Fair play., 1920-11-20
to do, but that he had disposed Of my

body.
"In arranging the spot to indicate
| a murder l had thrown my hat, which
was broken and bloody. down the
bank. 1t had caught on a projecting
rock. had taken ring off my finger
| and had thrown that into the p"ol.
also had thrown In my coat. 1t had
blood on the collar and shoulders. All
this seemed to me to afford inconclus-
i've evidence, but there were obvious
difficulties in finding body which
might increase Richards troubles.
81 waited in New York, carefully
concealed, many months, reading Of
the progress Of my murder trial in the
newspapers. 1t gained some celebrity.
The prosecuting zeal was tremendous,
and public interest, I gathered, acute.
My ring was dredged up and was re-
garded as important evidence. The
dredge also brought up some bones
which, as l read in the papers. were
regarded as fish-nibbled remains Of
me.
much legalistic argument ensued.
became case Of Importance, involv-
ing principles Of evidence. The super
fetal facts were all against Richard.
His confession faced him. The evil
dence l had arranged damned him.
Our relationship in hate and his
threats against me arose against him.
He thought he had killed me. He knew
he had. There were many witnesses
against him.
"The only thing helping him was the
lack Of clearly identified body. But
there were vestiges of something
which, in the circumstances, were ac-
cepted as parts Of the corpus deficit.
think the prosecution and the jury,
convinced that / was dead and my re-
mains swept away, were anxious to
meet technically the requirements Of
law.
"The story of our lives together, as
l read it in the testimony of witnesses
who knew more of its terrors than
thought anyone knew, was terrific. 1t
would have damned any aggressor in
the opinion Of any body of men. Ev-
eryOne who knew anything of the case.
Richard himself included, was con-
vinced that had been murdered. The
doubt which remained merely served
to get Richard life sentence instead
Of the gallows. Popular psychology
condemned him. The lack Of essential
evidence was ignored.
II waited until l knew what his
fate was, and then, rejoicing, l left
the country. l had no prospects and
few plans, but my inclination was to
90 to South America, and l followed
it.
MY hatred never ceased. 1t grew
as a passion, at first a disturbing one,
later a satisfactory one. l wanted this
man to suffer. Nothing that he can
suffer will properly pay him--at least
it will not pay my score.
Some day, l know. for l have the
determination, l shall return to Hart
ley house as its owner, although es-
teemed an alien. with false name, a
false life and great Joy. What is a
family that should not enjoy my per-
| feet revenge upon this brute who made
fifteen years and more Of my life
in its most impressionable form, an
undesirable thing when 1t was most
| desired?
II shall 60 back to Hartley house
| and If life and health be spared me-
| l shall make it and life in it jovial,
| and If strength be spared my will, the
knowledge that my brother Richard
| is suffering for the murder Of dead
| live man shall be the cosy north wind
In the caves below which burn my
| cheerful fires.
This is my crime, and If 1t causes
no one dear to me later to suffer, !
want it known. Some day | shall 20
back as man wholly unknown to
| people who knew the Dobsons. l shall
be what | have been, Homer Sidney
| shall buy the old place. | shall know
that Richard Dobson Is suffering q
most equitable but Illegal punishment
IN penitentiary close to the place
where | shall live in the circumstances
which great deal of money will en-
able me to set up.
mat is my natural revenge upon q
hend who happened to come of the
same parents as l. Hate Is wonder
full friend"