The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-04-18

eeeesssssseees
One evening in the early part of the
last century man alighted from the
daily mail coach before the Royal
Arms. in Londonderry. ireland The
porter took down large trunk. or
rather. ironbound box such as was
frequently used by travellers in those
days. and carried it into the inn
The man was dressed in the costume
Of the period "a beaver hat. the crown
sloping toward the top; ''spiketaif
green coat. with snuff colored knee
breeches. rufied shirt and shoes with
silver buckles. His face was cleaniy
shaven.
The stranger entered his name as Al
gernon Perkins and was assigned TO
room No rs. on the second floor
Drawing out his wallet. be counted out
100 sovereigns $500, and deposited
them with the landlord for safe keep
ing. He then went to his room, order
ing his supper to be sent up TO him.
About 10 O'clock the same night a
man with a fiery red beard beaver
bell crown hat. buff coat with flow
ing skirt and trousers. recently in
fashion. tight to the skin and strapped
over his instep, entered the same inn.
gave his name as David Brough and
called for room
81 should like my old rooms" he
said. Nos. 25 and 26.'
The landlord failed to remember the
man, but, not caring to admit the fact.
told him that No 26 was occupied.
but % was vacant With an express
sion of dissatisfaction at not getting
both rooms he accepted the substitute
Then he went upstairs.
Later Mr.. Brough in his nightshirt
opened his door. called porter who
was passing through the hall. slipped
a half sovereign into his hand and
said to him:
I'm to go off in the Royal mail ear
~ in the morning and wish my trunk
to be ready to lift on to the coach
Carry it down and leave it in the hall
below. near the front door"
The porter pocketed the tip. car
ried the trunk downstairs and placed
it beside the front door. The landlord.
who was nodding behind the bar,
reused himself and asked what be was
doing. The porter told him that
gentleman who was going early in the
morning had ordered him to place the
trunk where it would be ready The
landlord soon after took up candle
and went to his rooms.
AT o'clock in the morning a milk
man, stopping at the Royal Arms to
deliver milk. saw man with red
beard emerge from the front door of
the inn carrying a heavy trunk under
the weight of which he staggered and
pass down the street The milkman
delivered the inns morning supply of
milk and drove away. thinking no
more of the matter.
At 10 o'clock the same morning a
housemaid reported to the landlord
that the gentleman in 26 had not left
his room; that she had listened at the
door without hearing any sound. and
she believed the room was vacant The
landlord went to the room with her.
knocked and, receiving no reply. kick
ed open the door.
The room was found vacant and in
confusion. Ii communicated with No.
25, that had been taken by Mr.. Brough.
and as no one remembered to have
seen that gentleman since the night
before the landlord tapped on the door
between the two rooms. Receiving no
reply. he opened the door. went into
the room and found that the bed had
not been slept in. Bloodstains were
found on the towels.
Subsequently the porter told how be
had been paid large fee by the &C.
cupant of No % to carry down his
trunk. and the landlord remembered
that No. 25 had no luggage. Then
came the milkman and told of having
seen man in buff suit carrying
trunk out of the inn early in the morn
ing. Lastly the landlord remembered
that he had hundred sovereigns of
Mr.. Perkins money in his stronghold
The case excited great deal of at
tentiOn in the country roundabO
Peculiar circumstances connected with
it contributed to fire the public curl
osity. Did Mr.. Brough go to the no.
tel purposely to murder Mr.. Perkins?
Who was Perkins. and who was
Brough? Did Brough get sufficient
amount to pay. him for killing a man
and forever after being hunted by the
police and haunted by his conscience?
The favorite theory was that Brough
knew that Perkins had hundred SOW
ereigns on his person: that be had fol
lowed him to the inn. taken a room
communicating with Perkins room,
entered the latter during the night.
murdered Perkins. packed the body
in Perkins trunk and carried ii away
the next morning. But Brough was
probably unaware that Perkins had
deposited the money with the land
lord and probably after all missed
what he was after.