Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-08-18
CHASTINE cox.

An elderly woman, married many
years to very weak-minded and most
impecunious New Yorker, made her
way into the inner circle of a strong
minded set of women and adopted the
worst ideas of the EXTREMIST of them
all They confined themselves to talk,
but our elderly friend put their prattle
into practice One thing led to
another. Poverty overlook her hus-
band, and she, like many another fool
of a woman opened boarding. house.
Her husband was sent to sleep in a
small attic room, but she, for her own
purpose and comfort, utilized the ex-
tension room on the parlor floor. Be-
hold the scene of the drama.
Enter now the third of the dramatis
persona Gin the smoky guise of a
comely colored waiter, who in brief
period passed through the stages of
servant, friend and admirer, until he
became-I really blush for the old lady
her secret laver. His visits were
frequent, and in her infatuation the
mistress of the house broke down all
social barriers, and, so far as she and
hers were concerned, he became abso-
lutte in every wish.
Well?
And it wasn't well Some months
ago the favored darkey became in-
solent and wanted money, more money
and then all that the old lady had.
With his pass-key he found always
unimpeded access to the house and
madam's rooms, and with unparalleled
effrontery combined in his individu-
ality the suavity of lover and the
tactics of black mailer. The inevita-
able came After a lovers quarrel
resulted violence, then faint, then
apprehension and dread What should
he do? Obviously divert suspicion.
But how? BY binding the woman as
she lay prone upon her couch, by over
turning chair or two, snatching
hastily the few and by no means
costly articles of jewelry she had on
her hands and person, by throwing
open window and stealing quietly
away as he had entered.
In time it was discovered. The old
lady was dead. Her husband, known
to be on bad terms with her, was ar
rested and was at the very depot to be
railroaded to the gallows.
Accident detec ted the darkey. And
the darkey confessed. Confessed what?
Well he confessed-and proved
such condition of affairs as Mortified
his not over sensitive counsel, and in
spite of his earnest protests the switch
was used instead of the main road
and the man was hanged
Now, the police justice, and the
counsel for the prisoner and several
press men knew all these facts from
the first, but mock sentimentality
induced them, one and all, to keep
them from the public. The counsel
argued that the average person would
be so shocked by the idea that his
client would suffer more if the truth
were known. What nonsensel He
couldn't have had anything worse than
death, in any event. He didn't COM
NIT murder Intentionally. The judge
gave the jury the law, which is to the
effect that a man who accidentally
kills person while in the commission
of felony is guilty of murder The
felony consisted in breaking into the
house. But if the fellow was there on
invitation and had pass-key in his
pocket he clearly was not burglar,
and therefore not guilty of murder
Queer isn't it?
But it isn't any more queer than a
thousand others which lay half con-
cealed in social circles. Now and then
some evolution, some outburst, some
accident, brings this, that or the other
to light The world obs and abs,
laughs or shuders, and rolls on as mer-
rily and busily as ever.