The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-12
A Wrong
Decision
BY ARTHUR w. BREWSTER

My uncle, Nathan Travers, was
rich man without children of his own
and / was to be his heir. He was
man who never forgave an injury.
any one tried to get an unwarrantet
advantage of him he would beat him
II possible, and In any event woult
never forgive him. He lived In n sub
urban town alone except for the serv
ants. received no company and nevel
went out socially. went to see hin
at least once a week, often remaining
all night.
One morning. after having dined with
him the evening before and remained
all night. intending to take an early
train to the city, went into his room
to bid him goodby and was shocked to
| find him dead in his bed He had beer
stabbed TO the heart. ! was about to
/ call the servants when 1t occurred to
| me that, hang my uncle's heir. | was
I'm position TO be suspected of his
murder
Would it he better for me TO be be
! fore the world the discoverer of my
uncle's having been killed or to leave
the house. pretending not to know any
thing about it? | had been asked the
night before by maid If would
have breakfast prepared for me and
had said that would breakfast in the
city.
IL | went out. as was to be ex-
pected. the servants would discover
and announce the murder. ] gave but
few seconds to deliberate whether l
should leave the house thus or an
nounce the murder. then decided on the
former course.
On my way to the city was much
agitated and fearful that I had decided
wrong. 1t turned out that / had. A
maid had arisen and was descending
from the story above when ! was leav-
ing my uncle's room. She saw me and
later. when she went TO awaken her
master and found him dead, remem-
bered having seen me leaving his
chamber The result was that when
was told OF the tragedy and looked
surprised and shocked ] was at once
arrested and brought TO trial.
The explanation l have given here
was without any effect on the jury.
My attorney only relied on ii so far as
II could be corroborated by other evil
dence. He introduced the statements
of those vino knew my uncle and who
swore that he was man having many
enemies During his long life several
persons had said to him. "You shall
pay, for this" or "Pli have your
hearts blood" or Just you wait" My
one of these persons had done the
deed But my unwise action on dis
covering my uncle's dead body had |
fixed his death irrevocably on me I'M |
less the real murderer could be dis
covered.
l was convicted. MY lawyer resort
ed to the usual methods TO secure de-
lay, and my execution was put of
from time TO time. Finally. all these
subterfuges having failed. a day was
set for my death,
Books and newspapers were allowed
me. but | could read only the latter.
One day was trying TO keep my mind
off my horror by reading morning
journal when | saw that burglary
had been committed and the robber
had been arrested with the plumber on
him.
His portrait was in the rogues' gal
ery and identified him as Peter Rit-
terhof, with several aliases. He had
but recently left state prison. hav-
ing been sent there for a robbery COM
nitted FIVE years before.
Ritterhof. Where had heard that
lame? Some Ritterhof had crossed
ny path at some time. but I could not
emember when. the circumstances or
he person The memory does not al
ways act instantly. There are cases
wherein 1t requires time. Presently
ecalled that the name was connected
With scene in court. Then the fact
anne TO me that my uncle had once
ent a workman to the penitentiary
Who had been engaged in his house
nd whom he accused If purloining
ertain vaIua bles. Lastly, Ritterhof
nd this workman became identical in
~ mind.
sent for my attorney at once and
Did him what have given here Not
fishing to excite in me hope that
light be dashed. he went away, sim
ly saying that he would make a thor
ugh investigation. In time he re-
irned. saying that he had examined
he records and found that this Peter
itterhof had been "sent up exactly
m years and ten days before the date
{ the murder for stealing articles
'om my uncle's house.
So affected was | by the announce
ent. which I considered tantamount
reprieve. that | toppled over.
then came to myself again my at Z
'rney impressed upon me the impor- :
nee of fixing the murder upon this RI
an and told me he proposed TO do 1t
: the process called third degree.
| had another temporary breakdown
hen he came to my cell the next day
I'd announced that he had secured
e desired confession. He acquired
by assuring Ritterhof that he had
rec witnesses ready TO swear that he II
id said he would kill the man who
used his Imprisonment and had evi-
nee of his having been seen leaving
Y uncle's house during the night OF