The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-08-05
saThe German. Peter Groat. who mur

''The German, Peter Groat, who muir
dered Mrs. Curtis, has been sentenced
to be hung on the second Friday in mex
month Groat, though stranger, was
supposed to be q respectable man, an6
one not at all capable of perpetratine
such crime. But the evidences of his
guilt are most conclusive. The morning
after the murder, his wife was found
washing bloody shirt, also a knife
stained with blood was found hidden
near a woodpile Besides, goods belong
ing to the murdered woman, were found
il Groat's house. The only thing miss.
ing is curious old snuff-box, Of some
black wood, quantity carved in the shape
of toad. Her name, Hepsibah Curtis
is engraved on the inside. But with,
out this, the evidence is strong enough
to hang him"
nPoor fellow" iiarirmured Mr.. Mar.
shall, as he laid down the paper. sTt
makes one dread to read the news-one
comes across SO many horrors"
Papa! papal you needn't mind about
the kite now" cried Tom, rushing in
with shining eyes "Uncle George Just
called me over to his house-he is going
fishing, and says he viii take me along.
May I go2"
IF mamma is willing. !"
'She is; / asked her. And I've been
digging grubs and fish wouns-for bait
you know. But see what nice bait
box I've got
can old snuff-box. Where did Won
get it?"
"Myron Mason gave it to me-.
who is Myron Mason?"
On. a new man Uncle George got to
work for him IN his garden. He's gamer
ing the pears and trenching the celery,
{ Myron was tramp who came along,
but he is real nice. The box is nice,
too. See what funny shape it Isl" 4
"a toad! Quick! Let me see, Toni"
Mr.. Marshall had not closely exam
ined the box until now, and it was with
trembling fingers that he opened it. HI
S'sHepsibah Curtis, !" was the name en-
graved on the inner covert 8DV VVo
Mr.. MARSHALL face was white, but his
voice was calm, as he said: ssr.3syvy
'Tom, just run over and tell your
uncle George to come over here few
minutes Il want to talk with him on
little business -.
Three days later, Myron Mason, alias
Jasper Armand, was arrested for the
murder of Mrs. Curtis.
He made no resistance; he told no
falsehoods; he simply confessed the
whole affair, stating that he had muir
dered the woman out of revenge. Ten
years before the two had lived in the
same town. He had always been wild
and di7solute, but had been the be-
trothed of Mrs. Curtis sister, a gentle
and lovely woman. Mrs. Curtis had
opposed the match, knowing that it
would cause her sister a life of misery
Also finding that Armand belonged to
gang of counterfeiters, she promptly
gave evidence against him. -
He was condemned to ten years i'm
prisonment. This he bore patiently,
mentally vowing that, when released, he
would at once wreak vengeance on, the
woman who had foiled his plans and
blighted his life. 10
When the time had expired, and the
prison doors opened to let him pass out,
he found that the woman he loved was
dead, and that the woman he hated was
living in Haywood. Thither he went.
He had seen Mrs. Curtis go to town. and
had concealed himself in the woods to
await her return. He did not take the
articles she carried merely for the sake
OF robbery, but to have suspicion point
its fingers at some other party At the
conclusion of his confession, he said that
he had no desire of concealing it any
longer. His life was made wretched by.
the horrid crime he had committed, and
death and exposure were not unwelcome.
The next day after his confinement in
the jail, he was found dead in his. cell.
He had ended his life by poison. vas
AS for Peter Groat, he was at once re-
leased, and all the inhabitants of Hey
wood strove to express their, regret and
regard for him, but to these, Peter sadly
shook his head, saying 80 e a'4s
He did care to live in place where
de people vas so ready to pelieve him a
pad mani" So he sold his little home,
packed his goods, and with his wife and
children, moved to the far West, where
it is to be hoped, in spite of sweet char
ity's sake, he is more careful in enter
tanning .benighted travellers. Y n,ui,nYt