Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-10
A Cruel Piece Of Stupidity.

Not many days ago the heavens opened
and the foods descended on New York
and it's moral sister, Brooklyn. The streets
were deserted. Slsnting sheets Of rain
danced upon the pavement and the whole
city was drenched. Men were at their
work. Women sat aud sewed. In pleas
ant room in Williamsburg happy little
lady busted herself with household matters,
sang to the baby On her knee and laid plans
perhaps for the little one that was to be.
A knock at The door.
Come in"
Enter officer, wet and cold and not over
pleasant. ''Are you Mrs. Miller ?" said
he.
Amazed, astonished, apprehensive and
alarmed, II am,' said She Showing her
bit Of paper on which was scraWled the
| word. ssMullsr'7 or MILLER" she knows
not which he said, els this your husband.
handwriting 20 She saw and said it was
not. We'll, any way, you must come to
| New Y ork with me"
"What for ?''
"Well, you'll find out when you get over
there. Your husband wants you"
But it is raining, and l have no one to
leave my baby with. Can't you wait half
an hour ?"
No. My orders are to take you over
az soon as | can"
Visions of disaster to her husband pass
ed before the young wife's eyes. She knew
him to be delicate in health. Was he in
trouble Had he been courtmartialled by
his regiment? Had his habit Of cigarette
smoking conquered him, as predicted by
by the doctor?
II don't owe anything anywhere, sir.
| What can be the matter 2"
eff you did we'd have nothing to do
! with 1t. Come [ must take you right
along.'
With this Mrs. Miller, who was agitated
beyond conception, left the room to dress
for the trip. The errand of the ofhcer was
to inform the wife of a man who had drop
ped dead in Broad street that she was
needed in the station house. Had he been
a thoughtful man he might have taken the
opportunity to communicate the fact to
Mrs. Miller's landlady, who remained in
the room with him. But he said nothing.
and presently Mrs. Miller, with her baby,
returned and together they started in the
tempestuous storm for the Grand Street
ferry. Still not hint as to the nature, of
his errand was vouchsafed by the gallant
officer. The neighbors-ever alert-saw d
part of this and imagined more. Mrs.
Miller's arrested,'' said one "Caught
shoplifting," said another The officer
carried her off immediately said a third,
and by the time the trio reached the ferry
boat it was duly settled in South Fifth
street that she was a regular Sbad 'un.''
A pretty picture they made on the ferry
boat--he bluff and silent. she faint and
shaking. The baby fortunately slept.
"Y our husbands hard drinker, ism It
HEP" said he.
':He never drinks DROP" said she.
Arrived at the further shore the turgid
officer put his charges in a Belt line car,
while he took post by Che driver. Not a
word of the ordeal to be faced, not q hint
of the blow to be received, had as yet
been given. Presently the car was stopped
and Mrs. Miller, wet to the skin, holding
, her wide awake baby in her weary arms
. while her skirt dragged in the mud and
water, was taken for the first time in he1
young life into the awe-inspiring presence
of a police sergeant in a police station
house. Placed at the rail she waited.
whats your name9"
Mrs. Miller. sir"
Husband been sick lately?"
Now, her husband, who is young CLERK
In Il great financial institution on Broad
way, had left her early IN the day, and il
his ordinary health. Therefore, wonder
ingly, she replied, ''Why no, slr.''
Guess you're wrong, lady. He dropped
, dead on Broad street at ten o'clock this
morning.
Quick as flash she fell to the floor, I'M
conscious and unstrung. The baby, fright
ened, but closely held, screamed, and the
peelers looked alarmed. Presently she
came to. Where was she? Oh yes, the
station house and Harry, dead! Again she
{ tainted. After awhile she revived. II
was a pitiful tableau-a big, hurly. bruta
sergeant; a big, burly, brutal officer, anc
the shocked and wretched widow.
Chow old are you, Mrs. Miller''
She gave her age.
"What! Why, how old was your hus
band?'
E about twenty-four sir.''
s'TWenty-four! Why, see here. officer
there's some mistake here. The dead mar
was over seventy, and his name wasn'
Miller either. It's Mueller. Say, lady
, there's some mistake; you're discharged
you Can go.''
} ''Mistakel discharged! Go-go whereof
why. go home"
"Why, 60 as you came"
, s'But [ don't know tie way. I don't
know where am. What shall do?"
To make long story short, after awhile
;; an officer was detailed to put the distrac-
ted woman in a Car and start her home.
ward. Meantime the rain poured in tor
rents. The late hours of the afternoon
had come. The young husband, ignorant
OF what was going on, started for the fer
ry. He took matters leisurely and enter
ed his home about supper time. On hear
ing of his wife's arrest, he resolved to
| come to New York and make tour of the
station houses. AT the ferry he met his
wife. All night she lay in Mysteries. Ev-
cry noise frightened her. SHE saw police
man on every new corner. Fear absolute
ly dominated her being. The next day
and the next passed on. She was no bet
ter. On the contrary excitement, the fe-
yer, the phantasmagora 80 upset, unnerv-
ed and weakened her that a premature
birth was induced and there the case end
ed.-N. Y. Herald.
The Hon. John T. Harris still seems to
hold the reins at W ashington. A V1rginian
who had tried every means and influence
at Washington to get into the Gulteau
trial and had been informed by the Mar
shall, Capt. Henry, that there wasn't even
standing room, writes to the dispatch
that ''our old friend Judge John T. Har-
ris, who though no longer in office, seems
to know everybody and have more influ-
ence than most congressman of tho new
ISSUE" persuaded the marshal to admit
''his friend from Virginia.
John James Williams, who formerly
practiced law in Rockingham county, died
in California recently.
Rev T. J. Brooke, of Phillppi w. Va.
has just declined three calls to take charge
Of other congregations. two in Nlrginia