the mesmerism, as it were, of
ms 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 I. 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 Islander,
1T 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-
20 80 IN actoA ny ObhCI OuCdu6 blldu
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 a
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 a 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 thai
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 bighting touch
His eyes were small and soft anc
brown; the set of his mouth
Swallowed by small mustachs, wal
resolute and masterful, and the gen
eral expression of his face was dig
nified and gracious. Evidently he wal
man of resolute nature, Whose
friendship was as valuable as his hos
tility would be dangerous. Such
man seemed to Warde in the natur'
of a special dispensation in thi
emergency, for he would doubles
enter with all his soul into any effort
made to bring the murderer of hi
friend to justice, and it need hardl.
be added that Warde had now becom
prey to rather absorbing interes
in the mysterious crime and had mad
I'D his mind to unravel it, if that wer
possible.
When he entered Col. Franklin
law Office he found that gentlema
smoking cigar and reading Byron
poems, a book of which he was es
cessively fond. He seemed to thin
it necessary to explain that wheneve
he did not feel like working he di
feel like reading Byron; "the creates
of all the poets" he would say, with
l Embarrassing touch upon the wor
volume.
He received the newspaper ma
7 courteously and laid the book asid
: 81 come to see you," said Ward
about the murder of your frien
D Wright"
: HAS anything come to hght?"
e mo; nothing tangible; but
f thought perhaps you might be alb
to suggest a theory concerning it
: "I am afraid said the colons
0 "that | can throw but little light
t that terrible affair. Everything seen
n yelled in the densest mystery. Wrig
was killed in the woods where ]
- human being could have been w
ness to the deed. For two or thr
days the body lay there, and no o.
3 but the murderer knew that T.
/ crime had been committed. In t.
/ meantime the homicide, whose obje
e seems to have been robbery, but~wl
n may have used robbery to veil
deeper motive, has no doubt left IL
{ section of the country, and Will n
q, be likely to make his appearance he
II again for some time-unless, inde'
h he can be unprecedented and broue
N back by the law"
n 81 have some reason to dou
N whether he has left Nilus," 81
Warde.
10 Indeed" replied the colonel, ke'
% Iy interested.
rs "Of course, it is only surmise
le NV part, but there are certain circu
ne stances which lend color TO the &c
- that The murderer was not an or
is nary thief, and that his motive '
ID something else than robbery. IL
~ my opinion that be Is now IN