Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-08
A Horrible Tragedy and Its Sequel.

I cannot close this letter without
chronicling tragic event which
took place recently. It was on the
northern frontiers of this empire,
over against Saxony; the scene, an
inn; time, evening. Many old Gus.
toners of the place were assem-
bIed in the snug room, with Its
time-polished table,, it's tsll-tiled
stove, Its amazing pictures OF saints
and angels. Beer enough to doat
an ironclad, wine enough to intox.
icate continent, had been served
out In that place since its first ded-
ication to Bacchus two centuries
ago. Tonight the worship Of the
wine.crowned deity was proceeding
as merrily ~ usual, and the air
was thick with tobacco smoke,
when . man with sleeping child
in his arms slouched In and sat
down In the corner. He drank q
glass or two of beer, while the
child, q goldsn.haired little fellow
of about five, rested his head on
the table aud went on with his
nap. The jolly topers coon forgot
all about the stranger, who, after a
while, desired to be shown to his
room, as he wished to put his son
to bed. But soon after an angry
dispute was heard without, at the
foot OF the stairs, the father using
shocking language, the child
whining pIteously: ''Father,
father, you know I have been una
BILE to 60 up stairs by myself ever
since broke my leg" "Non-
sense" exclaimed the man menace
tngly, "you can get up very we'll IL
you choose, and, besides, you have
only yourself to thank for your
broken leg-up you 60. or l will
beat you black and blue" and he
Administered cruel blow to the
cripple. Several of the guests had
come out into the passage, and
now demonstrated vehemently
with the brutal father. els that
your child, you monster?" asks
one. "Whats that to you,n was
the answer. Eyes, oh, yes, he 10
my father" moaned the boy, as be
sat helpless on the stairs, and
rocked himself In an agony of
tears. The man became still more
enraged, and would, doubtless,
have bslap his son had not the
persons present laid hold OF him,
exclaimiDg, "Cease your brutality,
or We fetch the police.n But this
only mad the effect of throwing the
father in real paroxysm of rage.
He drew knife, and struggled
franticalIy. ''Take care, take
care" screamed the boy, she will
rip US all up, Same az he did my
poor mother.n ''Littls fisnd,D
yelled the father, and, freeing him.
self with . great effort, he buried
the knife In the child's body. The
poor little soul sank down with .
groan. A shout of indignation
came from the others, who rushed |
at him en- masse; but the man,
taking his hat off politely, said
with winning smile: @"9entle.
men, we have here to do with O.
wooden child. am ventrilo-
quist-and no mean one, either, a.
you will admit.n A pause of
speechless astonishment, during |
which could have been heard the
dropping Of the traditional pin,
and then the rafters shook with
(Homerlc) laughter. The
clever deceiver was dragged into
the parior, where, besides exhibit.
ing many q funny trick OF voice,
he took much more wine than was |
good for him, and finally |
rolled off to bed with his pockets |
full of money, and his murdered
child smiling blandly under his
arm. Nenna Letter.