Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-10-29


When the messenger returned he
brought the sheriff with him. who,
without n word of explanation. clapped
a pair OF handouts ON Rothwell's
wrists. The prisoner was taken 10
town and lodged IN Jail. charged with
the murder OF Henry Palmer and the
ENLIGHTENMENT of the funds he claimed
he had intended TO put in the bank.
The case was one of circumstantial
evidenee-or, rather. OF motiyc-alone.
II was assumed that Rothwcll had got
behind In his accounts. had embezzled
the amount OF which he claimed he
had been robbed and. fearing that II
detected lie would lose his Inheritance,
had killed the man whose property he
would inherit.
This made strong case against
him. and there was very little to DO
said In his favor No trace OF any
one having attacked Palmer and no
evidence OF Roihwell's story that he
had been robbed appeared The court
retained charge Of Palmer's property,
but allowed the lcgatee sufficient
funds TO pay lawyer to defend him.
His attorney did the best in his power
for him, but was unable 10 establish
his innocence. The jury hung for
some time between murder in the
first and second degree. but finally
brought In a verdict of guilty Of the
former. He was sentenced to suffer
the death penalty.
And so II was that Rothwcll. having
escaped death from tuberculosis, hav-
ing reached condition where he
might bring his sweetheart to him as
lis wife. was doomed TO suffer on the
gallows for a crime he had not COM
mitted There are not the delays in
punishment for crime In new countries
there are where the safeguards against
infringing on the rights OF accused
persons are more strictly enforced.
Rothwel was sentenced 20 be hanged
a few weeks after his conviction. No
new trial was granted, no stay Of pro-
ceedings. and the day OF doom was
near when something happened.
A young woman stood looking in
through the window of pawnshop in
the town where Rothwel was convict
ed At the time an officer of the law
dressed in plain clothes was in the
shop interviewing the pawnbroker
about some stolen goods that he had
loaned money on. The woman entered
the shop and produced watch on
which she asked for loan. The bro
ker inspected the watch and ut once
caught sight of two letters. III. P.."
on the case
Whose initials are those?" asked the
broker.
The woman said she did not know.
The detective took hand in question
dictory. took her to police headquar-
tiers. There, after many surmises,
some one noticed that III. p were
the initials of Henry Palmer. for whose
murder Rothwell was to be hanged in
a few days. The chief OF police put
the woman through the third degree"
process, with the result Of u confession
that she had murdered Palmer.
Many were inclined to doubt that
the confession was genuine. Had 1t
had attempted to borrow money on a
watch with Palmer's initials on II lit
tie attention would have been paid to
her statement She claimed to have
been discarded wife Of Palmer's, and
II was for this casting on that she had
killed him. The watch was shown to
Rothwell. aud he told the police where
he had seen It. This identified the
woman with Palmer, she was charged
with his murder. and Rothwell was re-
who stood in his place and was taken
20 her cell
What was his amazemcnt to recog-
nize Alice Swain
Before he had time to betray their
relationship she gave him look that
put him on his guard. She then spoke
TO him as a stranger. telling him that
II he could get permission TO see her
alone she would throw additional light
on the murder Permission was grant
ed, and the two were left alone.
Not daring TO embrace each other,
they RETAINED Alice talked about the
murder. but, fearful Of being over
heard said nothing TO reveal the true
situation. Meanwhile she scratched
on bit OF paper:
This is plan to save you Luckily you
wrote mo OF the tin box | came. took the
watch and pawued Il to get arrested Go
away and viii convince them Of my In
nocencc.
II was agreed between them through
the same medium that Harold should
have II week before Alice revealed
the trick. When the period had ex-
pired aud he was safe In hiding she
called for the lawyer who had de-
Tended him and told him how Roth
well had written her OF the interview
lie had had with Palmer and OF the
tin box. showing him the letter--how
she had gone 10 the hiding place,
taken the watch aud pawned Il. know