The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25

plaintiff. by his outstanding ir-
hand and dressed as Mr.. Hamilton was
dressed when he left Grovedale. He stood
there in the same attitude for at least two
minutes. He appeared TO be troubled In
his mind, Barnstead thought At the ex-
piration of the two minutes. more or less,
another man entered and looked at Mr..
Hamilton as if deeply astonished, literally
as If he could not keep his eyes off. He
was man Of about Mr.. Hamilton's height,
with long. dark whiskers and dark hair.
In some respects he resembled Mr.. Hamil-
ton. particularly about the eyes. He
looked at him so intenuy, walking away
and then returning if about to accost
him, that he was observed at last by the
subject of his scrutiny, who. TO Mr.. Barn
man and said:
You appear to know me- Who am II"
The man was evidently taken aback by
this strange query. He hesitated only for
moment however, replying:
" You are Henry Ashley
are you sure? asked Mr.. Hamilton,
anxiously
Perfectly. said the man.. 4 know you
WE'LL and then entered into converse ton,
the two soon walking off together.
Here. gentlemen, is the unravelment of
the mystery. The man was Ashley him
| self, a fugitive from Justice detained by
some means at Portland He had. no doubt,
disguised himself; for all accounts agree
| that he was the very double of Hamilton in
personal appearance. This would account
| for the impression on seeing him for the
| hrst time. An ingenious man Ashley is we'll
known to be. What better way TO elude
| justice than to shift his identity upon the
man who had forgotten his own name and
| looked like himself? Does not the daring
| game almost take your breath away, gen.
tlemen?
But let us pass on. Hamilton unaware
of mis- true name, his home, everything a
blank, walked off in the company of the
| man Ashley, who, no doubt found ii an
! easy matter to shift belongings, and to
| take the ring notebook and pa pers of Mr.
| Hamilton. Take notice here that Mr.. Ham
| ilton seldom wore the ring himself, for he
| held il in trust for his brother; but Ashley,
who no doubt is that brother himself, did
not know this. He has worn the ring con-
| stantly, probably to fix his identity more
firmly in the eyes of his former townsmen
| The notebook would naturally be a great
| help TO Ashley. for in 1t the cashier jotted
down de~ the greater f part of his business af-
lating TO his children's requests for the
| gold ring and the copybooks.
He had the key to the bank. With it
| he could enter and take what he wanted
for the safe had a combination lock; and
| | Will bring a witness to prove to your salts
| faction that the key to the combination was
| in pocket of that same notebook. Ashley
| was thoroughly conversant with banking
| matters. and the rest was easy. He went
| to the bank. took the notes. altered them
| TO suit himself and got them cashed.
| Tony Osborns evidence will be taken
| at this point of examination which will fol-
| low. He will testify that he was thorough
| ~ convinced at frst that IL was Vane Ham
| ilton who entered the bank at o'clock on
| the 22d of May, but that when the pretended
| cashier returned he doubted him. You will.
/ perceive now how the shrt-stud came to be
| found on the desk, and how the other stud
| and cap came the river bank. They
| were dropped there to start suspicion in the
| wrong direction, and to create confusion.
| You will also see the explanation of the
| supposed cashiers extra ordinary conduct in
| visiting the bank but neglccting his own
home but few rods away. The letter to
| the president of the bank. r. H Hastings
| was forgery, gentlemen, containing a
| thrust at Tony Osborn in the guise of some
thing quite different. and to make it APP
pear that Nane Hamilton had gone away
| for his own purposes which were made IN
appear as dishonest ones.
| You see the scheme now. gentlemen.
| As vile scheme as mend from the lower
| regions ever planned. To aid him. he had
| the daily accounts given by newspapers
the notebook and keys and personal belong
lngs OF Hamilton, and his own diabolical
Proceed we now to vane Hamilton
Where do we see him? In prison. Yes
gentlemen, In prison, detained there for a
| crime of which he was never guilty, but OF
which the unworthy brother, otherwise
| Henry Ashley. was guilty. He was incar-
cerated in jail at Goodwill. His hair at
| the time was light, light brown the same
ing the noble head of our beloved towns
| man. This We can prove by the testimony
OF the jallers daughter. But the next We
hear of it. his hair had turned not white.
but dark brown, almost black, as you see
Ii now
All eyes were turned now in the direc-
ton Of the plaintiff who sat beside Mr.
Stevens. calm and collected In his de-
meanor
Mr. Morley then proceeded TO recount a
similar instance of the turning OF light
hair to dark color. One of a woman who
was i'll in hospital lit Montreal When
she entered her hair was red. IL fell OF
from the effects OF fever but came out
a coal black; The other was the case of a
young lady in Maine who was terrified by