The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-07-25
Howl Achieved Success
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loriginaL1
How did I. so young man acquire
30 large \ criminal practice2 Just as
J was ready to begin to practice my
profession read the biographies OF
many men in America who bad early
achieved emineuce. From their exam
pie / deduced principle. During the
early years of ones career let him DO
ten times the work expected of him.
II francis Atwater had not gone to
sleep on tho train that was taking him
to his home IN the suburbs and not
gone ON to Royalton instead Of getting
ont at AifIlburn he would not have
been convicted of the murder Of Fair
fax Douglas And quite likely
should have missed an opportunity 10
make a name as q criminal lawyer.
But Atwater did go 70 sleep on the
train and did wake up and get out
three stations above his own
"HelIo. Atwaterr' said his old friend
Douglas as they met on the platform
what nre you doing up hereG"
Atwater told him of his snooze. and
as there was no train down for an hour
DougIas pressed him to so home and
dine with him. Atwater accepted, and
the two men went home together
Douglas lived with his mother, who
was away ut the time, and there was
no one with him except the servants
The two men dIned together, and after
dinner Atwater kept putting on bis
departure from train to- Train till at
last he consented to remain all night.
At IL O'Clock host and guest went up
stairs to their bedrooms Just before
getting into bed Atwater went to
Douglas room to tell him that he
must take an early train In the morn
ing and could not remain for break
under his pillow. and Atwater saw, as
the pillow was lifted. a revolver.
''For burElars2'' asked Atwater, look
ing at the weapon
no"
Atwater appeared curious, and Doug.
las added that there was story con-
nected with his keeping a pistol undeI
his head at night and that he always
carried one about him during the day.
Atwater pressed him to tell him why
he did this, but Douglas seemed trou-
bled at the mention of the matter, ex-
cusing himself from giving the story.
Atwater forbore to press him further
and went to his own room.
Atwater awoke in the morning
dressed and went to his friends room
y a
ed him. Douglas was lying dead, his
head hanging or the bed SO as to ex-s
pose the throat, which was dark pur-
pie. Indicating strangulGtion. Atwa-
ter;s first impulse was to arouse the
house, but his second was to allow
some one else to discover the murder
He knew that the man caught with a
murdered person was liable to suspi-
cion, and no one can tell where such
suspicion will lead. he would depart
as he had Intended, saying nothing
about having seen bis friend. BE left
the room, turned TO so down the main
staircase and, descending, went out OF
the front door he was oil OF trem-
BILE when he got on the train but went
to the city, attended to his duties rs
usual and was going home expecting
to see Douglas' death in the evening
paper, when he was stopped at the
door of his office by policeman, who
arrested him on a charge of murder.
A maid had gone up the back staircase
MS Atwater had emerged from the
chamber Of death and had seen him
leave the room.
was retained to defend Atwater
and got the story have told from
him. but could not tell such story
to a jury. a murder trial Is TIT De
tween the prosecuting attorney and tue
accused,s counsel with weapons ar
ranged for by the court, the judge
handing. them their pistols just as a
second win hand pistols to duellsts.
had no case whatever. Douglas could
give no reason for being ut Royalton
except that he had gone to sleep on
the train. He was seen leaving the
victims room and had gone to his busi-
ness, saying nothing about the murder
The prosecuting attorney made a hne
speech, calling the jury's attention=to
the wisdom OF the Supreme Being whs
had sent the maid up the back stair
case in the nick of time. Atwater was
convicted and sentenced to be hanged.
1t was after the trial that got
In my fine work. knew froUa my cll-
ent's story that Douglas had been ex-
pecting an attack, but from whom9
worked night and day till found out;
but, finding out, could not prove that
the person / suspected had committed
the murder. Ono thing OF Importance
I did ind out, though to do SO had to
play detective. The secret enemy had
sworn to kill not only Douglas, but am
other man. That other man was at the
dime of Douglas death In Europe.
when he returned asked him ques-
tions. the answers to which tailed with
what had learned.
one morning found myself dis
tinRuished criminal lawyer. had
slept the night before In, tho bed usual
ty occupied by Judge Dudley. Just be-