Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-16
this being the case, I'm afraid l must
keep my eye upon you till have reported
70 RI tho v,alioo

this being the case, I'm afraid must
keep my eye upon you till 1have reported
the matter to the police"
As the coast guardsman proceeds with
this statement, gradually become aware
of the serious position l am in aad just
as he finishes recollect that probably the
sketch book in question is the one at this
moment in my pocket. The long-im-
pending storm now burst overhead into a
deluge of rain i; the wind RACES, and amid
thunder and lightning, and pitchy
darkness, am taken back, virtually in
custody, to the lonely coast guard station.
Committed for trial on the charge of
willful murder! Thus stood 1 under the
black BEAM" the shadow of the gallows;
for the verdict of the coroner's jury and
the decision of the local magistrate went
dead against me.
That | have long since emerged from it
is of course pretty evident, but men have
been hanged upon less ciacumstantial evil
dence than was brought against me.
FoTty-fve pounds in notes were stuffed
into the pocket of that fatal sketch book
which was found in my possession. 1t
was impossible for me to prove that had
not stolen it, or that the pistol did not be-
long to me. True, no che had ever seen
me with it until the coast-guardsman
came up, and equally true was it that no
one had ever seen the unhappy man with
such weapon. We could never find out
how he came by it, or how he managed
so carefully to conceal it. These were
awkward facts which tod heavily against
me, setting aside minor details. No,
there was only one line of defense, and
this, in the end, was adopted success
fully.
l had to prove that the young artist
was suicidal maniac, who had been in
confinement in the Homeskirk asylum at
the time l had visited it, some few years
previously that he had been released
under the impression that he was cured,
and that it was quite possible for the
malady to have returned. I could not
rely on my position in life and my hither-
to untarnished character for having my
account Of the tragedy believed.
But, ali me I! the anxiety whilst these
things were pending and the evidence got
together. The director of the asylum
who had shown me over it was dead the
keepers or attendants changed or dis
charged the medical men or other
authorities connected with the case were
all in the far north, and were subppnaed
with considerable difficulty. The friends
of the unfortunate lunatic had been
greatly to blame in allowing him such
unmatched freedom, but it was thought
that, in permitting him to travel in
pursuit of his much-loyed art, they
were adopting the surest means OF
restoring him to health. | recollected
afterward that he had been pointed out
to me, during my inquisitorial visit to
the asylum, as a peculiar case Of mono
mania. He believed that he had com
mitted some dreadful crime, which he
| could only expiate with his life. l recol-
lect that lie eyed me distrustfully, appear
ing to overhear and resent the muttered
remarks the doctor made about him. He
recognized me probably from the first,
when we again met on the height above
that little seaside town, and my face may
have revived in his poor demented brain
some horrible and mysterious association,
and thus become the exciting cause OF
that access of his madness which ended
in self destruction. However this may
have been, it was not difficult to account
for the strange and disagreeable effect his
presence always had upon me. Could
but remember earlier where | saw him
before, should have been, of course, on
my guard. His life, poor fellow, might
have been spared, and I should have
escaped the fearful suffering | endured
whilst standing under the shadow Of the
black BEAM