The bee., 1914-08-28
Crockford's
Wife
BY SADIE oLcorT

went to his bank, drew $500 and was
about to go out when he stopped and
said to the paying teller
'Took right over my shoulder You
see that young italian looking fellow
with striped waistcoat and felt hat
with fancy band? Well, when got
through counting the money you paid
me turned suddenly and caught the
fellow looking at the bills with COW
etous expression on his face. You
know that there are lot Of robberies
committed by persons seeing some one
draw money from bank"
"why don't you call policeman to
see you home or wherever you are
going?
Because / don't believe l shall die
till my time comes, and when 1t does
nothing can save me-"
The disappearance Of Stephen Crock
ford was one Of the great mysteries
Of the close of the nineteenth century.
The police had very strong clew, but
were unable to follow It. A bank
clerk gave them the incident that has
been told above, and they did not
doubt that the Italian had murdered
Crockford. but when or where or
what had been done with the body
they failed tosdiscover. The only 9TH
er clew In the matter was furnished
by Mrs. Crockford. Her husband
when coming home from the city often
made a short cut over a path through
a wood. She searched the wood and
in part so thick that few ever went
into 1t she found the remains of a fire.
and some wood corded near had visi-
bly, diminished. In the ashes she
found some bits Of bone and burned
flesh. She picked up also an unburn-
ed piece Of a mans cuff. This she took
to laundry where her husband was
used to having his collars and cuffs
Numbered, and the mark on II was
identified as having been put on a cuff
belonging to the missing man. This,
indicating that the body had been
burned in the thicket, ended the infor-
nation concerning the disposition of
Mr.. Crockford's body. The police, get
ting no further. clew, gave up the case.
Crockford was financial man for
Englehart & Co., importers of Japa-
nese goods. Mrs Crockford after her
husbands disappearance went to the
head Of the firm and asked for a posi-
ton by which she might support her
self. She was taken into his private
Office, where she was informed that
sum was missing from the firms cash
and her husband was suspected of hav-
ing taken it. He had been seen a day
or two before his disappearance in
company with a blond woman not his
wife. Mr.. Englehart believed that
Crockford was not dead, but had fed
with the blond woman.
On hearing this recital Mrs. Crock
ford fell on the floor in a faint. So
great was the sympathy of Mr.. Engle-
hart that he agreed to employ her on
the books, she having some knowledge
of bookkeeping. She became the as
sistant of John Hardwick, who had
been her husbands assistant. Since
the latter's disappearance Hardwick
had been promoted to be the financial |
man Of the firm.
A year passed, during which nothing |
was heard of Crockford. Mrs. Crock
ford was complained of by Hardwick |
for inefiiciency several times and at |
last notified the firm that she must |
leave or he would do so himself She |
was informed Of the fact and told that |
since Hardwick was an excellent ac-
countant and willing to work for a |
mere 1.-THE Of what he was worth they |
had decided that she must go. She |
asked to be kept till the end of the |
month, and her request was granted
One evening Mrs. Crockford tee-
phoned Mr.. Englehart that Hardwick !
was a defaulter and about to take to |
flight. She begged that Hardwick be |
arrested or kept in sight. Englehart |
discredited the information. but put a
watch on Hardwick.
The next morning who should APP
pear at Englehart & Co.'S Office but
Mr.. and Mrs. Crockford. They begged
to be admitted to the private room of
the head Of the firm, and there they
let in on his brain a flood Of informa-
ton.
Shortly before Crockford disappear
ed he told his wife that Hardwick was
a defaulter, but had trapped him
(Crockfor0 into a position wherein
there was excellent evidence that he
was the thief. He was every day ex-
pecting arrest.
Mrs. Crockford arranged for her hus
bands d'sap carance. She dined with
him al oui &c restaurant made up
with NlY ? Wig and enameled com
plexioi. Srs was the Italian who had
watched aim at the bank. She had
taken the wood that had disappeared
and burned most of 1t in her fireplace.
With the rest she burned some pieces
Of meat and bone. The "u,' SIZE had
partly burned and rubbec M GRAIN
der in ashes. Her fainth : wien in
formed OF her husbands Nlhainy and
lnfidelity was feigned. She had asked
for position with a view TO destroy
inc the ox~s.lo.,a.. Towdx.ysol~ hoI ooolo1 |