The daily Alaskan., 1915-07-09

He pictured the volcano of jealousy that had smouldered In my breast till the opportunity came, when l could strike for revenge. So graphic, so pie turesque was his description of my condition that he almost convinced me-
 The pistol found under Parker's pil- low should have confirmed my evi- denCe, for l was put on the stand in my own defense, but the prosecuting attorney claimed that 1 had placed 1t there for that express purpose. He even attempted to prove that the pis- tOl had belonged to me and brought forth a witness who swore that he had seen 1t in my possession. This was 0 cllnCher on his theory and naturally turned many against me who had pre- viOusly believed in my innocence.
 However, 1t was impossible to convict me on such evidence. At the cOnclu- 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 would not again be tried, but in the eyes of the public I was a condemned murderer.
 The object of my life now became the finding of Parker's murderer. But where should look for him2 My coun- sel had made inquiries that might lead to any one who had a grudge against Parker and had failed completely. But there was no reason why I should not 20 on hunting. l secured access to Parker's papers and spent hours in careful examination of them. Not q 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 Parker's house. He had not even left a footprint
 1 hired detectives to work with me and directed them to watch every one who had been in any way connected with the murdered man. These per sons were continually reporting clews which turned out not to be clews and which they invented for the purpose of remaining in my pay. If Parker had ever had any difficulty with any one he had kept it to himself. That he feared some one was evident from his having called upon me to remain one night at his house and that he had told me there was a story connected with his having done so.
 Meanwhile I lived a life of horror \ few of my nearest friends stood by me, but I knew that there were times when some of them shrank from being seen in my company. l could sec thae l was being pointed out as Thompson. the murderer. What means possess ed were gradually shrinking away un- der the expense attending my search and the fact that l had given up every other occupation. 1 became despond- ent as to ever clearing myself and was thinking of hiding my identity in a foreign land when fate did for me what 1 could not do for myself. A clew was revealed to me.
 One morning the newspapers an- nounced that Judge Morehouse had killed a burglar in self defense In his 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 penitcutiary. The term had ex- pired a 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- VlctiOn.
 The next development edged closely upon my case. It was that the criminal had been financial manager of the firm in which Parker was partner. At this point I saw vindicatiOn for me. Flung ing into an investigation, l unCarthed tue laCL lllNJ uIhCI uuu NlSCONGlCN NhS defalcatiOn. l did not learn that he had taken any especial part in securing the conviction of the defaulter. but l 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 con- pare the date of the Convicts discharge with that of Parker's murder. Securing the former record, 1 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 1t was believed by all Every mail brought me letters of con- graduation, and was restored to favor with all my friends and acquaintanceS.