The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-24
Ry d. D. EoREBT

! ~. B. = Z r y. a
Within the warehouse various snspi-
cious instruments we're found; new
spade that had recently been used. a
hammer, an open pocket knife and q
chopper. Blood STANG were found up
on the flags behind The back, door and
the edge OF one stone was broken as
though with the blow Of a Ratchet.
Evidently a murder had been COM
mitted. But who was the victim?
Three days later, on September Is,
man named Taylor came to the 20.
lice and suggested that the remains
might be those OF bis sister-in.law Har-
rlet, who had been missing for just
twelve months. In the meantime the
remains in the two packages had been
examined. They we're those Of a Re.
male, who had been dead about a year
and the cause OF death was disclosed
by two bullet holes 10 the head. Their
position indicated that the murderer
had come up from behind and fred the
shots. The woman had. small hands
and feet, long fingers, hair Of light
auburn, and tooth was missing from
the upper jaw. These details, which
were furnished by Taylor conceded
so infinitely with the appearance Of
the body that the police permitted him
to view 1t, and he at once identified 1t
as that Of Harriet Lane.
The body was further identified by
Mrs. Taylor, the sister Of the murdered
woman, and by John Lane, her father.
There could be no doubt but that a
satisfactory identification had been
made out. Not only did the missing
tooth coincide with the tooth that Har-
rlet Lane had lost, but, again, the de-
ceased woman had scar on the leg
below the knee such as would have
been caused by a severe burn from n
hot poker, and Harriet Lane had had
Just such scar. Various articles OF
clothing found in the grave beneath
the floor of the workshop and In the
house made the Identification COM
plete. Harriet Lane had worn ear
rings, and two OF these were picked
out Of the crate In the fireplace. She
had worn a wedding ring, which was
discovered in the grave, together with
several buttons of'the same. pattern
as had been on Harriet's' dress. Some
buttons Of just the same pattern We're
furnished to the police by the dead
woman's relatives and friends,
But even this would prove no case
against wainwright unless his connec-
ton with the victim were clearly dis
closed. Nor would the mere fact OF
his acquaintance with her prove any
thing. 1t was established beyond doubt,
however, that a year before she had
left her fathers house in Sidney
square, Mile End road, with the
avowed intention Of going to live with
Wainwright, and she had never been
seen alive since that time by any OF
her family.
Toward the end Of September Mrs.
Taylor, the sister Of the dead woman,
began to grow uneasy. Harriet Lane
had been on good terms with her fam
fly and had frequently been in commu-
nication with them hitherto, either
personally or through the medium OF
letters. Now she seemed to have for
gotten them entirely. Wainwright
had moved from bis last residence to
another in the WhItechapel road, but
Mrs. Taylor traced him to hic new
quarters and demanded to see her SIS
ter.
sullenly.
"Gone-whare?"
Gone of with Mr.. Freake."
This was a gentleman who had re-
Gently come Unexpectedly into large
fortune and had left the country. Ac-
cordtng to Wainwright he had taken
his mistress with him.
Where has she gomez" asked Mrs.
Taylor.
Wainwright explained that he had
given the missing woman fifteen
pounds TO betake herself to Brighton,
fashionable seaside resort on the
south coast, as well as ten pounds to
provide herself with an outfit. She
had apparently taken advantage Of his
generosity to elope with the suddenly
enriched Freake.
Mrs. Taylor had to be content with
the explanation and went home. Two
months elapsed and then she came
again. This time Wainwright main
tanned that he had heard nothing from
her sister since the date of her disap-
pearance. A third time Mrs. Taylor
appeared, this time ipsistent, and
Wainwright produced telegram and
letter which he read aloud to her.
One purported to be from Dover and
the other from Paris; both stated that
Harriet was well aud in comfortable
circumstances. Both the letter and
the telegram were later proved to have
been written by Wainwright's brother
Thomas. Freake, when he appeared
! in court as witness, denied all knowl-
edge OF the missing woman.
The suspicion now arose in the
minds Of IIarrlets family that she had
died and that Wainwright was conceal
ing the news from them, perhaps out
Of compassion. John Lane, the father,
paid a visit 10 the brushmaker and de.