Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-06-17

"A case OF foolish jealousy coupled
with a proposition to commit the dark
crime Of murder, recently transpircd
IN our neighboring village OF Crestline,
We had intended to give the names OF
the parties to this transaction, but at
the earnest solicitation of one in
tercsted we have concluded to withhold
proper names. Some two years ago
a man aud his wife, with their little
family, from an eastern state, settled
in Crestlinc. F'r the present we call
the gentleman Mr. A. lie was, and is
pass,onAtely attached to his wife !;
but his domestic happiness has been
sadly marred by the frequent calls
of a lawyer from Mansfield, who
paid, as he thought, too many atten-
tons to his wife. The husband BROOD
ed in silence over the supposed incon-
stancy of his bosom companion. He
hever intimated suspicious to her or
any one else until the thought Of dis
patching his hated rival took possession
Of his brain. Blu. the query was, how
could be accomplish this and escape
detection. At last, as he supposed, ne
hit upon q plan. He went to brake
man on the p. T. w. q c. X. r., with
whom he was on terms of the greatst
intimacy. and to him communicated
his suspicious, and proposed to give
him 1925 in money, gold watch and
a suit Of fine clothes, as a considera-
ton for killing the Mansfield lawyer !;
or, a. he expressed it ITO make bug
yards victuals of him." The money
and watch were delivered, the brake
man entered into contract, apparently
in good faith, but went the next day
aud informed the lawyer Of all that
happened. Matters rested for a few
days. One evening IS the husband
was approaching his home, he beheld
the lawyer leaving the house, and on
entering saw his wife hurriediy shut a
bureau drawer. On her absence he
examined the drawer-imagine his sur
prise at discovering in it large guam
tity Of gold coin, which he supposed
had purchased his wife's chastity. He
was almost frantic, out said nothing,
still hoping to hear Of the lawyers
early decease As per arrangement with
the brakeman.
On the next morning, the lawyer
and brakeman, by an understanding
with the wife, who was "posted" in the
whole affair, called at the house the
wife received him in her quiet lady like
way the husband treated them with
great coldness and indifference, and
began to regard the brakeman with
suspicious Of infidelity to this trust
The wife quietly went to the bureau,
took therefrom the bag of gold, and
turning to her husband, said:
"Here IL $8,74l which my attorney
has, after . great amount of labor, col.
lected ~ my legacy, from the admins
tration Of my uncle, who you do not
know, but Who died in New Jersey some
eleven years ago. His kindly office,
for which he has retained reasonable
fee, has sffected you with q jealousy.
l hope this may teach you never to
impate crimes to others, unless you
have more evidence than the mere
suspicion Of their guilt"
The brakeman then arose aud hand
ed over the watch saying; "This 10
the price Get upon the lawyers head,
but after an investigation, concluded
that he didn't need killing, and Ihsre-
with return Il te you, hoping that you
will become = wiser and ! better man"
The reader may. imagine the effect
produced upon the jealous husband b.
beins enthusiastically convinced Of Ii
wits's fidelity end posasssed of ,oe,7ll
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