The Press., 1915-08-11

seen it fin nly possession. This was q clincber on his theory and naturally turned many agains, me who had pre- viously believed in my innocence However. it was impossible to convict me on such evidence. At the conciu. sion of the trial the judge virtually directed the jury to acquit me. Never. theless they wrangled over my case for two days, then reported that they could not agree. l was finally discharged with the understanding that l would not again be tried. but fin the eyes of the public l was q condemned murderer.
 The object of my life now became the finding of I'arker's murderer. But where should I look for him3 My coun sel had made inquiries that might lead to any one who had a grudge against Parker md had failed completely. But there was DO reason why should not go on huniing l secured access to Iarker's papers and spent hours in careful examination of them Not word in them gave the slightest clew to any enemy. The police had ex hausted the matter of evidence of any tracks the murderer might have left behind him at Pnrker's house. He had not even left Il footprint
 l hired detectives to work with me and directed them to watch every one who had been in any waX connected with the murdered man These per. sons were continually reporting clews u,h lah fnr .Ad tHe .nf Nx, hx. rta ns.I which they invented for the purpose of remaining in my pay. If Parker hnd ever had any difficulty with any one he had kept u 10 himself That he feared some one was evident from his having called upon me to remain one night i,t- Nooso s~.sa s,-..> ,.~ s-.,A sssA me there was c story connected with his having done SO.
 Meanwhile 1 lived a life of horror A few of my nearest friends stood by me. but l knew that there were times when some of them shrank from being seen in my company. could see that 1 was being pointed out as Thompson, the murderer What means l possess. cd were gradually shrinking away un. der the expense attending my search and the fact that had given up every other occupation became despond. ent as to ever clearing myself and was thinking of hiding my Identity In foreign land when fate did for me what could not do for myself. A clew was revealed to me.
 One morning the newspapers au. nounced that Judge Morehouse had lad ty, dnfn ln Ia own house. The evening papers stated that the man killed was not burglar, but one who had sought the life of the judge through revenge. Years before. Morehouse giving a jury instructions on which they were obliged to convict a criminal accused of dedication. had sentenced him to a term of ten years in the penitentiary. The term had ex' pired few months before. and the criminal had been since looking for an opportunity to carry out threat he had made to kill the judge whom he con sidered in part the cause of his con. viction.
 The next development edged closely upon my case. It was that the criminal had been financial manager of the firm in which Parker wns Il partner. At this point [ saw vindication for me. Plung. ing into an investigation, l unearthed the fact that Parker had discovered the dedication. | did not learn that he had taken any especial part in securing tho conviction of the defaulter. but 1 sur missed that there might have been some. thing galling in Parker having run him down and exposed him.
 A natural theory was that the con vict having been discharged from prison, had first killed Parker, then waited for the murder to blow over be. fore attempting to kill the judge An important point with me was to com pare the date of the convict's discharge with that of pnrker's murder. Securing the former record. found that the murder had occurred the second night after the convict's discharge.
 Unfortunately the criminal had been shot dead by the judge. so l could get no confirmation of my theory from him. But my circumstantial evidence was so strong that lt was believed by all Every mail brought me letters of con graduation. and was restored to favor with all my friends and acquaintances
 In time carried my theory further to account for Parker having called for ne to sleep iR his home the night he was killed Doubtless the convict had threatened him at the time Of his de falcntion: but Parker had not spoken of It. or if he had the fact had passed into oblivion. But Parker doubtless re. membered the threat and knew the date tlWt the convict would be fiber ated This 1 surmised was the reason he called upon me for companionship. If not for protection.