Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-01
CHAPTER VII.


CHAPTER VIII.
Arrest.
The success of this interview pro-
voked other attempts on the part of
the reporters who now focked into
| the Southwest Ere long particulars
began to pour in of Mr.. Fairbrother's
painful journey south, after his illness
set in. The clerk of the hotel in Ell
Moro, where the great mine-owner's
name was found registered at the
time of the murder, told story which
made very good reading for those who
were more interested in the sufferings
and experiences of the millionaire hus-
band of the murdered lady than IN
those of the unhappy but comparative
~ insignificant man upon whom pub;
lie opinion had cast the odium Of her
death.
1t seems that when the first news
came of the great crime which had
taken place in New York, Mr.. Fair
brother was absent from the hotel on
prospecting tour through the adj
jacent mountains. Couriers had been
sent after him, and 1t was one OF
these who finally brought him into
town. He had been found wandering
alone on horseback among the defiles
Of an untraveled region, sick and al
most incoherent from fever. Indeed.
his condition was such that neither
the courier nor such others as saw
him had the heart to tell him the
dreadful news from New York, or
even to show him the papers. To
their great relief, he betrayed no cur
iosity in them. All he wanted was a
berth in the first train going south.
and this was an easy way for them
out of great responsibility. They
listened to his wishes and saw him
safely aboard, with such alacrity and
/ with so many precautions against his
, being disturbed that they have never
J doubted that he left Ell Moro in total
i ignorance, not only Of the circum
| stances of his great bereavement, but
} of the bereavement itself.
J This ignorance, which he appeared
) to have carried with him to the Pla
7 eide, was regarded by those who knew
) him best as proving the truth OF the
) affirmation ELECTED from him in tbs
: pauses of his delirium of the genuine
t ness of the stone which had passed
\ from his hands to those Of his wife
3 at the time of their separation; and
8 further dispatches coming in, some pr
J. vate and some official, but all insisting
e upon the fact that it would be weeks
. before he would be in condition K
submit to any sort of examination OF
s a subject so painful, the authorities II
t New York decided to wait no longe
I for his testimony, but to proceed a
once with the inquest.
g Great as is the temptation to give
l. detailed account Of proceedings whicl
t were of such moment to myself, an
It to every word of which I listened wit
r the eagerness of novice and the ar
l. guish of woman who sees her lover
reputation at the mercy Of verdic
It which may stigmatize him as pos
q sible criminal, l see no reason for Ell
It numbering my narrative with wha
for the most part, would be mer
e repetition of facts already known
IT you.
4 Mr. Durand's intimate and sugge'
IS tive connection with this crime, tn
explanations he had to give Of TIL
n, connection, frequently bizarre and,
70 must acknowledge, not always cor
re vincing, nothing could alter thes
IS nor change the fact OF the undoubte
g. cowardice he displayed in hiding Mr.
Fairbrother's gloves in my unfort
10 nate little bag.
st AS for the mystery of the warnin
le 1t remained as much of a mystery ;
ever. Nor did any better SUCCESS IL
lg low an attempt to fix the ownership
X the stiletto, though halliday was e
le hausted in an endeavor to show TIL
the latter might have come into M
Durand's possession in some Of tt
Id many visits he was shown to ha'
st made of late to various eurio-shol
lg In and out of New York City,
IT. (*Mr. Durand's visits to the curl
shops, as explained by him, were ma,
he with view Of finding casket
re which to place his diamond. This G
in PLANTATION was looked upon with
ng fered where the situation seemed
ed be OF compromising character.)
en- had expected all this, Just as b
re expected Mr.. Grey to be absent frc
the proceedings and his testimony
as nored. But this expectation did n
Ia make the ordeal any easier, and VIII
ny noticed. the effect Of witness aft
xn witness leaving the stand witho
an having improved Mr.. Durand's pc
no ton by jot or offering any new cl
In capable of turning suspicion lr
10y other directions, felt my spirit ha
'us en- and my purpose strengthen till
ell hardly knew myself. I must ha
he frightened my uncle, for his hand "
he always on my arm and his chidi
oh voice in my ear, bidding me bewa
to not only for my own sake and his,
kl- for that of Mr.. Durand, whose eye "
ad- seldom away from my face.
he The verdict, however, was not
he one had SO deeply dreaded. VIII
nd it did not exonerate Mr.. Durand, 1T