Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-26
DUNDREARY AND THE MURDERER. u

From The Hour
When Sothern last resided in the Gram
ercy Park Hotel, he was visited by a
young Scotch friend, trife inexperienced
but naturally canny, who came all The way
from Edinburgh to spend winter with
the comedian in New York. The porter
of the hotel was a dark brigandish. looking
fellow, of good deal of dramatic ability
and no little sympathy, for a consideration,
with any humorous experiment of Soth-
ems After carefully arranging details
with this humble artist, Sothern one even
ing called the attention of the young Scot
to the fellows gloomy and forbidding ap-
pearance. "If [ were you, said Sothern,
I'D lose no chance of conciliatlng that
man. l never meet him on the stairs
without giving him half dollar" can
why" inquired the Scot. well" said
Sothern, "his would be most remarkable
case anywhere else than in America. The
fellows a murderer !" ga murderer ?"
gasped the Scotchman. "Do you mean
he's CONNECTED the actual craime of MUIR
r-rder?" "More than that, persisted
Sothern. 81 mean to say he has been
tried, convicted and sentenced to death
that as matter of fact, he is under SEN
teDce of death at the present moment. 3"
Before the Scotchman sufficiently recovered
to ask another question, the porter came
in with a scuttle of coal. "Ah," cried
Sothern, Clones, this gentleman is aston
ished to hear that you are-well, it's no
use mincing matters-under sentence of
death. "Of course l am" growled the
porter. For numbering your step-father,
wasn't it," eyes" said the porter with
a scowl. alt was my step-father this last
time" You're out on bail while your
counsel is waiting to be officially informed
that the Court of Appeals has decided
against you, aren't you?" eyes, sir, "
quoth the porter, MIR. Judson's my bail. -
"Then, mon, inquired the Scot, in tones
of trepidation, eye anteeceepate being ex-
eeuted in ra-ality ?" "Of course l do :"
said the porter, with a delicious semblauce
of contempt. "Deed an a'd ma wait for
that avent," said the Scotchman, his eyes
wide open. "Td gle theem a the slip,
mon. Ye're too conscientious a'thegither +"
"What's the good?" growled the porter,
I've made up my mind. It's all right. I'll
be on hand as soon as Im notified, sure ~
And he vanished, The Scotchman dis
coursed two hours upon the extraordinary
system of legal procedure existing in
America, and then he went to bed. Early
next morning, he knocked at Sothern' S
door, his hat on his head and his carpet
bag in his hand.
"Look here, Ned +" he cried as soon as
he saw Sothern. cave been thinking a
deal about that por-r-rter the night.
wonder if curious logical Inference has
occurred to you as it has to me?''
"Fire away !" said Sothern from under
the blankets.
"Weel," argued the Scot e that mon
being under saintence of death already, is
beyond the deterrent influence of any
other legal penalty"
81 suppose so.
"Conscious as he is that his days are
numbered, he is obveeously without the
domain of moral argument or statutory
proheebition.
"0f course"
'Then," said the Scot warmly, there's
no influence, moral, legal or otherwise, to
prevent this fellow from getting up in tn
middle O. the night and knocking me on
the head wi an AK. They Gamma hang
him twice even in America, and until they
hang him once. we're all at his maircy !"
Precisely" gurgled Sothron, "and
that's why subsidize him with dollar
day"
Precaisely !" replied the ingenious
Scot, turning on his heel, ian that's why
am going to change my quarters to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. Under the cir-r. cum
stances it'll be bit safer-an good deal
less EXPANSIVE !"