The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-03-02
was badly wounded and seemed to

bones, his coarse features and pale
blue eyes, however. were indicative
OF his wicked nature. The tightly
drawn lines about his mouth showed
inflexibility OF will and iron nerve to
carry out Whatever ne undertook.
When ] went forward to speak to
him recognized Hopper MS a man
who had been tried and convicted for
passing counterfeit money at New Or.
leans several months before. He had
been sent TO the penitentiRry at Baton
Rouge, but had escaped during bat
tie at that point In which the prison
was partially destroyed. He made his
way across the Amite river into the
Confederacy where, by standing In
with the commanding Confederate OF.
flcer at Vaudeville. he was engbled TO
handle and ship out cotton.
seated myself beside the wounded
man and took his hand. and never
will ! forget the CHASTITY stare with
which he regarded me as l endeav.
ored to impress upon him the full
realization OF his condition and the
duty incumbent upon him. My urgent
appeal had It's effect Hopper admitted
that his mind was burdened with
great crime, which he was willing to
confess. had set him down as
scoundrel, but was not quite prepared
to be brought face to face with ono
whose heart was SO inhuman as dc
liberately to plan TO hang his own
brother.
"a few years ago" he said, 81, with
my younger brother, lived with our
widowed mother on little farm In
northern Vermont There lived near
us most estimable young woman,
paid her some attention, and in time
fell madly in love with her When I
supposed | had won her affections |
asked her TO marry me. She refused
and did not deny that she loved my
brother when | charged her with that
as being the reason for her refusing
me. She was not to blame She had
made no promises had merely mis-.
taken her sistcry regard and kind
ness TO me for affection. alone was
responsible for the error"
Here no paused for a moment as II
to gather courage for what was to fol.
low. Up 10 this time he had met my
eyes frankly, but now he shifted his
gaze. and continued
when she told mo she could not
marry me. and made no denial OF her
regard for my brother was filled
with unutterable rage, Calling her a
hoartless firt. seized my hat and
left her was furious. desperate. and
determined to be revonged While my
heart was filed with rancor and my
mind with spiteful thoughts, con.
fided my troubles TO Malcolm Thorn.
son He always was an evil counselor,
but cunning one. He dlssuaded me
from my plan for immediate revenge.
and advised me to appear friendly
with my brother In order better to
cary out a plot which he revealed to
me.
Soon after this my brother an.
nounced his engagement to marry
Miss Heath, and | wished him well
with bitterness in my heart. Plans
were made for the marriage, and To-
seemed to take an interest In them,
and TO have forgiven my brother and
his fancee my fancied wrongs. But
was only biding my time.
When the time was ripe for execu.
ting the plot we had arranged ! man.
aged to be at work with my brother In
a field on our farm On the previous
night Thomson and had placed the
body OF man about my size in hay.
stack, which stood near where we
we're at work repairing fence Thou.'
son had obtained the body from pau.
pers buryIng ground on the Canadian
side.
My brother left the field that day
Just before dark. remained for the
purpose OF completing the work
Whom the sun had set and II was dark
| punctured a small vein in my arm,
and with the blood besmeared the bit
OF the ax we had been using. cut
off lock of my hair and scattered II
on the bloody blade. and then pitched
the AZ into the grass. Reaching be.
meath the body In the hay | deposited
my pocketknlfe and bunch of keys
Then set Are to the stack and hur
ried to Join Thomson, who was wait
ing near by with horse and buggy.
We drove rapidly away. and | soon
wac on my way to New Orleans,
where Thomson was to join me in q
few weeks
1T was agreed that Thomson should
first return TO tho village and stir up
suspicion, which would result in q
search for me and the discovery OF
the burned body Everything turned
out thus far as we had planned. My
brother was accused and convicted.
ut was my purpose, when my rival
should be out of my way, To return
home, and after time renew my at.
tentious to Miss Heath. but put OF
going from time to time could not
face my old friends and neighbors.
Through Thomson learned that my
aantanra vpao nnparnntad \