The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-04-17

on the floor.
I stood appalledas 1 gazed upon the
body. He who but moment ago stood
up in all the pride and manliness of
youth filled with the bright dreams of
the future, now lay inanimate at our
feet.
"If that man has any friends take him
out" was the coarse and brutal remark
OF the proprietor Of the saloon.
One OF his yonng companions stepped
forward and begged permission to
place the body in an adjoining room
until his wife could be informed of this
sad event. Permission was given, and
they carried the body in and laid it upon
the table. And tifen one of the young
men sadly and reluctantly went to in
form the wife of the event.
And now that which 1 shall relate is
wherein truth is sometimes stranger
than fiction. The young wife came and
saw the dead body Of her husband who
but short time ago had left her in the
prime and vigor of life. Tongue cannot
describe nor pen portray the agony Of
that griefstricken wife as she fell pros
trate over the body of him whom
she had loved and cherished with a
woman's affection. There were none
present whose hearts did not go out in
sympathy for thatpoor bereaved woman.
After awhile she became somewhat
calm, and looking up inquired in a
mournful voice who had killed her hus-
band. The gambler was still sitting at
the table dealing his game-such affairs
were common in those days, attracting
but moments attention, and then as
quickly forgotten. One of the young
men pointed out to her the man who
had killed her husband. She went into
the room where he sat dealing. She
scanned his features closely and then,
in tone of anguish, exclaimed: "AIy
God! is it possibler'
"What do you want, woman? You
are disturbing my game" said the gam
bier.
az would like" said she, "for you to go
with me into the other room and see the
man you have murdered. Come" said
she, as he hesitated; az will not detain
you long" AS If TO humor her he arose,
and requesting his partner to look after
the game, went with her into the room
where the body of her husband lGy.
Nov what is il ?" he inquired of
her.
Stepping up to the body, she took a
handkerchief from the countenance,
which some kind hand had placed there,
and then looking him steadily in the
face, asked him if he recognized the
corpse.
He looked indifferently at it and said
"No.n
Unbuttoning the collar from his neck,
she pointed to a mark upon him, and
then quickly asked: ''Do you know him
now.?"
Again he looked, started somewhat,
and then, with his gaze upon the body,
hesitatingly, as if uncertain, said mo"
"Then will tell you. James T-y,
you have killed your youngest brother
Charlesp
any brother Charles! Impossiblep' he
wildly exclaimed.
"Too true! too truew she moan
fully cried.
"And you?" asked he, still greatly agi-
tated.
'Tam Mary rs, who was Charley's
playmate, and am now his widow.
Do you not remember, james, she
continued, ''before you went to the
Mexican war you used to call me your
little favorite, and said If you lived to
return, Charley and could be married
and you would give your little Mary
away. We waited and waited, oh, so
so long! Mother was getting old and
anxious to see you once more before she
died. The gold excitement reached us.
Charley and 1 were married. We
started for California in hopes Of meet
ing or hearing of you. We have met,
and oh, James, such a meetingr"
He stood for several moments like one
bereft of reason; then recovering him
self he took her by the hand and led her
TO a chair.
"Wait here, Mary, until return" he
said TO her. Then walking into the
other room where kis partner sat deal
ing, he remarked, 'I shall not play any
more tonight, Bill" took large buck
skin purse and put his share Of money
in it, seemingly a large amount Of gold
and silver. He then returned to the
room where the bereaved wife was wait
ing. Placing the money in her lap be
said:
''Take this Mary, and return home.
This is no place for you now" He then
went TO a table in the room, procured
pen, ink and paper, and requesting her
to remain a few minutes, went up
stairs.
1t might have been five or ten min
utes after he left Us, when the loud re-
port of pistol reached our ears from
OuS Vi bHO iOOns aDofe. n nuinDeI VI
men ran up, and soon it was known to
us below that he had blown his brains
out. In letter on the table, addressed
to his brothers wife, was written:
"Mary, leave this country, and for Gods
sake don't tell poor mother how we
died"
A dav or so after the event related
above large funeral procession might