River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-02
MISCELLANY.
FACES By THE LAMP,
what EwO Women saw In the Dusk

what Two Women saw LA the Dusk.
On the night of the 4th Of Aug, 1884,
Mr.. John Askern, a hosier, OF Leicester,
in England, was murdered under revolt.
ing circumstances. Mr.. Askern was about
forty years Of age, married, and the
father Of numerous family. His wife,
two years previously, had eloped with IA
commercial traveller named Powell, and
the two were supposed to be living to-
gether in London. Nh. Askern' sister
was at the head of his domestic estab.
lishment, and be had just instituted pro.
csedings to procure a divorce. lie was
wealthy man, and resided in well.ap-
pointed house on Belgrave Gate. In
front Of it was a garden which extended
around one side TO the rear, A high rail
ing separated it from the street, and
wall, fully twenty feet high, protectedit in
the rear. On the left side of the door, on
entering, was room which Mr.. Akern
used as library or private parlor. In
front OF it was very large laburnum
tree, whieh shaded all that side Of the
dwelling.
Separated from the back of the premi.
ses by the high wall mentioned, was the
yard OF an inn, aud q shed for vehicles
About o'clock in the evening Of August
4th, one Of Mr. Askern's servants ran in.
to the kitchen from the back garden ard
exclaimed
"Im sure saw the head Of a man look
ing over the WALL
"Most likely it was cat, was the re.
ply, and nothing more was said on the
subject.
Soon aiterward the lights IN the
kitchen was ext'ug9ished, and the do
mestics retired to their rooms. 1t so
happened that the cook had forgotten a
pair of stockings which she had been darn
ing for herself, and returned to the kitch-
en- for them. noise like the cracking
of branch attracted her attention, and
she peered through the blind into the
yard. She distinctly saw the head and
shoulders of man above the wall, 1t
disappeared and she heard a noise as Of
some one dropping into the yard.
The cook proceeded to the study and in
formed her master of what she had seen.
Mr.. Askern lighted lamp, and taking
revolver in his hand, passed through the
garden and examined every spot where
person could be harbored. Feeling salts
fed that no one was around, he returned
TO the house, badc the cook 60 to bed,
and retired to his study.
The cook and kitchen maid occupied
small room over the study, and, rs the
night was close, they left their window
open. After they had retired TO bed,
the cock said
"W g had better close the window, for
the wind is rising. Don't you hear the
leave of the laburnum shaking
Tue nAd arose and went to close the
the window She put her head out for
moment and then said
"rhere's not breath Of air stirring.
I'll leave the window open a little"
Then -hs retired TO bed, and the two
womeh slept undisturbed until morning.
Shortly after five O'Clock the ooachman,
who slept ia the basement, arose and
went 10 attend TO some work in the front
garden. BE observed the window Of Mr.
Askem's study open and the curtains
torn down. A first he thought that the
servants might have had orders to rem
ovate the room, but he remembered that
he was the only person up in the house.
lie entered the dwelling by the rear door
and proceeded TO MIR. Askern's parlOr.
The door was unfastened and he entered.
An awful spectacle met his view. Mr.
Askern lay on the floor with his throat
cut. lie was dead. His bureau had
been ransackcd aud his watch and pocket
book were gone. An alarm was given
and the authorities were soon on the
spot.
There were signs IN the room Of des-
perate struggle. The carpet was ripped
up in several places, chairs were upset,
the curtains Of the window were ripped
down, and there were bloody finger
marks on The WALL On the window sill
were the marks Of dirty feet. and foot.
steps we're plainly visible in the soft soil
outside. Ono OF the windows Of the par.
Tor on the opposite side " the hallway
was found open, and there were evident
signs Of some ones having entered by
that point. The marks Of feet outside
showed that the party had not quilted
the house b. tbs. means Of exit.
AZ The inquest which followed, the fact
Of the servants having seen a man climb.
ing over the wall in the rear was brought
out, and also the circumstance Of Mr..
Askern's having gone round the premises
10 search for iutruders. The impression
was that there had Doon two persons en-.
gagged in the crime. that they had entered
the garden from the rear, and that they
had concealed themselves ia the foliage
Of tha laburnum tree Their presence
there doubtless occasioned the shaking Of
the bran hes which the servants on re-.
firing to ret supposed was caused By the
wind.
The IA sho kept the inn IN the reat
Of NJ t.tefns residence was examined.
Tie vi aH aud respected resident, and
bis house sas chiefly supported By gentle.