Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-09-09
THE EXEMPLARY MR. DUX.


hang me at 10 o'clock sharp.
[ opened wide eyes and ears as | beard
this fragment of conversation. At the mo
ment was standing on the threshold of a
cell, But sach cell Il looked more
like boarding house parlor. The windows
were barred, 1t is true; the walls were
whiteuashea, and the lock of the door was
ponderous hut on the floor there was 6
soft carpet, and against the walls were ar
ranged chairs and oEtomans.
In the middle OF the room, some of them
seated, some standing, dozen ladies ID
visiting costumes formed circle round a
gentleman. The latter WAS in correct
evening dress-white cambria tie, swallow
tailed coat, white kid gloves, and boots that
reflected one like polished shield.
That's the assassin whispered the
detective who was showing me round (ten
doliars a day, meals includedl.
I could not restrain movement of sur.
prise.
60 It's James Dux, he continued. taking
no notice; he's under sentence OF death.
In the monos0nous voice of profess
sional guide he went on to tell me the story
OF the man who was the focus Of SO much
attention.
ga criminal of the highest class, this
OAK. He began in an intelligent way by
only attacking respectable people, worth
ten thousand dollars or so. Four times he
has cheated the gailows. The first time he
bought off the witnesses, the second time
be bought off the jury the third time be
did business direct with the Judge. But
fatal accident was his ruin, The paper he
found on bsBller ne assassinsted turned
out 20 be counterfeit. James had killed
l. IL ~ -.
get together money enough TO make his
innocence clear, ne was found guilty. He
was going TO be sent aioft, when COM
Tade starting in trade offered TO buy the
fraudulent bank notes at sacrifice. He
said he calculated ne could pass them on
his customers out West With the SUN
TINS realized James WAS able TO persuade
the Governor OF the State TO take 6iain.
tsrested view Of the case, and he was let
off
"Bus DuI never got over the turn It
gave him. he became kinder stupid-iost
his head. He took torebbing the first that
came IN his road. One evening, in an out
Of the-Tay suburb, ne knocked cut the
brains Of an old man with a sleige-ham.
mer for the sake % d miserable watch of
no value.
"Canght IN the act by a young police
man. WAC thought he had chance of dis
tiDguisbiug himself, James was brought up
at the Assizss Tor the fifth time. The evi.
dence was overwhelming the defense
weak, the jury Indifferent. While the
dozen in the box were trying whiskyEcock.
tails, Judge Blackstone rose in the middle
OF cloud of cigar smoke and pronounced
sentence OF death, giving the poor fellow
ouEy three months leisure TO read the
Bible. His time is up this afternoon"
AID that is the prisoner" Iexclaimed;
So the man in the dress clothes q
q Yes, that's Dux, " he answered. "He's
converted, you know. A5 present he is
great object Of interest Our richest ladies'
pay all HIS expenses. The best families
come round regular to comfort him. Heis
going to die beautifully, we expect. It is
great victory for the HardsheD BAPTIST
church. You'll see that james win make
a truly sanctiiied end"
Meantime the assassin, reconducting one
of his lady visitors to the door, passed
quite close to me, and I had the opportun-
ity OF taking HE likeness in my mental
camera.
He was 3 low.sized, thiok-set, ill.buit
man, with a face blotched with whisky
pimples, low forehead, cold eve, and
GBG lluiDe Vi = long AUG w iidb u
sinister and grokesque caricature this bessisl
wretch was, tricked on. in the gsrb of good
society, his big bony toes making bumpsfon
the patent leather OF his dandy pumps, and
his close cropped hair giisteDing with some
perfume, which could not kill the fetid
odor that exuded from his vulgar body.
a lady advanced toward the assassin and
presented him with an immense white bou-
quet-the symbol of purity OF soul. But as
she tried TO murmur few appropriate
words, emotion oyercame her and she
swooned.
The condemned felon had taken the
flowers with a careless air, shifted them,
and jsrked them over his shoulder TO
corner of the room where l perceived
mass of fragrance and bloom thrown in
huddled heaps like 40 much refuse.
The poor creatures are nervous, do you
mind, said James, compassionstely.
"They should take horn of gin before
risking themselves here"
'tAllow nee to introduce TO You my only
daughter, Miss Blackstone" said a gentle
man of judicial bearing, busting forward
TO make way for lovely young girl who
leaned on his arm.
The murderer bowed.
The young lady courtesied.
TheJadge did his best,to initiate one and
the other; that is to cay, as far as his cor.
pulenoe would permit him.
Papa has spoken often about you, said
The pretty girl, with shipper. 81 am
really sorry you cannot dine with US to-
morrow"
It's out of the question, Miss, and
deeply regret it, said Dux, with coarse
laugh.
The young lady bluahed and lowered her
eyes.
"Unless, you know, your father would
consent TO revise his judgment, continued
the feIon.
"0h, james, said the Judge, with a
blending of foFmslity and the cold amiabii.
ity of the bench sit is, as you say, out
of the question. Business is business. you
know" and bending toward Dux, he whis-
pered, ait would be as much as my sp-
poinsmenS is worth to do anything at
present"
"I II must be terrible thing, Mr. Dux,
TO be hanged y interrupted the young girl
"a moments pain, more or less, Miss
Blackstone short moment"
:" It is the death | would prefer for my
SELF" said the Judge
"Well, that's as how e is, insinuated
Mr.. Dux. 81 dare say it's sweet enough,
if the trap works proper and the Sheriff is
experienced. By the by. Judge. would
you kindly take care that the rope is CON-
fortably soaped 2"
Willingly, my friend. Any favor ]
can grant ycu under the circumstances you
are at liberty to ask. "
Mr.. Blackstone left with his daughter.
The latter turned back several times in
the hope to catch a parting glance at the
assassin.
/ afterward learned that on the dawn Of
the following morning she forwarded 6
basket of magnificent flowers to the con
demnsd cell.
"More posies p cried Dux, when he saw
than, Ilhara runrnnn folks arc fnnls