Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-08

CURED to me that the bag might be
F1orence's: had seen her carry one like
It. But, as you can readily understand.
gave no coherent thought to the Bag as
my mind was full Of the business matter
The French window was open and step
Mr.. Crawford paused here. but he gave
way to no visible emotion. He was like
q man with an inexorable duty to per-
form and no wish to stop until It was fin
ished.
But truth was stamped Enthusiastically
in every word and every look.
"Only the desk light was turned on. but
that gave light enough for me to see my
brother sitting dead in his chair. / sat
isfied myself that he was really dead. and
then, in q sort Of daze. looked about the
room. Though 1 felt benumbed and half
unconscious, physically. my thoughts
worked rapidly: On the desk before him
An irrepressible exclamation from Mr.
Randolph was the only sound that greet
ed this astonishing statement.
Yes" and Mr.. Crawford took docu-
ment from the same drawer whence he
had taken the pistol: there is Joseph
Crawford's will, leaving all his property
to Florence Lloyd"
Mechanically Mr.. Randolph took the pa
per his client passed to him, and, after a
glance at 1t. laid it on the table In front
Of him.
That was my crime said Philip Craw-
ford, solemnly. land 1 thank God that l
can confess it and make restitution.
devil Of greed. for the moment saw that
Will l knew that II I took it away the
property would be mine. and would then
run no danger Of being ruined by my
stock speculations. I had q dim feeling
that I should eventually give all. or a
large part, of the fortune to Florence.
but at the moment I was obsessed by
evil, and II stole my brothers WILL
It was an honest confession Of an aw-
full crime But under the spell Of that
ing of that impressive figure. We could
not. at the moment. condemn; We could
only listen and wait.
Then" the speaker proceeded. II was
seized with the terrific, unreasoning fear
that I dare say always besets male
factor. 1 had but one thought, to get
away and leave the murder to be discov-
cred by some one else. In sort Of SUBJ
pistol. lest 1t prove discriminating evidence
against me. but in my mad frenzy OF fear
gave no thought to the gold bag or the
newspaper. l came home, secreted the
will and the revolver. and ever since I
have had no doubts as to the existence Of
a hell. A thousand times I have been
on the point Of making this confession,
and even had 1t not been brought about
as 1t has, I must have given way soon
No mortal could stand out long under the
been on me this past week. Now. gen.
tlemen. I have told you all. The action
you may take in this matter must be Of
your own choosing. But except for the
the world, with no unconfessed crime
upon my conscience. I stole the will;
have restored it. But my hands are clean
of the blood Of my brother, and am now
criminal and avenge the crime"
He had not raised his voice above those
low, even tones in which he had started
his recital: he had made no bid for leni-
ency of judgment; but, to a man. his
three hearers rose and held out friendly
hands to him as he finished his story.
Thank you," he said. simply, as he &C.
cepted this mute token Of our belief in
his word. II am gratihed at your kindly
attitude. but realize, none the less. what
this will all mean for me. Not only my
self but my innocent family must share
my disgrace. However. that is part OF
the wrongdoer's punishment-that results
fall not only on his own head, but on the
heads and hearts Of his loved ones.''
"Mr Goodrich" said Mr.. Randolph. II
don't know how you look upon this mat
ter from your official viewpoint, but I'M
less you deem it necessary, I should think
that this confidence of Mr.. Crawford
we not simply state that the missing will
has been found. without any further dis
closures?'
81 am not asking for any such consid-
Grafton" said Philip Crawford. If you
decide upon such q course 1t will be en-
tirely of your own voltion.'
The district attorney hesitated.
speaking personally" he said. at last,
II may say that I place full credence in
WINGED of the absolute truth Of all his
statements: But, speaking officially,
may say that in a court Of Justice wit
nesses would be required who could cor
roborate his words"
But such witnesses are manifestly i'm
possible to procure" said Mr.. Randolph.
Certainly they are" agreed, land I
should like to make this suggestion: Be-
lieving, as We do, in Mr.. Crawford
story, 1t becomes important testimony in
the case. Now, II it were made public it
would lose its Importance, for it would
set ignorant tongues wagging and give
rise to absurd and untrue theories. and
result in blocking our best meant efforts.
ourselves for time-say week or q
fortnight-keeping Mr.. Crawford under
surveillance. If. need be. Then We can
work on the case. with the benefit of the
suggestions offered by Mr.. Crawford,s
benefit Of immense Importance"
"That will do said Mr.. Goodrich.
whose troubled face had cleared at my
suggestion. You are quite right, Mr.:
be a mere empty formality. For q man
who has confessed as Mr.. Crawford has
done is not going to run away from the
consequences Of his confession
II am not" said Mr.. Crawford. "And
I am grateful for this respite from un
pleasant publicity. / will take my pun
ishment when it comes. but feel with
Mr.. Burroughs that more progress can be
made II what I have told you is not at
once generally known"
''Where now does suspicion point?'
1t was Mr., Randolph who spoke. His
legal mind had already gone ahead Of the
present occasion and was applying the
new facts to the old theories.
ITO Gregory Hail." said the district at
eorney.
Wait" said I. eff Mr.. Crawford left
the bag and the newspaper in the ONCE
we have no evidence whatever that Mr..
Hall came out on that late train"
"Nor did he need to-" said Mr.. Good
rich, who was thinking rapidly. HE
might have come on an earlier train. or.
for that matter, not by train at all. He
may have come out from town in a mo-
tor car"
This was possible, but 1t did not seem to
me probable. A motor car was con-
spicuous way for q man to come out from
New York and return. If he wished to
keep his visit secret: Still. he could have