The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-22
1 TRAGEDY OF THE SLUMS.
REMARKABLE STORY ABOUT A
GANG OF LONDON THIEVES.
Hero Born in a Workhouse Is Finally
Adopted by senefaetor-Maca
Sole Heir to Fortune-Fuii Comics
sion of a Plotter Ends Mystery.

Aoopteo ny 6eHeIaCtof-
Sole Heir to Fortune-FuII confes-
sion of a PIotter Ends Mystery.
The New York Globe reprints the
following special to the Globe" I'M
der the date line London, June %.
1885,"
Through a sensational slum murder
and the revelation by it of gang of
thieves and cut-throats, Scotland Yard
has unearthed most interesting ro-
nance and incidently restored to his
fortune young boy, who, despite his
few years, has gone through more
than ordinarily comes to men in the
full course of their lives. A quarter
of century ago society was greatly
interested in the marriage Of the late
Edwin Leeford, then young man
in his teens, with lady of high po-
sition several years his senior. The
marriage, which had as it's issue one
son, did not turn out happily. and in
a few years Mrs. Leeford, taking her
son, went to the continent to live.
Some time later intimate friends Of
the family were greatly troubled over
reports of liason between Mr.. Les
ford and an estimab.e young woman,
the daughter of retired officer. Then
a relative died, leaving Mr.. Leeford
his fortune. Mr.. Leeford went to
Rome to settle the estate and died
while there, without leaving, so far
as then known, will. The where
abouts Of the unfortunate young wo-
man became mystery. for she left
her fathers roof and was supposed
to have made away with herself.
Now, however it is known that she
died in county workhouse after
having given birth to son, who has
come to be the hero of this latest
causes celebde, and is to enjoy what
is left of his half Of the estate left
by his unfortunate father, whose will.
1t turns out, was destroyed shortly
after his death by his wife.
Last week, it will be remembered,
Spitalfelds was greatly excited by the
murder of a notorious woman named
Skies. The murderer was her lover,
hAoWA dS oAl, VIM q low 0oy
later, was killed while attempting to
elude pursuit. The crime was d.
rect outcome of the romance to which
reference has been made.
According to the police, the boy
when he left the workhouse fell into
the hands of gang OF thieves wnlcn
has existed for several years in the
east end, under the leadership Of one
Fagin. Their efforts to make thief
out Of him failed, but it ultimately
put him in the way of coming into his
own. He was arrested on a charge
of pocket picking preferred by Mr..
Brownlow, gentleman Of means,
and discharged for lack of suIncient
evidence. Mr.. Brownlow became in
terested in the boy and took him
home, but few days later members
of the gang, the murdered woman and
her brother kidnapped him for fear
that he would tell what he knew to
the police. Later he was taken by
the murderer and another thief to
help them in robbing the house Of
Mrs. Maybe and in the melee that
followed the boy was badly hurt.
Again he fell into the hands Of the
police. but this time Mrs. Maybe
came to his rescue and provided him
with home.
In the meantime, it seems, his half.
brother, Edward Leeford, had be-
come cognizant of his existence, and
conscious of the fact that the boy
was heir to half his fathers property,
undertook to destroy all proof Of his
identity. Leeford is bad character,
and, under the name Of Monks" has
consorted with thieves more or less,
including Fagin. He decided, there
fore, to have Fagin get hold of the
boy and keep him, for he himself had
secured and destroyed some little
mementoes that had been taken from
the boys unfortunate mother by her
nurse.
In the gang of disreputable charac-
tiers into which the boy had fallen
he had found one friend. the Skies
woman. She undertook to warn Miss
Rose Maybe, Mrs. Maylie's niece, of
the conspiracy against the boy. and
succeeded in her effort, but Fagin,
suspecting her, had her Swallowed,
and then told her brother that she
had betrayed him to the police. This
was the cause of the murder.
The developments from then on
were very rapid. Mr.. Brownlow, the
first protector Of the boy. turned out
to be the closest friend of his father
and one who for years had been try
ing to find traces of him. When he
first had the boy he suspected that
he was Edward Leeford's son, be-
cause of his striking resemblance to
a portrait of his mother. Mr.. Brown
low succeeded after much difficulty
in getting hold OF Edward Leeford.
alias Monks. and secured full con-
fession from him, how his mother had
destroyed the will, how he himself
had followed the boy up and sought
m oat rid IF him without rasortino