The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1881-07-16 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

THE ARREST OF LEFROY.  At length the long-sought for Lefroy has been captured and the mystery of his disappearance and how he managed to elude the vigilance of the police is explained. The ingenious surmises of so many clever people are all negatived, he has not committed suicide, he has not left the country in female guise, he has not been murdered by the real murderer of Mr. Gold, and he has not done any of the thomand acts attributed to him. The truth never seemed to enter into the mind of any of these sapient speculators, the fact is it was so simple that it was forgotten. Whether he be. guilty or innocent of the murder it is not for us to determine, he has a right to a fair trial before a British jury, and that no doubt he will obtain. But this we do know, that for some reason he left his home on the night of the murder, and after wandering about for some hours and visiting at least one relative, he took lodgings in a small cottage situated in a crowded district at the East End of London, paid 3s. 6d. towards the first week's rent of 65., and hardly, if ever, left his room until the officers of justice arrested him there. This is the simple solution of the mystery. Like a hunted rat he crept into a hole and, never leaving it, his pursuers were for a pine baffled. And really if it were a game of hide and seek with the police officials, this was all Lefroy could do. He had no money, so that he could not leave the country, and apparently he had no friends willing to help him under the circumstances. The game, however, could not be a prolonged one, the requirement of secrecy compelled Lefroy to mysterious and suspicious acts and the necessity for food demanded that money should be obtained by some means. Suspicion was raised in the mind of the landlady by the fact that Lefroy always remained in his room and always kept the blinds down. True, he came down in a morning to breakfast, but he always drew down the blinds of thM room when he entered it. The landlady hardly suspected Lefroy of being the man wanted for the Brighton murder, her anxiety was concentrated on the probabilty of obtaining her rent, and this anxiety was increased by the fact that her lodger had no luggage and no coat but an overcoat. Then again the story invented by Lefroy to the effect that he was an engraver and required to be kept very quiet, and that he could not leave a machine which he had working in his room, was divested of all probability because his landlady and her daughter could never see the machine when they entered the room. On one unlucky day or perhaps lucky Lefroy asked his landlady whether she could take a telegram for hi as he had sprained his foot. She replied that she could not, but she would get someone to take it. A young man was induced to undertake the mission, and the landlady's ! laughter afterwards made inquiries at the address to which the telegram was sent. Her inquiries were not satisfactory. The landlady's suspicions were increased, and the following day, when Lefroy came down in a coat belonging to another lodger, all her faith left her, and she communicated with the police. And now comes a strange coincidence. Almost at the same time that the landlady communicated her suspicions to the police, or, as it is alleged, a little before, a mysterious stranger presented himself at Scotland-yard, and, after arranging for the payment to himself of the .£2OO reward, and stipulating that his name should never be divulged, he informed the authorities of the correct address of Lefroy, and he was captured there the same evening. It is probable that the bribe proved too tempting for some acquaintance who had been entrusted by Lefroy with his address. It is somewhat hard on the landlady, however, if the mysterious stranger takes the whole of the reward. However, to return to Lefroy, even he can hardly regret that the detectives have apprehended him. He was without money or friends, and to venture forth meant certain capture. It was impossible for him to remain where he was ; it was equally impossible for him to move. His life must have been a burden to him, the suspense and anxiety intolerable, and even arrest must have been a relief. It may be said that he could at any time he !dame(' secure arrest. That is so, but " hope springs eternal in the human breast," and though he inight welcome the arrival of the officers