The Irish standard., 1915-05-29
Continued from Last Weekly

-. l1RSS.s3s1DD l.
Continued from Last Weekly
came along the causeway which crossed
the bawn-that is to say, the small yard
lying in front of the cabin. When he
saw us, visible change of expression
passed over his face.
One of the constables, showing him
the warrant, laid his hand on his shoul-
der, saying at the same time, 81 arrest
you in the name of the queen
"What for?' said he, looking very
angry.
For the murder of John Freeman.
Melody turned pale and staggered.
Gentlemen" he said, "Inever did it. +"
MELODY said the subinspector,
"Mr. Freeman's ring was seen in your
possession. You may make any state
ment or explanation that you please,
but warn you that what you say will
be used against you hereafter at your
trial"
Gentlemen, said Melody, "I'n
tell you all know about that ring. One
morning Iseen a flock Of pigeons in the
black field beyant there that has the
heap of white stones in the middle of
it. crept under the fence, and when l
got near threw stone or two at them.
They fed away, but wan of them flew
SO bad and sat down again go soon that
I followed after and killed her. The
ring was fastened to her leg with bit
of cord. was afeared that some one
would claim it on me, SO I touId Dannie
not to tell.''
And the ring, where is it?'' said
Mr.. Watkins sternly.
Melody hesitated for a moment or
two; then he said boldly:
Sir, losht it,
l perceived at once and every one
there perceived, too, that he lied. The
pigeon story, too, though told so circum-
stantially, we of course disbelieved.
Dannie was arrested, too, and led away
crying bitterly. Melody was lodged in
the county Jail, and the boy taken in
charge by the police lest his evidence
should be in any way tempered with
pending the trial.
Melody s cabin was searched by the
police, but without discovering there
any further evidences of his guilt. It
was, however, now recalled that some
thing like fracas had occurred be-
tween my brother and the Irish Amer
lean on the evening before the disap-
pearance. That was the evening Of my
brothers return from Dublin. He ar
rived unexpectedly by the post car from
Ballymohur and walked home from the
village of DunBeacon, which was only
three-quarters of mile from the rec
tory. AS he was leaving the village
Melody was seen to join him, he being
then in tipsy condition. What &C.
Cured between them in the way of con-
versation was not heard, but after
awhile my brother was seen to give him
a strong push, not blow, which sent
him staggering across the road, after
which he fell into the grip. Jack
walked on then, taking no further no.
tice of him. Jack said nothing about
this affair to any of us.
OF the subsequent Investigations and
inquiries of the police shall say little.
Their theory Of course was that Melody
on the evening of the disappearance had
Joined my brother in the dusk of the
evening, had struck and stunned him
then on Dhu-Corrig, rifled the body and
flung it into the water. Melody's arrest
took place on the 10Th of October, and
of course created great deal of excite
ment over the whole country. A detect
i've came down from Dublin, but no
further evidence was discovered against
him save indeed the ring itself. This
was found with jeweler in Ballymo.
hur and at once surrendered to the po-
lice. The jeweler, Mr.. Campion, ad-
mitted that he had bought it from Mel
ody, who had previously sold him a
watch and other trinkets which he said
he had brought home with him from
America. I drove into town with Mr..
Watkins and at once identified the ring.
The constabulary were still searching
for further evidences of Melody's guilt
when something happened which in all
probability was the means of saving an
innocent mans life-viz, complete cor
roboration of Melody's incredible story
about the pigeon and the ring.