Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-03-11
A SISTERS VENGEANCE.
My Experience as an AccOmpl:ce in Lon
den with a Murdered Woman, and a
Confession.
London Referee.

Confession.
London Referee.
1t was between the lights on a gloomy
December afternoon. / was the sole
occupant of thesmoking-room of q "Lit-
erary and Artistic Club" which faces
the Thames. | flung fresh coal on the
gloomy embers, and stirred them till
they sent up q blaze of light that drove
the ghosts out of the shadowy corners,
and then picked up paper hap-hazard
from the table to dwadie oyer it till the
waiter lighted the gas or some human
being wandered In to keep me company
1t was an American paper. Some visit,r
TO the club had left it behind him acct
dentally. turned the pages listlessIy,
until suddenly my attention was arrest
ed 10y paragraph headed "Extraordip-
airy Crime" 1t was the, story of the
robbery of body of q lady from its
grave. The whole affair was shrouded
in mystery. On the 18th of the month
there died In an American city the
beautiful wife of an Englishman trav-
cling for pleasure. In the same paper
which contained this paraa raph [ found
under the heading of, "Cradle, Altar,
Tomb" the following: "On the 18th
INST, in this city, Drussilla, the beloved
wife of Blssett Emerton, Of London,
England, aged twenty -four" In due
course the lady was buried. and during
the night the churchyard was entered
and the coffin carried away. No mo-
tive is suggested in this American paper
for the crime. The husband is inter
viewed ut his hotel. He is inconsolable
for the loss of his beautiful young wife
mad with mingled rage and horror
at the desecration of her remains. He
tells his story to the reporter. He had
only been married few months. They
were travelling for pleasure in America.
His poor wife caught a cold fortnight
since, returning from the theater. He
had medical advice, but the cold in
creased and inflammation of the lungs
set in, and soon all was over. He
buries his head in his hands and weeps,
and the reporter leaves him alone with
his sacred sorrow. The account in the
paper | was reading by the freight
concludes thus: F'Up to the
present no clue to this mysterious
affair has been obtained"
glanced at the date of the paper, and
dung it down in disgust. 1t was two
gears old. had grown Interested In
the affair, and here it was two wears
old already, and probably forgotten.
Where should [ find out how it ended?
The shadows had grown darker and
darker; the fitful flare of the fire had
died down into a dull red glow, and
the riverside lamps were being lit. |
flung myself back into the easy-chair,
thrust my hands in my pockets, and
half closed my eyes. Suddenly | was
aware that | was not alone in the room.
From the darkest corner there rose a
long black figure. It ghded slowly to.
wards me. | had placed the paper
where had found it. on the table, by
my side. The figure seemed to DE
looking for something. 1t passed Its
hands over the tables and peered down
among the papers. Presently it came
to the table at my elbow. In the
gloom, as | sat in the deep arm chair,
| believe | was most invisible. The fig
ure came right up to me, and, reach
ing out its hand, passed it over my
table. Presently it seized something
and glided away with it to the window
on which the lamps without flung a
flicker of light. Then I saw that il
was a man and that in his hand he
held the American paper in which ]
had read the account of mysterious
crime. He glanced at it, and muttered
something that sounded like, Chow
careless Of meW then folded the pa.
per, thrust it into his breast pocket
and walked out of the room. Hardly
had the door closed behind him When
the attendant came in with lights
"Who is that gentleman who has iust
gone out ?" said.
Don't know his name sir. AIM
seen him here often"
| remember that at this club every
member had to sign his name in .
daily book Kept in the hall for that pur
pose. | ran down stairs, and looked a
the open leaf to see if that would afforl
me any clue. The first name tha-
caught my eye was that of Biisset
Emerton.
No wonder the figure l had seen il
the darkness had been so anxious
to find that paper. | saw at once what
had happened. He had been.,in the
room reading, fancying himself alone
He haG laid the paper down thought
lessly AID dropped off to sleep. l nae
not noticed him in the gloom, and he wa;
quite unaware of my presence.
Ore thing more | did before | left.
| turned over the members address
book, and looked under the Els. There
[ found the name of "Blissett Emer
ton," and against it mo. Z Blank Court
Temple"
Soon afterwards I found time to din,
at the club, and there l met an Ole
friend of mine, barrister, whom [ haC
not seen for a year, who after dime
invited me to come to his chambe,
for an hour.
Still in your old digghgs them"
said.
"Oh no." he answered. eve movet
since [ saw you last into another set
I've got capital chambers at No. Z Blanl
court" | asked him at once if he knew
Mr.. Emerton.
"Only by sight he answered. He ha
chambers on the same floor, and W
pass on the landing we never speak"
| stayed longer than l meant to, an,
it was striking 10 as we came out on tn,
landing. The outer door OF Emerton'
chamber was ajar. As we passed tn
inner door opened and MAJ rushe,