The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-25
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL Is, 1860.

learned he was in California. As soon as
recovered from serious illness under
which | was laboring, l took passage for this
State. / arrived six months ago. He is
here, for l have seen him, and he can not
escape me now He is even in this city,
but little dreams that the pistol is shotted to
send him to the great reckoning. have
made few acquaintances, having no wish to
implcnte others in a work OF blood which
must be mine alone. Last night followed
him from the El Dorado, where he spends
most of his time, to a house on Powell street.
lie has visited it frequently Of late, and to
day l ascertained that he is paying his ad
dresses to widow lady of wealth residing
there. But he will not marry her, for an.
other week shall not see him alive ! You
now know all. Have l one friend in Cali.
fornia o.
To see so much spirit, so much determi.
nation, so much manhood exhibited by a
beordless boy, surprised me beyond express.
sion. I offered the brave little fellow my
hand, and he felt that he was answered.
In silence we returned to our lodgings
Bidding Jansen good night, stepped into
Smiths room for moment. found the
old gentleman somewhat agitated. He had
lost valuable diamond pin that day, and
freely intmated that the "sleek young cuss,"
as he denominoted Jansen, had stolen it.
so strenuously endeavored to dssipute the
impression, that | verify believe he felt in
clined to transfer the odium of the supposed
theft to me. That night Smith snored loud
er than usual.
Three days after, I met Jansen in the
street, and learned that he had taken rooms
on Powell street. l did not inquire the rea
son-I thought | knew it. The next day
again met him. His face was unusually
pale, yet he said he had not felt better for
years.
"There is to be a wedding on Powell
street tomorrow at least, SO Mayhem says,
but there will be no bridegroom! Do you
understand 7" He placed his finger signif.
cantIy to his lips, and we separated.
At eight o'clock the next evening, as
Isaac Mayhem was mounting the steps of the
house to which Jansen had traced him, si1
days before, q pistol ball pierced his heart
and he dropped dead upon the pavement.
Some unaccountable influence had drawn
me to the neighborhood, and hearing the re-
port of a pistol, Jansen's words flashed
| through my mind, and I started, with doz
en- others, in the direction of the tragedy
Before arrived on the spot quite a crow
had collected. The body Of Mayhew wa
lying upon the sidewalk, and over it, il
speechless agony, stood the widow who wal
to have been bride.
"Who saw this :" inquired a policeman
81 heard the report of pistol" said on
of the crowd, "and, a minute after, saw
man enter that house yonder," and he point
ed to n small frame building on the opposite
side of the street.
Tn an instant the officer, followed by tn
excited spectators, started for the house,
Springiug through the crowd, | reached tn
side of the policeman, and as he knocked q
the door I was at his elbow. felt tha
Jansen was there. The door was quietl
opened, and we'll dressed lady calmly in
quired the object Of the visit.
"We are looking for man who, FEY
minutes since, committed murder acros
the street," said the officer.
"And do you expect to fnd him in m
room, sir !" returned the lady.
"No, madam" replied the policeman
rather politely for one of his calling "but
will glance through your apartment, merel
as q matter of form, before proceeding to tn
other portions of the house."
The officer entered, closely following
While he was examining the room, for tn
first time obtained fair view Of the lady
face. Involuntariiy, threw up my hant
in amazement. She detected the movemen
and, quick as thought, placed her finger
her lips. In moment comprehended al
Richard Jansen stood before me. No
Richard no longer, now that she had sla
the destroyer Of her peace, but Martha Jal
sen, my former fellow-Iodger. Heaven
what discovery F.! And for me to have bee
so confoundedly blind, too-but no matte
The policeman searched the house, but di
not find the murderer.
The next day I met Martha on Montgom
cry street. She smiled and bowed. and
confess thought her an exceedingly prett
woman.
A week after she quietly left the State fc
Georgia, where she is now residing. Afte
the sailing of the steamer received not
through the post office from Martha. Sh
explained all, and thanked me for the assis
ance had rendered her, and the kindnes
shown to her imaginary twin.brother, RicE
) ard. ,.
When informed Smith, as did one ev'
ming, that the "sleek young cuss" whom h
had viewed with so much suspicion was
woman, he waited for me to repeat the Al
I sertion; and then checked himself in the al
of calling me a liar. The news excite
Smith, and be went to bed drunk that nigh
and snored as he had never snored before.
She who was to have been the third wit
of Mayhew still lives in San Francisco. Sh
was married in August last. met her