The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-05-15
Counter
Confessions
By SARAH BAXTER

to James and Lucy Jointly. This was
no surprise. for it was well known that
the testator. who had no children. had
approved a plan OF union between his
favorite nephew and niece and that
they should inherit his property. They
were lovers. We're engaged and soon to
be married.
There was great surprise. therefore.
when half brother of the deceased
named Torrance pronounced the will a
forgery. This would give the property
to the heirs at law. and Torrance would
receive third. or about 100000. But
a still greater surprise was sprung
when Torrance accused James Ander
son OF the forgery. Unfortunately. both
witnesses to this will were dead
Torrance had divorced his wife. who
had married another man named
Baker Baker had trouble with the wo-
man and To get rid of her had gone TO
parts unknown Ii was supposed that
the origin of the accusation was In
Mrs. Torrance Baker, who had known
Mr.. Anderson. the testator, and swore
that the signature TO the will was not
his.
When James Anderson received
visit from her attorney. Edward Mark
ham. james asked whether. should an
accused person confess the crime OF
which he was accused. his counsel
would still be bound TO defend him
The lawyer replied that defense un-
der the circumstances would be per
1tr -.
confessed that he had forged his uncIe's
will. Markham was greatly surprised.
for young Anderson had singulurly
honest countenance. Indeed. notwitb
standing the confession. Markham did
not believe that bis client was guilty.
Markham took great interest in the
case. for not only q fortune for "A pair
OF young lovers, but young AndersOn's
acquittal of heinous crime. were nj
stake There WAS the usual examina-
ton or experts I'm chirography and the
usual differences OF opinion on the part
of these gentlemen. Half OF them pro
uonnced the signature to the will TO be
genuine. while the other half declared
that IL was a palpable forgery Most
OF the latter on comparing the sigma
sons writing bore witness that he had
written IL One expert declared that
no man could have written IL. for 1t
bore many characteristics OF a femi-
nine hand
Lucy Anderson attended the court
regularly and was naturally under a
tGrrible strain. When this Testimony
was adduced several persons among
the spectators looked at her as much
as 10 say. Perhaps. after all. she IS
the criminal" This WAS too much for
her. She tainted and was carried out
of the courtroom.
The next development In the case
was that Lucy sent for her lovers
counsel and confessed to him that IL
was she and not James who had forged
the will This set new complexion on
the case for the attorney. He had two
confessions. one from James. the other
from Lucy Anderson The former he
had never believed. and as the case
had proceeded he had conceived a sus-
picion that James was shielding some
one When Lucy had tainted on hear.
ing that the forger must have been a
woman the lawyer made up his mind
that he had reached a solution OF the
problem
He consulted with his client, inform
ing him Of Lucy's confession. James
did not seem TO be surprised on hear.
ing of IL, but stolidly adhered TO what
be had said. declaring that Lucy had
confessed to save him from disgrace
and Imprisonment He begged her
counsel TO conceal the latest confession
and, If he could not save him on a tech.
nicality, TO let the case go against him
The prisoner was convicted, largely
on the evidence OF Mrs. Torrance-B Baker.
who nj the time the will was made OF
supposed to have been made was on
very friendly terms with the testator
james received his conviction stoically
as though conscious OF doing a noble
action instead OF having committed a
crime Lucy was again carried out OF
the courtroom in a swoon- Shortly aft.
er the finding OF the verdict James was
sentenced TO ten years Imprisonment
in the state penitentiary.
Just before he was to be taken TO
prison who should turn up but Francis
Baker. the second husband OF Mrs.
Torrance Baker. who had been active
IN securing young Anderson's convic-
ton. He had been in the interior OF
South America
Bakers return produced a great
bouleversement I'm the situation He
had witnessed a subsequent will to the
one mentioned. leaving all his estate
to his nephew with a provision that
he should marry his cousin Lucy A
new hunt was instituted and this will
found Torrance also testified that the
signature TO the will James Anderson
had been convicted OF forging was
genuine
James Anderson's counsel applied
for new trial. The application was
granted. and Ut the second trial, which
WIS 81 mere form. the accused was ac-
quirted He had been shielding Lucy
under the belief that she had forged
the viii. anu she later had attempted tU
shield IiinI. thinking To save him by
her own sacrifice.
They were ready enough To comply
with The pro, i>;onS of the second will
aInl were. n,-''--'...' accordingly.