The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-02
CHAPTER xI.
THE GRAVE CHARGE OF MURDER.


HAYYNDHAM left Carmen Pen
A~2 dleton at her hotel after
lingering long enough t.
have a conversation witt
Pancho, who was as simple and direct
IS straightforward and honest then al
he was with Burr Pendleton the night
when he took him on horseback to the
dueling ground.
Before leaving the hotel Craig In
structed him not on any account tc
leave the apartments Of his m stress
and at the desk down stairs he gave
explicit instructions that Carmen was
to be denied to all callers. no matter
what name was given. After that be
felt easier, for now he also feared that
the enraged Mexican might attempt a
summary vengeance upon the sister of
Burr Pendleton.
From there he went directly to the
district attorney, who. fortunately, was
personal friend and had stood in the
same relation to Burr, and to him he
related the whole story in detail be-
hind closed doors.
He omitted nothing. He began at
the moment of his meeting with Burr
after his arrival from Mexico and told
OF every incident that had occurred
which could in any way relate to the
crime. He graphically explained the
discovery Of the body, the consterna-
ton Of James, his own deep perplexity,
but also the absolute certainty he felt
in his own mind Of the innocence OF
the valet. He related how he himself
when a boy had passed many months
in Mexico and had witnessed the knife
throwing exhibitions that are frequent
ly held there: how it had occurred to
him that this Mexican might have
more infinitely examined the position
of the body and the position Of the
knife the suspicion became a certainty.
Then he told how utterly hopeless
had seemed to him then the possibility
Of fixing the crime upon Escudera If
he were at once accused. but that he
believed IL he could for the time being
cause suspicion to rest upon another
and thus allay the fears Of the guilty
one he thought it might be accomplish
ed
He explained how and why he had
sent James away and admitted that
the valet was at that moment in his
own rooms awaiting gladly arrest or
anything else that would lift from his
shoulders the burden Of constantly liv-
ing a lie. and then he told enough Of
the family history Of the Pendletons to
make his point. lie explained the pres
ence of Carmen In the city and told as
much Of what she had told him as was |
necessary, and finally he described the |
scene In the restaurant and told how |
this same man had attempted to as |
sassinate him by the throwing Of q |
knife.
THAT knife" he concluded. ''is the |
exact counterpart. so far as the hilt is |
concerned, Of the one that took the
life Of Burr Pendleton. have it with |
me. II you will produce the other, we
will compare them, for have not the |
slightest doubt Of the result"
The district attorney sent his clerk to
the cabinet for the weapon with which
Pendleton was killed. They were plac-
ed side by side and found. as Craig had
to be precisely alike.
There is still another test to be ap-
Piled" continued Craig. People who
are adept in the art Of knife throwing
are most particular regarding the
weight Of their weapons. The more ex-
pert the thrower the more particular
he is regarding this point. have
known them to file away substance
from one in order. to make it weigh pre-
cisely like the model from which 1t was
made. SO that placed upon either side
Of delicate scales they would perfectly
balance. Send for an apothecary's
scales and let us test these. If they do
not weigh alike to a hair. miss my
guess"
The scales were sent for, and they
proved that Wyndham was correct.
You have a strong case" said the
district attorney. ut is circumstantial.
,ut 1t is strong. I will have this mani
lrrested on your complaint"
There are two others who are &C.
omplices. who are accessories before
md after the fact-Juan Rodriguez and
emilio Bustamente. They are in the
lily. but do not know where"
I'VE will find them" replied the on
er. 1T will be strange If we cannot
,et state evidence out Of one of them"
They were interrupted at that mo-
nent bv the entrance Of a clerk. who
5id- q card On the detK before the t'ls-
riot attorney.
SHOW him in in exactly Eve min
tes," said the ofiicial to the clerk. and
vhen the door had closed he added to
vyndham: Were in luck. Your Mex
an friend In outside. and unless am
realty mistaken he has his two friends
nth him, for he can only have applied
, me for one reason"
ITO charge me with the crime"
Precisely. Step behind that screen, +,
raig, and take a seat. Don't sneeze
r cough or betray your presence in
ny manner. and you shall hear how I !
nish with this man. Wait just a mo-
lent. You have a minute or two to
pare before John brings them in"
He drew q pad Of paper toward him :,
nd wrote rapidly. When he finished. ;.
e passed the sheet to Wyndham, and :
lis 10 what he read: =
Have warrants issued immediately for Carlos de
cudera y Romero. Juan Rodrigues and Emilio :,
,starnente, charged by this Once with the muir +"
r Of Burr Pendieton. One Of them at least IL |