Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-23
A BRUTE SERVED RIGHT.

A WrOnged Wife Revenged by Her
CaIifOrnfe BFOtheF-H HOrseWhfps
for Weapens-The Becreaut Hus.
band "Gets Up and Gets.''
The Chantauqua News says; In Sep
tember last a young man in Busti by
the name of Gale was united in the un.
suppressible bonds of wedlock to Miss
Edith Phelps, of .Clymer, young lady
of responsibility and refinement. Gale
was a telegraph operator and ticket
agent Miss Phelps was the daughter
OF widow, who resided near the sta
tion. After the marriage the two young
lovers became the proprietors of the
mothers dwelling, with the mutual un-
derstanding that the widowed mother
should have the freedom of the domicil;
in short, to do as she wished. But few
weeks elapsed before the husband
showed signs of indifference, and soon
became the uncomfortable recreant in
stead of the placid lover and happy hus-
band that he had been. The first act Of
his cowardice was to turn the old
lady out of doors. This done, he en-
gagged in drinking whisky and keeping
the company OF disreputable women,
dealing out ill-treatment to her whom
he had promised before God to
love and cherish The abused wife had
sister in Ripon, Wisconsin, and a
brother in California. Mr.. Phelps went
to California when he was fifteen years
of age, and where he has grown to wealth
and manhood The mother, conversant
with the treatment dealt out to her daugh-
ter by this Gale. and with natural paren-
tai affection and grief, wrote the circum-
stances to her daughter in Ripon. Here
the aggravating news stopped only for
refreshments, when it was again sent on
its telling mission to California. The
brother perused the two letters--the one
from his sister, which inclosed the fatal
missive from mother
Losing no time, Phelps made his way
to the station, took the train, and with
revenge in his heart, was seen rushing
through mountain snd over plain-east-
ward bound. On Friday last, just before
the sun had hid its face in a western snow
bank, Phelps stepped into the telegraph
office of Clymer station and asked if the
man whom he confronted was Mr.. Gale.
That's my namer
My name is Phelps; am the brother
of your wife, and | have come all the
way from California to make your ac-
quaintanee.
Thus saying he took off his coat, laid
it Oh the table, took out revolver and
laid it on the coat; then drawing out a
rawhide whip commenced the chastise-
ment.
Gale screamed for life, thrust his head
under the table to avoid the telling blows
and howled the louder. His cries at
the attention Of the hands, who
rushed up stairs to rescue the broth of
a boy from the clutches of so fierce
stranger. Phelps raised his revolver as
their faces appeared at the door and
said: "Tll shoot the first man that
steps over that threshold" F"
This was the signal for a lively re-
treat, and the scene that ensued beggars
description. Suffice it is to say, the up
permost ones on the stairs were the first
to reach " terra frma." Meanwhile the
continued-as did the cries
for help. After tremendously closing
the performance, Phelps informed the
punished husband that he should pass
hat night with his sister, and that he
,Cale) had better make himself scarce
Accordingly next day Gale rendered
ais resignation and "petered out for
parts unknown to the writer. Phelps is
,till in Clymer with his sister and
mother, and we are informed, will re-
urn to California soon, accompanied
,y both OF them.