Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-16
RLEIGH, SCHOOLMASTER A'

| whose real name was Harris eluded all
attempts on the part of the police to find
| him. But Vertigan, who for many years
had mixed himself up with some of the
worst professional thieves and blackmail-
ers both in England and on the Continent,
had an idea that he knew the fellow, and
gave Dick information that enabled Dick
to track him down. When we had once
found Anderson. as I will continue to
call him, he was carefully watched by
my brother william, and we managed
to bribe DIR. Anderson's accomplice, a
fellow who called himself Britton, to
give away all his plans.
I'VE three decided that we would not
| prevent Dr. Anderson from carrying Off
! the boy and that we would assist him so
| far as We could without his knowledge.
'Dr. Anderson's plans were as fol-
lows: After dark the boy. on some pretext
or other, was to be entered outside into
the enclosed garden of the schoolhouse.
Once we'll outside, he was to be chloro-
formed and carried TO the river. which is
only 20 yards away from the back of the
garden. He was to be taken five miles
down the river, the boat was to be sunk,
and the boy placed in a motOrcar which
would be waiting. The motor was to go
south to Poole Harbor going round to
the south side to Poole Haven. A motor
boat has been left there moored in the
harbor about hundred yards from the
shore. Britton and Anderson were to go
on board and take the boy round the
coast to the creeks of Essex, where 1t
would remain until arrangements had
been made for the payment of a ran
som.
THE scheme had many weak points. but
II was perfectly successful, owing to the
help Vertigan was able TO give. Vertigan
had a duplicate made of the key that
opened the gate of the garden and gave
II to Britton. who told Anderson that he
had obtained ii himself by stealing the
original from the headmaster's house. At
o'clock a small pebble was thrown
against the window of the boys study.
He looked out and saw nothing. Five
minutes later another pebble was thrown.
This time the boy. who was high-spirited
and adventurous. opened the window and
leaned out, peerlng into the garden. An
derson, who was crouching below the sill,
threw a chloroformed rag over the boys
head, and lifted him clean out into the
garden. Then he closed the window and
carried him away TO the river. locking
the garden gate behind him. On their
way down the river they dropped the
boys cap in the water and could not stop
TO find 1t. They reached Poole Harbor,
made their way from there to the Orwell
without once putting ashore, and laid
their plans for ransom. which plans,
may say, Britton made us acquainted
with. The letter was forged by Vertigan
and placed In the boys study after he
had disappeared.
$50 much for the nrst OF the story.
Now l will tell you what took place on
the day Lord Arthur Meriet took the gold
TO Bartsea Island. We knew that II would
be quite useless for us to make an attack
on the motorbOst in broad daylight, so We
arranged with Britton that he was to bind
and gag Doctor Anderson when they were
about three miles outside HarWich- He
had procured a small yacht, and Dick and
William arranged 10 pick up Brttton and
the boy. This plan miscarrled. We found
the boat drifting about aimlessly. We
went on board and found Doctor Ander-
son dead and Britton nowhere 10 be seen.
In all probability Anderson had shot him,
and he had fallen overheard. / do not
know, but have never heard OF him from
that day to this. Well. my two brothers
took the boy On board and left the boat
70 drift. They found a thousand pounds
in gold on board. and they removed that
as well, and Il came In very useful after-
wards.
while they were attending to this part
Of the business Il was my duty 10 watch
the movements OF Lord Arthur hferiet
and the private Detective Dsnham
was the man who drove Lord Arthur
and penham over 70 the Island. and who
subsequently stole the motorear, aad Il
must have been then that ! dropped my
pipe The idea Of taking the car vas
this: We wanted Ia Rez heI1 of that
money On the laiand with As llklle trouble
"a possible, and We thoashl that very
likzI1 taeEa Aztapr ana os1aam #eeis