As those who read my article on the Revenge-Killer might recall then I reached out through the guards and the warden of the Stockades to try to get a form of communication with the alleged killer going. Much to my surprise this resulted in a letter delivered to our office by Lieutenant Leopold Parker of Golf Company, aka, The King's Footmen. The letter itself - besides a short introduction by the Lieutenant held a few pages penned by the Revenge-Killer himself, or as he prefers to be called "The Black Swan", aka Drake Swanlake.
Mister Swanlake start his letter by expressing surprise that I reached out and apologizes for the bad writing - and the fact that we are unable to meet face to face. I too regret this, I have been looking for an excuse to review prison food for a while - but I'll also admit I much appreciate the guards focussing on security over my curiosity, especially since the guy did escape once already.
I’d like to point out that this is the words of a criminal, a man who days after writing this letter was found guilty and sentenced to spend rest of his life in jail. He is at best extremely biased, at worst, lying and manipulating. So do keep that in mind as you read on, dear reader.
Mister Swanlake goes on to explain how a guard had taken a keen interest in his wife, had hired bullies and thugs to harass the pair of them. As a result, Mister Swanlake went to the guards, but instead of getting the aid Mister Swanlake expected, he was instead accused of domestic abuse against his wife, and while he was being interrogated by the guards, his wife was killed, according to Mister Swanlake this happened with the aforementioned guard being present.
The letter goes on to talk about how this guard covered his tracks, the case got closed, no one was found guilty of the murder of his wife. He does not mention whether he was found guilty in the abuse of his wife or not, but he does go on to say how he eventually tracked down the thugs the guard had used, tortured them, and got information out of them. He claims they told him that the guard was behind the murder of his wife, but before he could do anything with this information he was arrested and sentenced to five years in jail. Tortured and left in darkness. Or so he says.
Once he got out, he tracked down the guard, killed him and hung him from a lamppost. And while rest of the story has been covered in previous articles, I'll just quote the rest of his letter here:
As such I continued sending 'messages' to the guards, in hope to unmask them and reveal their true nature in time, toying with them and also leaving them clues about
and my past.
Sadly, I lowered my guard and I got caught.
Lieutenant Leopold Parker took the matters into his hands and ensured I'd spend a very comfortable night in the Stockades. With a cup of coffee and a lot of quality talk. To remind, thankfully, about the usually reasonable behavior they have.
I could not stand such mannered behavior, it sickened me. I knew then that I had to escape.
A day later I managed to escape during transfer. However another group saw that I harmed the guards, who escorted me, and they chased after me.
I managed to take refuge in Duskwood's crypts, hiding in the darkness and recovering from that 'cup of coffee'.
It did not take long until they found me and their manhunt continued.
Two or three groups joined together, covering a lot of ground in the woods and along the river.
I hardly escaped with my life, letting the river carry me and mask my scent. The river carried me on a small island near Westfall; that is where I could no longer fight...and that is where my flight ended.
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I sit in the dark cell now; I can hardly move.
Just tonight I have heard that there will be a trial. Odds that I will survive this are slim and it is likely I will get sentenced to death.
This may be the last you will hear of me, monsieur Lester.
Know that this meant a great deal to me. I only hope that the truth comes to light...
Again, I have to remind that this is the words of a killer, it is very likely it is not actually the truth, or only part of it. So again, keep that in mind dear reader.
The Trial
Having heard both in form of the letter from Mister Swanlake, but also through sources, that a trial was held late last week I went to see the guards to hear more about the result of that. I would have preferred attending the trial but unfortunately that was not an option. Security reasons apparently.
Lt. Leopold Parker: "How can I help? "
Hardhy Lester: "I was hoping for some details about the recent trial."
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Ah, of course."
Lt. Leopold Parker: "So, anything specific you'd like to know? "
Hardhy Lester: "Well the obvious of course. How did it go? what was the verdict?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "I think it went rather well. I had pressure from above to push for his execution, from above the Captain herself."
Hardhy Lester: "So was he found guilty?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Though after a thorough trial his sentence was put at lifetime, due to the complexities of some of the charges he had against him. Aye, he was, on most of the counts."
Lt. Leopold Parker: "All counts but the stalking and the murder of the guard, the judge did not feel as if a confession on that part was enough as we were not truly able to gather much evidence. It could all have been fabricated for a narrative, in the end."
Hardhy Lester: "So what was he found guilty of in the end?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Not my choice, but I am personally happy with such a verdict in the end. Men like that, in my opinion, do not deserve the mercy of a quick end at the hands of an executioner."
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Destruction of property and public endangerment. Guilty. His assault charges were changed to attempted murder on two counts. Guilty. And he was also found guilty of the attempted escape from prison, during his transfer."
Hardhy Lester: "And what was the sentence?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "He will spend his remaining days locked within a cell."
Hardhy Lester: "So prison for life?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Lifetime. Though if new evidence shows up in the murder of Guardsman Lesek that truly point toward him, he may have that changed to execution. Indeed."
Lt. Leopold Parker: "If that is the case then another trial will be held, on that count specifically."
Hardhy Lester: "Alright. So he pleaded guilty, but due to lack of evidence was not found guilty in the case of murder correct?"
Lt. Leopold Parker: "Indeed. Since the evidence was all notes and confessions received from him, it could have easily been a constructed narrative according to the judge and held little in regards of... punch."
Hardhy Lester: "That makes sense. I guess that is cased closed then and on to the next one""That makes sense. I guess that is cased closed then and on to the next one"
Case closed. Guilty party is locked up. Is this a tragic story about a man done wrong who turned evil? or an attempt at making excuses for murderous behavior? Your guess is as good as mine, but the verdict is clear, and our coverage ends here.