Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1905-05-13 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MAY 13, 1905.  -eenoe. His look, his tone were those of a oar did, truth-telling roan. And I was in duty bound to take him to London, and bring him be. fore , the Woodstdokigrrein magistrates on a charge of inurdeir! , The constable and and I gave evidence aa to the finding of the body, and two doctors spolio to the cauee of doath—a, buili'et wound from a revolver. And then Mr Brannigan's name was °ailed.  He came forward with evident reluctance, and I noticed that he never once looked at the prisoner. 443 began by saying that he had been subcenaed by the police, and that he did wit believe prisoner was guilty. "We are not here to inquire as to your belief," said the Mairman sternly, " but. to pet evidence of facts. When did you last cee Mr Elroy senior alive?" "Not for some days before his death." "That is not true! I saw you at his door at eight o'dook on the Might he died, and he lit you in himself."  It was Miss Leslie who had spoken. Everyone turned to look at heir. She was Rtanding up, facing the witness, her faze white as a sheet It was evident that she had spoken without thinking *here she was.  "You—you are ntistaken," stammered the witness, "it must have been some one e!w." "No; I am sure it, was you, and I believe yua shot him yourself! Look at him! He can't dualy it!" •  "This is very irregular," said the chairnian, harshly. "Sit down, madam. If you have am, evidence to give, either for or against the prisoner, you will be heard later. I can quite understand your being upset, Mr Bra.nniga,n,.' he continued, speaking to the lawyer. "The prisoner must be remanded in any case till ths day week, and we wila take your evidence thea. In the meantime the prisoner is remanded." fof me I scarcely kr.ew how to act. Therewas no evidence against Bra.nnigan, absolutely none, eoccept the fact—if it was a fact —Omit he had seen tbe decceeed just before the time When (according to Elvey's story) the murder must have been eenunittcd. And yet I strongly sus. pet led tht the girt's accusation was true. I spen the post of the .day in oaarehing the prenaisi more carefully than ever for the wenen wit whi..h the deed had been done, and at hut my patience was rewarded. Behind a locee brick i a structure that supported the water-butt in 01 yre.ll I found a cavity, and in it a revolver.  Esxly next morning I took it with nie to slow it to Mr Brannigan, and ask him if he owur.l it, and I was told that Mr Brannigan had 11. ft for London the. night before. The police w.lO on his track hot-foot, but they never stuicettled in tracing him. Two years later an Englishman died in great poverty and wretchedness in a obscure valogo. in Spain, and papers in his pcs session showed that he was none other than Bra nigan, the Woodstock-green lawyer. It turned out that he had been borrowin.. more: on the houses Of old Mr }lvey, of whic. he held the title-deeds, forging his signature and, in faat, using his property as if it had bee his own. Being on the eve of discovery an, ruin, he lied no doubt tried to make terms wit. the old money-lender, and, being threatened wit exposure and preseention, he had with one mar &ions shot rid himself of the. Man he 1). wren4;ed. The old- -in.an must have informed lrii. that he expected his nephew that night, an with consummate audacity the murderer 1'" watched' for his arrival, contriving to meet him as if by accident, as he was leaving the how,* and make him believe that his position was on of such peril that nothing bat immediate 110 could save him. With the uncle dead and b heir a fugitive, .he no doubt thought he secti,red his own safety. . The revolver' Ills afterwards identified by th make, as one he had aced to Brannigan eon' I years before, and the result of his evident• cotipted with. Lily own was that Clarenoe EI was ordered to be di.elie.rged. Clarence afterwa emigrated to easrads with the balance, taki • Miss Leslie • with .hirn. May good luck at, them 1