The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-05-29
The Williams
Investigation
BY DONALD CHAMBERLAIN

queer He lived rowing life Till ne
was past sixty years old, then bought
an acre of ground commanding beau
on it.
How he lived-that is. how he bought
clothing and food, for he raised moth
IN no one knew. He had been some
Thing of an artist. a newspaper man, a
poet and an author generally Whether
he had made enough money to enable
him to supply his limited wants no one
knew. He occasionally walked to the
store, six miles distant from his cabin,
to buy provisions or anything else he
needed and always had the cash with
which to pay. No one could solve the
riddle, so 1t proved an endless source
of gossip for the countryside.
But one day possible clew to how
Williams obtained the necessary funds
presented itself A robbery was COM
mitted in the region. and the fact at
once suggested itself to the community
that williams was the robber. Every
one wondered why that solution of the
problem had not been thought of be-
fore A report was started that the
robbery had been committed by
masked man just the height and build
of Williams. For week this report
circulated, growing more definite as 1t
spread; then 1t occurred to some one to
who had been robbed and ask him
about It, He said that his store had
been entered In the middle of the night
and he knew nothing about the rob-
berry till the next morning. Neither he
nor anybody else had seen the robber.
But Williams having been suspected
of the robbery Notwithstanding the
correction of this report, the talk went
on. and the more talk the more the
certainty not only that he made his
living my robbery. but that be was
guilty in the case under discussion.
Cy Adams, a man who had the repu-
tation of being the principal talker
thereabout. said that Williams "ought-
er be investigated 1t wasn't to the
credit of the community that a man
could live in it without any visible
means of support and robberies going
on without giving some account OF
himself. A committee should go to his
cabin. ask him to explain how he lived
and see If the building contaf,Nd stolen
goods No one had ever been there
and for all any one knew Williams
might have the place full of plunder.
He talked the matter up; but, though
he got number of persons to agree
with him, somehow he couldn't get
done. Then he called for
No one volunteered, so at last he said
that If he were appointed deputy
sheriff he would do the job alone
There was no objection to his appoint
ment or his going to interrogate Mr.
Williams. The only objection in the
case was by individuals who were not
minded to go with him.
He concluded to go armed only with |
the sheriff's badge. His mission was
to be a peaceful one, therefore he |
wouldn't need weapon. He set out |
)ne morning on horseback for Will
Jams cabin and on reaching 1t dis
tied his horse to a sapling
md appeared in the doorway. Will
iams was sitting at a table writing
lie looked up, saw the man standing
)efore him and asked what he could
10 for him.
Mr.. Williams said Cy, I'm COM
nissioned by the people of this county
o come to you and ask your business"
'My business not being the business
f the county. | decline to answer"
"In that event am commissioned by
he people to explain to you that the
eople make ii their business to find
ut your business, and with that end
q view | am directed to search your
ouse. You understand that this Is
imply a legal process, not a forcibIe
me-"
Cy threw open his coat and showed
is badge
proceed" said Williams and resum-
d his writing
There was one room and loft in
be cabin. No search was needed for
he room. for there was nothing but
bunk and washstand and a cooking
tove in it. The sheriff saw it all and
)oked aloft.
ANY way to get up there?" he asked.
"Yes. but I'm too busy to get 1t for
ou."
Tell me where 1t Is and I'll go for
myself"
II keep it hidden I'll go for It,"
Laying down his pen. he went out
nd returned with a ladder which he
laced In position. Cy climbed up
nd, finding 1t dark up there, asked
Or a light. Williams handed up a
andle. Having satisfied himself that
here was no stolen goods in the loft.
dams was about to come down when
e saw that the ladder had been re-
loved. Williams was driving a pen
the table The sheriff asked for the
adder.
mot till you settle" was the reply.
"Settle for what?
"For the ladder and the candle"
How much?"
'"Tan dollars aach"