Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-12-15
Written for the Cedar Falls Gaxatte.
,l-s CRlPPS, THE MURDERER.
ny ], M, C.,

Written for the Cedar Falls Gaxatte.
CRlPPS, THE MURDERER,
| NY J. M. G.
The following story is founded on fact,
and will show what love Of gold will
do:
Years ago / was travelling in Ohio,
and made my way to small town
where expected to meet friend of
school-boy days that had not seen for
number of years. Iput up at the ho-
tel, and on inquiring for my friend was
directed where might find him.
proceeded to his residence and found
him. The greeting was cordial, as is
usual among old friend after long sep
aration. He presented me to his wife
and children, and from the appearance
of his family and of his home, / at once
came to the conclusion that my friend
was not only a happy man, but in good
circumstances, and, as the phrase Is,
welI-to-do in the world"
Thomas Train was, in his youth, nat
urally gay and lively, jovial and kind
hearted, always seemed to be in the best
of spirits. But, after our first greeting
and an hour or two spent in talking
over old times and inquiring after old
friends, Tom seemed to become taciturn
and down spirited, very much as per-
son appears while having good round
turn of the blues.
l rallied him upon his dropping spir-
its, and remarked, "Why are you 80
changed? From outward appearance
there's no cause for your being SO chang
ed from your usual gay and lively dis
position" He remarked that he had
indeed changed, but more particularly
at that time he felt unusually depressed
In spirit, and for cause, said he, "One
of our citizens died last night,-the flu
neral is tomorrow at 10 o'clock. Call
at p. NJ. tomorrow and dine with us,
and we will take stroll, and you shall
know how l feel by history of a period
of my life In the town Of Corrin,"
His history is as follows:
! "As you are aware, some fifteen years
ago | left my fathers roof in the old
Bay State, to seek my fortune in the
West. wandered to this place, and
readily found employment ut my trade
in one of the shops, and labored indus.
triously and faithfully for few years.
NV gains were not adequate to my am
bition. determined to set up shop for
myself, and have the benefit of all the
profits. l had married, consequently
my needs We're greater, and besides, the
dignity of being master of Il shop l as.
pircd to, as well as increasing my gains.
But | had not quite cash enough to
make fair start. The enterprise re-
Quired more than l could command,
and | must resort to borrowing. had
u few friends who We're ready to assist
an honest, hard working, enterprising
young man, as tried hard to be. Well,
every town of this size has its ShylOck,
and Mr.. Joseph Cripps was the shylock
of Corrin. He it was that always had
money to loan Oh high rates of interest.
OF him obtained loan, with the help
of valued friend Us indorser. But be.
fore go further with my. own story let
me give you description of Old JO
Cripps, as we call him.
He was miser of the worst sort, with
out conscience, without mercy, without
any of the virtues common to humani-
ty. A grasping, penurious, small-sOul-
Ell old miser, who would stoop to any
thing to fill his money bags or obtain
usuriOus interest, and as the sequel will
show, crime Of the deepest dye would
he resort to to gain his selfish ends.
Cripps had married a lady who, will
q brother, were the only heirs to larg,
and valuable property i'm land lyinl
near the village Of Corrin. The lane
had been divided and Cripps was enjoy
ing the benefit of his wife's possessions
and the brother, bachelor, was in the
quiet and peaceful possession of his
share. Grips cOvetOus eyes would
wander over Longs broad acres, and he
would mentally calculate on their he.
coming his wife's, in case Long should
shuttle off this mortal coil.
"Thus matters stood. Cripps ca
gerly and jealously watching the
chances that would give him possession
of the much coveted property, and re-
vOlving in his mind various schemes by
which his ends might be brought about.
will now return to my own story
again. AS have said, obtained II
loan of this same old Shilock. My bu-
siness seemed to prosper at first, but
times became harder, money grew
scarce, consequently mechanical work
suffered. In word, to make long
story short, my note uecar;e due, and
age, must have his money, or a renewal
OF the note with better security. had
not Tie face to ask friend for help
:.gain. Times were getting hard. Mon
led men began to feel anxious, and l
was afraid Of refusal. would not suf-
fer my endorser to be called upon to nav
my note, SO l resolved to offer mort
gage on my home, for an extension of
the loan. Cripps readily assented, and
the arrangements were made. NV home
was mortgaged, mote due i'm one short
year, and must be paid at maturity, or /
be turned out of doors. What picture
My family In the streets and beggard.- -
Stern necessity has furnished many a
picture of the kind, but will try and
avert such u calamity.
AS l was saying, Old Cripps was re-
volving schemes by which he might get
possession of Longs property. He had
made up his mind to have that property
by what he called fair means or foul.
First he tried to involve Long in
some trouble that would ruin him but
that would not work. Long was wary,
and knew his relatives grasping dispo-
sition, and in an upright, straightfor-
ward cOu rse, had made up his mind to
have but little to do with him, and il
possible keep out of his clutches. After
several schemes had failed, Cripps came
to the conclusion that nothing less than
a blow on the head would settle the
matter, and give him the property
Worked up to maddened jealousy, moth
ing but an opportunity was wanting to
bring about his end; and that opportu-
nifty soon presented itself. When the
Devil has any important work to do he
generally furnishes tools and time to
work.
1.-The line fence between the two
farms needed repairing. The fence ran
through deep ravine in thick wood.
1t being joint work, it was agreed that
the two should meet OH certain day
and repair the fence. Accordingly
they met,-thc work was done, Long
was slowly walking along the fence,
closely followed by Cripps.
"Cripps raised his axe and buried ii
deep in poor Longs head, and ne fell, a
lifeless corpse.
"The incarnate fend that enabled
him to strike down his fellow for gilt
tering gold, also aided him in conceal
ing the body by digging hole with his
axe and burying 1t.
"The deed is done. 4 am now ALI