Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-06-16
THE EXEMPLARY MIX. DUX.
strI.n rleknp NJ AnaoAp.

sKEIrH rIeKED uP ABROAD.
80 You quit Us tomorrow morn.
ing2'
yes, Mann. guess they're agoin'
10 hang me al ten o'clock sharp"
| opened wide eyes and ears as
heard this fragment of conversation.
At the moment Was standing at the
threshold Of a cell But such a cell!
II locked more like boarding house
parlor; the windows we're barred, ii is
true: the walls we're whitewashed, and
the lock Of the door was ponderous;
but On the floor was Il soft carpet, and
against the wallis were arranged chairs
and ottomaus.
In the middle Of the room, some of
them seated, some standing, dozen
ladies, iii visiting costume, formed q
circle round 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 war showing me around,
Ito Il day, meals not included.
| could not restrain movement of
surprise, notice; hes under sentence
u dea h. =
In the monotonous voice Of pro
fessional guide he went on to tell me
the story of the man who WAS the focus
Of 50 much attention.
IA criminal IF the highest class, this
Dux. He began in an intelligent way
by only attacking respectable people
worth $l00 600 or 50. Four times he
haa CHEATED tho gallows. The first
time lie bought of the witnesses; the
second time he bought of the jury
tho third time he did business direcl
with the Judge But il fatal accident
was his rum. The paper he found on
banker he assassinated turned out to
be counterfeit. James had killed a
confrcre by mistake Not being able to
get together money enough to make
his innocence clear, he was found
glilty. lie was gong TO be sent aioft,
when comrane starting in trade of
fered to buy the fraudulent bank notes
nj sacrifice. He said he calculated
To pass them on his customers out
west With the sum thus realized
James was able 70 persuade the COVER
nor Of the state To take a disinterested
view Of this case, and he was let off
But lux never got over the turn it
gave HIM. lie became kinder stupid -
luet his head. He took to robbing the
first that came IN his road. One even
my, in nh out-Of-the-way suburb, he
knocked out the brains Of nm old man
with aledge- hammer for the sake OF
IL miserable watch of no value"
Caught III theact by young police
man, who thought lie had II chance to
distinguish himself, James was brought
up al the assizes for the fifth time. The
evidence was overwhelming, the de-
fence weak, the jury indifferent While
Il q dozen iii the box was trying whisky
cocktails. Judge Blackstone rose in the
middle of cloud of cigar smoke and
pronounced sentence ut death, giving
the poor fellow only three months lels-
IRE "a read the bible in His time il up
tins afternoon.
And that is the prisoner, Iexclaim-
ed; ''the man III the dress clothes!r
"Yes, that il Dnx," he answered.
He's converted. yeu know At present
he's great OBJECT Of interest. Our
richest ladies pay all his expenses. The
best families come round regular to
comfort HIM He is going to die beauti.
fully, We exptc,. l. IL n great victory for
the Hardshcll Baptist church You'll
see that james willmake truly sancti-
fed end
Meantime the assassin, reconducting
one If Ills lady visitors 70 the door,
passed quite close III me, and | had
the opportunity Of taking his likeness
in my mental camera
He was low sized, thick set,ill built
man. with face hlutched with whisky
pimples, low forehead, cold eye,
and the limbs OF long armed ape.
What sinister and a grotesque carica-
ture this hestial wretch WAS, tricEed
out iii the garb of good society, his big
hony toes making humps on the patent
leslher t his dandy pumps, and his
close cropped hair glistening with some
perfume, which could not kill the fetid
odor that exudea from his vulgar body.
A lady advanced toward the assassin
and presented him with Al immense
white bouquet symbol Of purity
Of soul. But as she tried to murmur q
few appropria words, emotion over
came her and she swooned.
The condemned felon had taken the
flowers with careless air, shifted them
and jerked them over To a corner of
the room where | perceived a mass of
fragrance and bloom thrown in huddled
heaps like SO much refuse.
The poor ere atures are nervous, do
you mind, SAID James compassionately.
They should take horn Of gin before
risking themselves here"
ALLOW me 10 introduce to you my
only daughter, Miss Blackstone said
gentleman Of judicial bearing, burst
ing forward to make way for lovely
Young girl who leaned on his arm.
The murderer bowed
The yong lady courtesied
The judge did his best to initiate one
and the other: that is TO say as far as
his corpulence would permit him.
papa has spoken often about you,
said the pretty girl with shipper. Il
am really sorry You cannot dine with us
tomorrow.
''It's out of the question, Miss and |
deeply regret it, said Dux, with a
coarse laugh
The young lady hlushed and lowered
her eyes.
Unless, you know, your father would
consent to revise his judgment" con-
tinued the felon.
,'Ah, James" said the judge, with a
blending of formality and the cold
amiability OF the bench, sit is, as you
say, out Of the question. Business is
business, you know :" and bending to-
ward Dux he whispered it would be
as much as my appointment is worth
to do anything at present"