A Mystery Solved

Van Wr.irr, ()., July 2i -The mystery surrounding the horrible murrtor of Engineer Madison Vandever.dcr has at last been cleared away by a confession from ITireman Samuel Roadhou-je. The coroner commenced the inquest Monday morning. AH of the tostiniony introduced verifiod what has heen stated in former dispatches conoerning the illíeeling between the men. Koadhouse, when he heard how strong the evidence was against bim, was still confined to his bed and, after a few moments' deliberation, said: "Sheriff, I want to teil you somothing. I killed Vandevender." While he was speaking his throat clogged and he uttered the last thvee words in a husky voice. He continued, after a few bo ments: "I did it in selfdefense. He accused me of lnformlng the superintendent tbat he was drunk at Devil's Lake last week, and, although I offered to prove to him that I had not reported him, he refused to believe me, and had been abusing me more or less sinco then. Last Friday, while we were at Franklin getting ready to go out on our run, we had a quarrel and came near exchanging blow3. We were seen by several railroad men, and it is partially on this account that I decided lo give up. When we reached Enterprise hc commenced on me agaia and said: 'D - - you, ril flx you.' Van was powerful and desperate, and, to teil the iacts of the case, I was afraid of him, After leaving Enterprise he repeated the threat, and I walked back to the tool-box when he wasn't looking and flxed the hammer they ïound with the handle sticking out so I could grasp It. I then started back to my seat in the cab. Just before I reached It Van reached out his left arm and dealt me a terrible blow on the leit side of the head. I was staggered tor a moment, and just as I was about recovered be raised his right hand from the throttle and gave me another terrible blow on the right slde of the head. As I had by thls time turned around to reach for the hammer, this blow, although a fearful one, did not injure me, although my head was cut. "I jumped back, grabbed the hammer, and catching it with both hands raised it, and, throwing all my weight on it, brought it down on Van's head with all the forcé I could muster. In the meantime we had been watching each other like hawks and I had to watch for a good chance. The flrst blow did not appear to stun him and I showered several more blows - I don't remember how many- and did not quit until hc lay still. I then picked him up and set him on the seat on his side of the engine, where he was found. I shut down the engine and kept a good lookout ahead for danger. I hardly realized what I had done until it was over with. At flrst I did not know what to do, so I lay down on the floor of the engine and in the few minutes which elapsed it came to me to flx the story I told Dr. Woods. In coming into Van Wert I leaned out the passageway leading into the cab of the engine and saw that the Pittebnrgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago track was clear and let ths engine go, deciding to wait until she would run down, and then let some one find us. Just as we had passed the depot Van raised his head, and I again picked up the hammer and dealt him another blow which opened his head, I feit the blood and brains spatter on my face. That was all. You know the rest." The funeral services of Vandevendor were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock under tho auspices of the Masons and the Biotheriiood of Locomotivo Engineers.