The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27
By MARY R. p. HATCH
Copyright by Lee & Shepard

reliable witness so far as he understands
the facts) Ashley walked right into the
clutches of the law. Why? Because there
was no other course open, and he deemed
il best to do so: and the experience OF
criminals had proved that IT is always
best TO go quietly when arrest is unavoid-
able.
in his testimony could not swear that he
saw the meeting take place Friday; but MI
Hurd is ready to affirm. on his oath. that IL
was nearly week later that he heard the
account from Mr.. Barnstead. and that 1t
told to him if it occurred on Thurs
day. You VIII remember that when cross
questioned he was not sure, neither was ne
impressed with the great resemblance be-
tween the two who met at the depot In
fact. he owned that he might not nave
thought of il at all if he had not heard
afterwards of the likeness between the
claimant and Hamilton. 1t was not re-
markable Sheriff Bedell had long whiskers,
eyes OF dark brown, and height CORE
spending TO that OF the claimant. Here Is
his photograph" and Mr.. Ferguson laid
il before the jurymen.
Unfortunately for us the original died
two months ago. but he is described by
witness as answering to the description
shall also produce evidence and the state
ments of the newspapers 10 prove that on
May p Sheriff Bedell arrested near Port
land depot the celebrated bank defaulter,
Henry Ashley, and the presumption is, ii
was these two men that Mr.. Barnstead saw
meet.
ashley was taken to Goodwill and incar-
cerated in Jail there, and IL was in that
town his hair changed from light to dark.
The prosecution does not deny that this
man. the prisoner. was the claimant. or
that il was there the remarkable change
in the color of his hair took place. 1t would
be useless to do it, They only venture TO
put In the plea that he was arrested In the
place OF another, and to base TINS they are
compelled to set up the absurd story of the
twin brother. There is no twin brother,
for he died in infancy.
ASHLEY was visited next morning In Jail
by his wife. He denied that she was his
wife, and she did not contradict him until
afterwards Then she said that she was his
wife. Ashley got clear on the plea OF be-
ing insane and was sent 10 the asylum.
From there he escaped, was supposed to
have been drowned worked awhile at
mill, and then came to Grovedale, where
he got employment in the mill here. He
gave his name as Primus Edes, said he
was never married, could not write in
deed, he appeared to be very illiterate. He
worked as a common hand at the mill until
he CHANGED to meet Mrs. hamilton at
church and fell violently in love with her.
HE began to prosecute her with atten-
tionS, and finally won her interest by nnding
her little boy who wandered away TO the
woods and got lost. Mrs. Hamilton made
sundry presents and protested to think he
resembled her husband. Ashley, alias Edes,
began TO learn to write, and learned as
tonishingly fast, writing the name Con-
stance over and over again. He purchased
a violin and began to play. Ashley was a
fine PLAYER as we shall prove and he was
also we'll educated. Mr.. Hamilton could
not play at all. Neither was he ingenious
workman. Ashley was Mrs. Hamilton put
on mourning and had a monument made TO
erect 60 the memory of her husband. She
often opened her window to listen to the
strains of the violin played by Primus Edes
as she knew him. The neighborhood began
to say that there was a strong attraction
between the two, though they did not say
anything derogatory of Mrs. Hamilton,
whose character was generally considered
above reDrOaCh.
Then Mr.. Hamilton returned with a
straightforward story of loss OF memory
as the reason for his detention from home,
and, very honorably, settled up the bank
troubles. as he said he could not absolutely
affirm that he had not done what was al
legged of him, for he knew nothing of his
acts after he left GrOvedale on the 18th of
May. Mr.. Carter and his children received
him with open arms. Not so his wife She
preferred TO doubt him. a full examination
took place before Justice Bailey, and after
wards the grand jury took cogniZance of
the case, but dismissed 1T. Mr.. Hamilton
took up his place in the mill and in the
| his wife. Reports were brought to him of
| her affection for the man known as Edes.
| but he paid no attention to them, except to
| call him to the office and warn him against
| being seen on his premises.
I'm about a week afterwards Edes was
| shot there by some one unknown, probably
by Edes himself. to awaken suspicion
against Mr.. Hamilton. He was i'll for
| three or four weeks afterwards, and when
| ne was partially recovered ne progressed TO
| recollect that he was Hamilton instead of
Edes. Mrs. Hamilton prOfessed to believe
his statement, or at least did not deny his
claims Proof would be offered that before
| his illness she wrote him a letter, calling
him her lear husband and signing herself
Gaia Lily, as she sometimes did in her
Iellsrs 10 her irlends' II pelng pet name
applied to her fair, stately beauty when
| a school girl
This letter was found by Detective
Swan, or rather by Mrs. Fry. In the lining
1 IA hut nc I'D
| he transmitted it to Detective Bruce. 1t
would De produced in court in due order of
the testimony. The rest was known-the
claim Of Mr.. Hamiton'S estate and family.
| At this point nothing would be said about
| the motive, which was only too apparent,
| but illusions must be made TO a serious
| charge against Henry Ashley, alias PrimuS
| Edes, for the murder OF his wife, the bauti-
| full, unfortunate Lenora, who died of poison
| but two weeks previous to the claims set
/ up by EdeS. She received by mail poisoned
| ring, and was asked to wear it in remem-
brance of her husband, who would soon re-
| turn to her. The name signed was Henry
| Ashley. and ii had been proved that after
| wearing the ring a week she died The
| body was buried, but afterwards disin-
| TERED, and it was proved that she was
| poisoned by the ring, without doubt. This
charge would be proven by competent wit
| nesses to be true Ii was very startling
| when taken into account with Edes's infat-
| uatiOn for Mrs. Hamilton, and his claim
| that she was his wife.
| You will see how diabolical was his plan,
| and you can also see his motive. But for
| his love for Mrs. Hamilton he would never
| have dared to thrust his claim before the
| public; but as Samson was shorn of his
| strength by the fair hands of Delilah Sc
| has many weaker man been robbed of his
| reason by love of woman. Mr. Hamilton
| course has been straightforward through
| out. Having nothing 10 conceal, there have
| been no efforts at cOnceament. He warned
| EdeS not to come near his house, as you
| or l would have done But when he heard
! the shot fired he jumped from his bed
rushed out. and saw that he was lying
| wounded upon the ground and forgot his
| displeasure in doing all that ne could fol-
| the sufferer. Mr. Marks is a respectable
man who was known to the Hamilton fam
| lily in early life, and as an old acquaintance
| was kindly received by my client. He has
| followed the calling of book agent and
! fingered a few days in Grovedale till q
! consignment from the publishers should
arrive
Mr.. Ferguson then called attention &c
| the strange fact of the plaintiffs plea OF
| lost identity, so evidently based upon that
| of the respondents. Ii was a most unusual
thing To happen TO any one, only a few
! cases being known, and yet here was a
| second man in the same town laying claim
! TO the same malady. Was il not too absurd
| for belief? Only a man laboring under
great emotion would have been led to such
an absurd claim, and only a great
villain would have sent a poisoned ring &c
| his wife 10 have got rid of her so that hS
might lay claim to another woman. 1t was
| "A bold scheme a suicidal Scheref