Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-03-13

this exceptional lot among convicts arc
various. Sometimes it is his handsome
face and figure that make the murderer
a lucky man; sometimes it is the roman
tic attachment which sowed the seeds
of his crime; sometimes it is his high
social position before bis fall, and some
times there seems no apparent reason
whatever for the freak of popular fancy
which causes society to turn It's cold
shoulder 10 the bloody handed wretch
ia one cell while it loads the occupant
OF the adjoining cell with privileges.
II few pretty women turn their minds
to it they can make any murderer that
ever cut throat hero and "all the
rage" The experiment has often been
tried, with results gratifying TO the
young women and to the murderer, if
not TO the cause Of morality.
There is case in one po nj down in
Virgins. Almost everybody recollects
that a year ago one Poindexter killed
Young man named Curtisin Richmond.
1t was cold blooded murder. Curtis
was clerk in a shoe store where a
young lady betrothed to Poindsxter
bought her shoes. Curtis was an esti
mable young man, Sun6sy-school
teacher aud all that, but he was foolish
enough to compliment his customer mp
on her pretty foot. Ius:ead of reporting
the clerks impertiuence 10 his employer
she kept it to herself and coming again
in little while, allowed Curtis snother
chance to praise her feet. He returned
TO the subject as promptly rs she had
returned to the store, and. gong alitile
further, squeezed her arm as she got in
to her carriage, which, however, he said
was merely to prevent her falling. Then
il occurred to the young lady that she
was insulted. She told her betrothed,
Poindsxter; and despite the clerksapol-
ogies he cowhded him. Considering the
application of the cowhide a disgrace,
the clerk sought the cowhider at his
place of business with cano. Poindex-
ter thereupon shot him to death, letting
him have the contents Of every cham
Der in bis revolver. Poindexter was
convicted and sentenced TO short term
in the penitentiary. Richmond society
gave poor Curtis big funeral and wa
tered his grave with its tears, and then
turned its polite attention TO the real
hero OF the occasion, the gentlsInanly
murderer. ft .rr...
Poindexter has been eleven months
in prison and has had a pretty good
time Of it. Every effort has been made
TO show him that he was more sinned
against than SHINING. He has posed ~
the protector of virtnous womanhood.
Instead of having cell like other pris.
oners he has had room adjoining the
iailers, and st was comfortably and
even luxuriously furnished" Tic Jail
yard was at his disposal for exercise;
there were plenty of books to bread with
in reach of his couch; his meals were
sent in from restaurants or private
| kitchen, and constant stream Of visitors
engaged bis attention. Meanwhile, his
lady Love was allowed free access TO his
quarters and preparations for marriage
went on. At length the refusal Of tho
Supreme Court to order new trial and
the refusal of the Governor to pardon
him made it too clear that Richmond's
pet murderer must go TO the penitentiary.
Before he went, however, a wedding
took place. OF course such high.toned
murderer could not be married in Jail
A carriage was provided and the bride
groom was driven in state to the resi-
dencs Of the bride, mile or two out
side of the city limits. "In the genial
companionship Of the clergyman" tho
so-called prisoner "became even gay"
which proves Mr. Gilbert rightin saying
that
When the cutthroat Is not occupied In
crime
Pied In crime
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Gent enjoyment
Is as great as that ofany other man
Other man. rflu
It was a lovely wedding, although
moistened somewhat by sentimental
tears. The plucky bride was dressed in
the height Of fashion and her auburn
hair was neatly looped up, while tbs
bridegroom had on simple suit ofblack.
A nice company witnessed the ceremo-
ny and Judge gave the bride away.
The wedding over, the bridal party
took trip TO town and made call and
then the bridegroom went TO prison anj
the poor little wife back to her friends.
To-day the former is cruelty obliged 10
swap his swallow tail for the conyict's
striped jeans aud yield up his ozark.
brown hair" and SANDY mustsche" 10
the penitentiary shears, bat every ss-
surance is given that nothing shall b,
left undone TO make his sojourn there
as pleasant as possible. Indeed, bill
before the Legislature exemptshim from
wearing the common jsilbird's uniform.
Such is the story Of Richmond's pet
murderer. We have no desire 10 make
light of the affection Of the young wo-
man Who has welded bim. II was, after
all, right that she should marry him.
for she IL was who made him murder
er. But morality and decency are affron-
ted by the attemptto make Poirdex,ef's
crime venisl one and TO mitigate bis
punishment by fayors at the hands Of
his jailers on account Of bis social po-
sition. II is not thus that crime il made
odious. On the contrary, such doings
bring contempt upon the law and are .
trayesty Of justice. Poindexter is enti-
tied TO no more consideration than is
accorded to any other man who takes .
fellow-man's life without good Cause.
His intelligence snd social position add
10 the weight Of his guilt and should