The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-22

before me; the disgrace, the dlshonor, the
long, lonesome days months, years in prison
cell the desOlate home, the terrible oath, were
there, and there knelt
THE WOMAN
who had caused all. | threw the knife on the
floor at her feet and went to the door; stood
beside her, undecided, stupid. Where could
90? had no object in life. The hope of ven
Ceance that had kept me alive for years had
been wrested from me by the earnest pleadings
of the woman. She had promised that she
would not mention my being in the barn, but
| knew she would | knew that as sure as
stood beside that door she would send me to
prison again. But she had disarmed me.
could not hurt her, She thought had gone.
she got up and rushed for the small door, call.
ing, George, Georger That was the name
that was connected with all my sufferlngs.
George was the one who had planned the
thing she had executed. 1t was George who
was the partner in all her guilt. 1t was George
who had induced her to deal me blow after
blow, until reason staggered and life had be
come undesirable 1t was this same George
she was now calling to repeat the dose. She
called in vain. George could not help her.
The good God himself could not save her then.
All that had suffered at their hands present
ed itself before my eyes with the vividness of
me beyond all control. | was no longer human.
WAS A DEMON,
knowing nothing fearing nothing, wild.
rushed through the barn; she slipped in the
door and tell | snatched the knife from her
hand, and, did | strike? No! 1t was years of
suffering, woe, shame, dishonor, the dcsolate
home, justice, and the hated name of George
that held the knife and impelled the blow, as
she shrleked 'murdern Murder Is a terrible
word. | could never hear the word spoken
without assoclatlng 1t with something awful.
There is something horrd about the shape of
the word, as we see it IN print but to hear it
uttered wildly by one whom you had once
loved, by my victim, knowing it was the last
word she ever would utter, oh God twas hOr-
rible, indeed. | stared in horror for mo-
ment, then like Il Wild beast fled across the
field, the fearful cry of Murder" ringing in
my ears; the slow.umed step, the pleading,
ptiful look pursuing and keeping pace with
me, ] fled without purpose, save to get rid
Of the horrible cry of murder. II twas repeated
with fearful distinctness rom every direc
ton. ] raised my hands to my ears to shut
out the awful sounds, and became conscious
that my hands grasped something. Horror
on hOrrOrn it was a
KNIFE COVERED WITH BLOOD.
hurled it from me, and as it fell it shricked
VI
not flee fast enough; the snow once so white
now looked red. All things seemed changed :;
nothing seemed real except the cry, the look,
the step AS | turned the corner at Bass and
fled along the road past the graveyard two
little voices that had been huShed in death for
years cried Murder, murder" | looked back
and the slow, tlmid step, the pleading, pltltul
look met mine, and | sank in the snow
He gave himself up soon after the CRIME
and was duly indicted and arragned for trial.
His attorney undertook to defend him on the
plea Of insanity, but he arose IN court and de-
nounced his counsel for insulting him by of
fering such plea. On his conviction he
thanked the Jury and SAID their verdict was
lust and when sentenced to death he thanked
the Court, saying death to him meant release
from further trouble. He was exceedingly
cheerful afterwards to the day of his execution,
writing several facetious letters inviting his
friends to his 'neck-tie party
At the execution at ii O'Clock A. NJ. Earle
said he was ready The death warrant was
read to him, and he responded with smile:
That's all right and just" He went to the
gallows with free arms and legs and spoke
pleasantly to the officers and jurors IN the
ward. He SAID that the presence of his friends
chcercd him and he was supported by an un
seen power. He did not want to be under
stood as dying game or making false PROBES
sion, bat hoped he was prepared to die the
death assigned him by a just sentence and a
fair court. After a bricfprayer he sad: There
is one thing more | have to say. II any OF
you boys ever meet my little girl, June, please
give her a kind word. 1t won't cost you any
thing, Now, sheriff good by; | am ready"
His neck was broken by the fall and he died
IN few minutes without struggle.
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