238 The Winning of the West 



The murderers were arrested and were brought be- 

 fore the Federal judge, Harry Innes. Owen was a 

 friend of Innes, andiiad been by him recommended 

 to Wilkinson as a trustworthy man for any secret 

 and perilous service. Nevertheless, although it was 

 his own friend who had been murdered, Innes re- 

 fused to try the murderers, on the ground that they 

 were Spanish subjects; a reason which was simply 

 nonsensical. He forwarded them to Wilkinson at 

 Fort Warren. The latter sent them back to New 

 Madrid. On their way they were stopped by the 

 officer at Fort Massac, a thoroughly loyal man, who 

 had not been engaged in the intrigues of Wilkinson 

 and Innes. He sent to the Spanish commander at 

 New Madrid for an interpreter to interrogate the 

 men. Of course the Spaniards were as reluctant as 

 Wilkinson and Innes that the facts as to the rela- 

 tions between Carondelet and Wilkinson should be 

 developed, and, like Wilkinson and Innes, they pre- 

 ferred that the murderers should escape rather than 

 that these facts should some to light. Accordingly 

 the interpreter did not divulge the confession of the 

 villains; all evidence as to their guilt was withheld, 

 and they were finally discharged. The Spaniards 

 were very nervous about the affair, and were even 

 afraid lest travelers might dig up Owen's body and 

 find the despatches hidden in his collar; which, said 

 De Lemos, they might send to the President of the 

 United States, who would of course take measures 

 to find out what the money and the ciphers meant. 36 



36 Do. , letter of De Lemos. 



