The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-08-06
"A SINGULAR CASE
Where Circumstantial Evidence
Played Justice False.
HANGED AN INNOCENT MAN.
Every Incident In the Remarkable
Sequence Of Events Seemed to Point
ConclusiveIy to the Guilt of Harry

o'e..e, WHO was ACCUSED OF murder.
1t began in the Blue Horse tavern.
on the highway Leading to Albany
Toward the close Of an autumn day
a half dozen men sat in the old bar
room discussing events which then
were lending to the outbreak of the
American Revolution At such time
arguments We're very likely to be rath-
er more vigorous than ordinarily would
be the case. And this was no excep-
ton. Fearing that trouble might re-
suit. one OF the men exclaimed: Come
Wickliffe. stop this. Such dispute
is nonsense.
= Wfckliffe WAS an ugly looking fellow.
short and stout. with a dark salow
face. black eyes. low. wrinkled fore
head and lips that barred his teeth on
occasions like a dog preparing to bite
MY quarrel is with Harry Blake,
he snarled. 1T is none Of your affair."
We'll. Wickliffe.'' Blake cried good
naturedly. IF you will quarrel. i won't
I'll say no more
Evidently Wickliffe was bent on
trouble. for he muttered something
\ which brought /: cry of shame" from
every one in the room. Blake's face
became deadly pale. 'Wickliffe. he
said steadily. Il didn't hear what you
said but ! dare you to repeat it, If
you do and there's one improper word
in it. this hour will be the bitterest OF
your life
flung at him. and in an Instant Blake
had seized Wickliffe and thrown him
across the room. For moment he
lay stunned but presently, his face
dark with hatred, he rose and. shak-
ing his fist at Blake. exclaimed
You may take your measure for a
coffin. You will need one"
Not before you" was Blake's reply.
Shortly after the quarrel Wicklife
left the Blue Horse for his home.
Blake. whose road lay in the same di-
rection. followed soon. Ten minutes
later two more of the loiterers. also
going over the highway taken by
Wickliffe and Blake. started on their
homeward way
The last two travellers had ridden
SVN Si al tuIhCStiy VI iiIt
stirring events which then enga god
mems minds. when loud cry was
heard at little distance. In moment
: it was repeated.
Mercy the voice pleaded. and then.
"Oh. Harry
Can Blake be settling scores with
Wickliffe?" exclaimed Grayson. one Of
the two riders.
In moment they had galloped
around a copse of trees at a bend in
the roGd Within twenty yards of
them. on his back in the dust. lay
Wicklife dead. Bending over him
stood Blake. graspns a knife driven
to the haft in his bosom.
Taken red handed" Grayson cried.
while Walton. his companion. himself
magistrate. sprang from his horse.
exclaiming Blake. charge you with
murder"
Why. I didn't kill him. Blake said
earnestly. You are mad. | found
Wickline lying dead and was about TO
pull this knife from the wound when
you came up"
Grayson shook his head. II wish !
could believe you. Harry" he said,
but as hope to be saved I saw you
stab him. l did"
1t would be hard to imagine a stua-
tion more likely to convince jury of
the prisoners guilt. Conan Doyle in
his widest fancies in deduction never
presented more damning evidence to
Sherlock Holmes and DR.. Watson-the
quarrel in the Blue Horse tavern, the
epithet resented, the fight. the counter
threat of death. the departure of both
while their temper yet was warm and
!. then the terrible tableau on the high
way.
= What might ii man expect even now
with the thousand loopholes that the
law provides for escape: There could
be only one conclusion now. as then.
and that conclusion the jury reached
without leaving the courtroom. Blake'S
protestations were vain. He died ON
the scaffold decI--ing his innocence.
Three months-~ fter the execution the
Judge who presided at the trial was
summoned to Albany to see IL prisoner
under sentence of death. Grayson.
whose testimony chiefly had convicted
Blake also was summoned. Much In
wonder they entered the cell together.
i. You the prisoner said to the
Judge. presided at the trial of Harry
Blake"
Il did"
And you" turning to Grayson.
''swore you saw him stab Wickliffe.
On your testimony he was hung"
Il saw Blake stab him." Grayson
said
You did not" the prisoner sneered.
''for killed Wickliffe. l sprang into
the wood at .Blake's approach His
story was true"
The confession was so clear and fall