Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-25
CHAPTER XXXVII.
MiIbrath'S Vindicat1on.

I suppose that we breakfasted that
morning and dare say we behaved, an
swered questions, and did what we had
to do much as other people similarly con-
ditioned would have done, but 1 recollect
only one detail-the expression of peace
that rested at last on the features Of the
old man who had fled from us as we
slept to make his plea for leniency in the
court of last resort.
|, Much more clearly in my memory stand
out the events of that other morning a
week later. when, Ahlbrath having quiet
~ taken it in charge, we laid the body of
'tRichard La Coure to rest as near as
possible to the grave of little Roland and
that of Adelaide, beloved wife of Peter
Somhers,' in peaceful Mount Auburn.
/ l know that at II o'clock Milbrath and
/, answering a summons, found ourselves
in coroner's court in the city to the
north of Lyndeth.
The coroner was a man past middle
life, with a face that showed that he had
not been insensible to the miseries en-
countered in following his profession
Mr.. Elmer Bliss?" re inquired looking
at me.
| bowed.
There is communication here adj
dressed by the dead man. presumably, to
you. May l ask you to open it and read
1t aloud to these gentlemen"
The letter was as follows:
Mr.. Elmer Bliss.
Sir: l am aware that you are the
man who has bounded me for weeks and
necessarily, l am aware why YOU have
done ii. But / will cheat the galioWs. I
am an old man and it matters little when
l go, but the way of going l shall choose.
But first:
ard La Cour. man without home.
relatives. near friends, or, at the present
time, means Or effects save what / carry
with me. and small amount in the
FIRST National Bank in the city of Bos-
ton, am responsible, and alone respon-
slble, for the death O. eter Somhers of
overlook. in Winton, state of on
October j., two years ago.
ON that Hateful day l joined Mr.. Som
hers upon bis request at his place in
Winton, to conclude a business arrange
ment which we had considered. | was
admitted by him through a side door, and
no one. save Mr.. Somhers. knew of my
presence there quarrel arose. and in
a moment of anger / suppose that [
struck Mr.. Somhers. He fell to the floor,
and the bruises that he sustained resulted
in his speedy death. l left the house un-
seen after nightfall and went directly to
iSostOn. Since then, until the past few
months, | have spent most of the time in
SeciuSion abroad.
II wish. also. to depose and say that
James Arms, late farmer of Overlook
ibcsi lfS COIiit llltO pOSSeSSlOn OF NV Sc
cfet, kept me reminded of my indebted
ness to his silence, and in that way be-
came, by degrees, the poSseSsor of nearly
all that l could can my own in this
worlds goods. On the day Of his death
he threatened me not only with exposure
but with death if | did not give him the
sum of money that he demanded High
words followed on both sides, and Arms
stumbled on a chair. and by accident |
suppose. discharged into his own body a
bullet that 1DllhtIacS inf 1a1
me.
This confession | make of my own
free will to exonerate Harrison Milbrath
who was twice trieu for the crime that L
committed, and to free the man HorSford,
who is charged with having killed James
Arms.
(Signed) RICHARD LA COUR."
A sti: of establishment vibrated through
recalled the sensational trials of Harri-
son Milbrath.
MAY l ask you, Mr.. Bliss, to give the
jury a statement of your acquaintance
with the signer of this confession?" 1t
was the grave, kindly voice of the coro-
ner who spoke.
| My ears were buzzing with excitement,
my brain i'll a whirl as to how l could
| speak without perjury, yet without be-
traying the secret that was now mine to
keep. Then [ found myself saying:
Il have no quaiptance with this Mr..
La Cour. | was engaged as private in
vestigator of the Somhers mystery by
my friend Mr.. Milbrath, and came upon
| clue which / followed-to this end.
"Can you tell us some of the details?"
asked one of the jurors, round-eyed,
| eXpectant-looking little man.
rs that compulsory l asked, with
smile "A professional man in my ca
pacity does not enjoy parting with the
secret of his success.
The coroner deliberated.
You are at liberty to say as much or
as little as you like on that point he
answered presently.
Then 1 will say, merely. that the first
| hint that l got of Mr.. La Cour was in
| investigating a clue which the police saw
| fit to drop as worthless-the statement of
| a driver named Jardine Jandyce of Bev-
| erly. who drove elderly man to Over
| look on the day of the crime
| Another ripple of establishment ran
through the room. and soale one in the
rear caused a smile by his hearty recon-
mendation to ''Shoot the police"'
| | dreaded to have Miibrath called: but
his examination was brief and of such q
nature as to permit him to answer in
monosyllables. His extreme palenesS and