Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-06-22


cit was his own fault" answered
James. "He provoked me by making
an exhibition eff that burned watch. l
could not resist the temptation. Only
for that ALFRED time-piece [ should
have died Of hunger, like a man, be-
fore I would have dreamed of robbery.
1t was more than imprudent- was
downright immoral on his part"
"The Browns were always too fond of
o3tentation," loudly declared fat lady
with acid face, who was no other than
the presidentess of the Society for the
Protection of Penitent Assassins.
Poor man." she resumed, turning to-
ward Dux, "you are dying victim to
the deplorable vanity of our relative.
For my part am of the emphatic
opinion that it is high time to pass
law interdicting the parade of articles
of value"
"That's fact" assented Mr.. Hiram
II. Anthropologus, secretary of the So
ciety. ga saint himself could not re-
sist. He only got what he deserved.
| But you, Mr.. Dux, tell me, please,
when the temptation assalled you to
kill George, in order to get his watch,
did you Suffer mucQ!
FTerrible, sir, terrible. When / saw
him pull it out to look at the hour, I
thought he wanted to rile me. That's
thing, you know, no citizen of this
free country can't stand without getting
his dander up. It sort Of affected me
in the stomach, first, then in the legs,
then ia the head. l tried to resist, and
even made an attempt to run away.
| But can't tell how it came to pass, I
wasn't equal to it; and when calmness
returned was STOPPING over the man,
a sledge hammer i'll my hand, and his
skull was smashed! No mat
ter, it can't be helped now that it is
over. | forgive him from the bottom
of my heart"
Poor man" cried all the ladies pres
ton, and then began rivalry between
them as to who should give farewell
token to the condemned.
"Do take this portmonnaie," said
one.
"And this flask of smelling salts, :"
said another.
"Here is my box of pulmonic waters,
said third. 'They are a sovereign
remedy against asthma and difficult
breathing"
Dux took everything that was offered
him, but all went the way Cf the bou-
quets before long.
A tumuit IN a corner put an end to
these efusions of friendliness. An I'M
fortunate wretch, all rags and patches,
his cheeks followed from long fasting,
OF oil, fab Of
half dozen persons.
81 have caught him |" screeched a
female voice. "He was attempting to
steal the yenisOn pasty sent for James
Dux p
Gentlemen, if you please, ladies'"
gasped the poor beggar. ~ have not
tasted food for two days, and-I never
murdered anybody"
He was flung neck and crop out of
the room.
A negro domestic here entered and
announced to Mr.. Dux that dinner was
served in the adjoining apartment.
The company filed out into the dining
room OF the governor of the jail, which
had been amiably placed, together with
the governors plate and French cook,
at the disposed of the prisoner and his
friends for the occasion.
The condemned man took his sta
ton in the seat of honor, Judge Black
stone on his right, and the district at
torney on his left. A popular preacher
of Talmadge type said grace before
meat, and made an impromptu prayer,
in the course of which he introduced
some eloquent illusions to the cere-
mony Of the following day.
Mr.. Dux ate heartily and drank CO.
piously, and burst into frequent explo-
sions of humor, which were vastly ad-
mired by the guests. The roast was
veritable banquet in its Righteousness,
and fete in its joyous spirit. Several
effective selections of music were per-
| formed during the course on a harmo-
MUM by the leader of the popular
preach er's choir. After the coffee
came liquors stronger than wine, and
with them came the toasts. The short
est and most delicate of those was
given by the twin brother of George
Brown in the following neat speech:
''Ladies and Gentlemen: Our ur-
bane and much to be regretted friend
James is on the eve of his departure.
May the detection of his leave-taking
be softened and may his pains be
abridged"
Dux got on his legs, and in a robust
voice Responded as follows:
'FLadies and Gentlemen: This / shall
ever look upon as the happiest and
the proudest moment in my career. Its
remembrance shall not quit me till my
dying hour. In many former period
of my existence l was cast down by
disappointment and often almost gave
way to despair. Little did l then I'M
agine that | should one day have this
honor. 1t was furthest fro'm my hopes
that should have the pleasure of be-
ing entertained by such distinguished
circle, until gave that rooster Brown,
| his pass-Out checks for the other side
| of Jordon. The death of that miser-
able sinner has made new man of
me, so to speak, with a second life.
From the moment my sentence was
pronounced by my friend, the judge
here, felt myself another being gin
deed, l may safely say without boast
ing, that should have lived in ignor-
ance of the joys one feels in the con-
seriousness of being good. unless had
undertaken the job which procures me
| the novelty of being strangled to NOR
row. Oh, my friends, would that you
were all Ito the ranks of the just like
your humble servant. It is pleasant
and profitable thing, | guess, to be
awakened to the truth, to read pious
tracts, and eat spring chickens and can
vas-back ducks! Personally, / can af-
firm that forgive all who have had mart