The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-10-09

was sentenced to be hanged.
Rev. Mr.. Marshall, rector ofSt. Johns
church, Brookdale, village some two
hundred miles distant from Hevwood.
was Ill his study one September morn
ing, 1878. He was suffering out an at
tack OF influenza which he had taken the
night before while on visit to a.sick
parlshloner Consequently complying
with his wife's request that he should do
no studying or writing, Mr.. Marshal was
lazily stretched on the lounge in front of
CHEEKY fire His eight year old son
Tom was III the room, every now and
then running up to his father with some
request. At last one was: papa. it's
Saturday, how shall [ spend the day :?
Wish [ had kite! Do you know how
to make one, papa?'
81 used to, Tom. | don't know
whether I've forgotten how to do it or
not. Give me the newspaper on the
table, please, and the scissors. Then
run out in the woodshed and get me
some OF those sticks on the shelf. also a
hammer and small nails. Stay. don't be
IN such hurry; ask Hannah to make Il
little flour paste.
Tom hurried away, and while waiting
Tor him to return, his father glanced
over the columns Of the newspaper he
Was cutting. 1t was one that his friend.
Mr.. Brown, Of Haywood, had sent him.
His eyes Glanced to fall on these words
"The German, Peter Gr0at, who muir
dered Mrs. Curtis, has been sentenced
to be hung, on the second Friday in
next month. Groat, although Il stranger,
was supposed to be a respectable man
and one not at all capable of perpetrat-
ing such horrible crime. But the evi-
ienceS OF his guilt are most conclusive.
The morning after the murder his wife
was found washing a bloody shirt, also a
knife stained with blood was found hid
den near woodpile. Besides goods be-
longing to the murdered woman were
found III Greats house. The only thing
missing IS a curious old snuf-box of
some black wood, quantity carved in the
shape OF a toad. Her name Hepsibnh
Curtis, is engraved inside But without
tins the evidence Is strong enough to
hang him.
Poor fellow" murmured Mr.. Mar
shall, as he laid down the paper. at
makes one dread to read the ncws-one
comes across SO many horrors.
Papa. papa. you necdn' mind about
the kite now" cried Tom, rushing in
with shining eyes. Uncle George Just
called me over to his hCuse-he IS going
fishing, and says he will take me along
May | go?"
If mamma is willing.
I
been digging grubs and tish-worms-
for bait, you know. But see what Il
nice bait-box I've got.
can old snuf-box. Where did you
get it %
"Myron Mason gave it to me.
"Who is Myron Mason 2"
oh, new man Uncle George got to
work in his garden. He's gathering
pears and trenching the celery. Mvron
was tramp who came along, but he is
real nice. The box is nice, two. See
what a funny shape it is y
" \ toad. Quick Let me see, Tom J.
Mr.. Marshall had not observed the
box until now, and it was with trembling
fingers that he opened 1t.
"Hepsibah Curtis was the name en-
Mr.. Marshall's face was white, but his
voice was calm, as he said:
"Tom, just run over and tell your
Uncle George to come over here a few
minutes want to talk with him on q
little husnes IS.
Three days later Myron Mason, alias
Jasper Armand, was arrested for the
murder of Mrs Curtis.
He made no resistance; he told no
falsehoods; he simply confessed the
whole affair, stating that he had muir
dered the woman out of revenge. Ten
years before the two had Ii we'd in dis
tant town. He had always been wild
and dissolute, but had been the be-
trothed Of Mrs. Curtis sister, a gentle
and lovely woman. Mrs. Curtis had OPP
posed the match, knowing that it would
cause her sister a life Of misery. Also,
finding that Armand belonged to a gang
OF counterfeiters, she promptly gave evil
dence against him.
He was condemned to ten years i'm
prisonment. This he bore patiently,
mentally vowing that, when released, he
would at once wreak vengeance on the
woman who had folIed his plans and
blighted his life
When The time was expired and the
prison doors opened to let him pass ont,
he found that the woman he loved was
dead, and that the woman he hated was
living IN Haywood. Thither he went
He had seen Mrs. Curtis 90 to town, had
concealed himself III the woods to await
her return. He did not take the arti-
cles she carried merely for the sake of
robbery, but to have suspicion point its
finger at some other party. At the con-
clusion Of his confession he said he had
no desire Of cOnceahuG it any longer.
His life was made wretched by the hor-
riblc crime he had committed, and death
an exposure were not unwelcome. The
next day after his confinement in the
cell he was found dead in his cell He
had ended his life by poison.
As for Peter GrOat he was at once re-
leased, and all the inhabitants of Hey
wood strove to express their regret ana
regard for him, but to these Peter only
shook lis head, saying:
" He did not care for to live in a
blaze where de folks vas SO ready to
p'lieve him bad mani" SO he sold his
little home, packed his goods, and, with
his wife and children, moved to the far
west, where, it is to 5e hoped, in spite
Of sweet charity's sake, he was more
careful in entertaining benightcd travel
CTs.
After Twenty One Centuries.
From the New York World
IL