The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-07-28
The Laws Mistake
tOriginal.1


Timothy Beckford had lived for fifty
years with an unspotted reputation.
then he discovered that a lifetime
spent in establishing a good character
was not sufficient to save him from
the force Of circumstances. The chain
Of events that ruined him began with
one of the most trifing Importance,
but that was not known till long after
ward.
Beckford and his wife had no chill
dren, therefore they adopted found
ling. whom they called Edgar. When
Edgar was twelve years old Mrs. Beck
ford died. After her death her hus-
band chung to Edgar, Of whom he was
very fond, keeping the boy with him
without ever permitting him to go
about or mingle sufficiently with 9th
ers Of his own age. If Edgar was dis
satisfied he did not show 1t, and people
said what n pleasant arrangement for
both. The man had q companion, the
boy home.
When Edgar was eighteen he sudden
" disappeared. Bedford waited pa
tiently for him to reappear, but he did
not People talked sub rosa that the
boy must have been badly treated and
had run away. Some intimated that
Beckford must have had a motive for
making away with him.
Then one day lawyer appeared
who had traced the founding to Beck
ford's house and was looking for him
to place in his hands legacy. Ed
CARS father had died and on his death
bed had confessed that he had aban-
doned bis son, but, dying, left him all
he possessed. The lawyer was not sat
isfied at the story Beckford told as to
the boys disappearance and after elic-
itfng information from the neighbors
made up his mand that Beckford had
murdered his adopted son. Finally he
had Rockford arrested for the crime.
Beckford was a nervous man and on
the trial contradicted himself so often
that the jury believed him guilty. The
police ransacked the house for evidence
against him and among the boys cloth
ing found some articles on which there
were stains. A chemist analysed the
stains and pronounced them human
blood. This was not sufficient evidence
to convict Beckford, but it was too
much to warrant his acquittal. The
result was a compromise. He was
sent to the state penitentiary for twen-
ty years.
His lawyer told him that he should
have been acquitted and proposed to
move for a new trial, but Beckford was
discouraged.
After awhile the heirs-at-law Of the
property which had been left to Edgar
got an order from the court pronounc-
ing Edgar dead. Then their attorneys
began proceedings to secure the estate
for them.
One day a young man in sailor dress
appeared at the house In which Beck
ford had lived. He said he was Edgar,
and when they told him that his father
by adoption had been sent to prison
for his murder he was greatly distress
ed. He desired at once to secure his
release and was told to consult the law
yer who had defended him.
But a new complication had arisen.
II the sailor was Edgar the heirs-at-
law to the property would not possess
1t. Tho consequence was they be-
stirred themselves to gather proof that
he was not Edgar. If man accused
Of murder is not in proper frame OF
mind to gather evidence Of his limo
cence the faculties Of one about to be
deprived Of money that he has counted
on are certainly sharpened to gather
evidence in his own behalf. The conse-
quence was that the heirs at-law con-
WINGED a jury that Edgar was pre-
tender. He, too, was sent to state pris-
on and was confined In the penitentiary
with Rockford. Then the heirs-at-law
continued their efforts to get posses
sion Of the property.
Edgar managed to see and talk with
Beckford, telling him that he had be.
come FESTIVE at being kept so close and
had been infatuated with a desire to
80 to sea. He knew that Beckford
would not consent, SO after resisting
temptation as long as possible he had
determined to go without SO much az
saying "goodby." He explained the
blood on his clothing by saying that
In cutting the models Of ships-a IA.
vor1te past1me with himAhe had fire.
Quently cut himself.
Here were two men. both entirely in
nocent Of the crime for which they
were convicted, in state prison.
One day Beckford bethought himself
that his wife had always kept the
clothes in which the founding had
been dressed when taken from the asy
lum in an old trunk. Thinking they
might help matters, he wrote his at
torney to go to where he had left his
household goods. open the trunk and
, examine the baby clothes. The attor
ney did so and found a shift marked
B. e. 8. Mrs. Beckford had pinned tt
1t a description of the babe, mentioning
! a red diamond shaped spot under the
left shoulder blade. When Beckford
told Edgar this he showed the spot
!. The heir by will to the property wat
BENJAMIN Edward Sanford.
Here was proof enough. The claim
| mt Uoo rrho$ ho nlotvno6 20 ho o~S