The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-08-14

ana even paced unDouDueu cOhnOenc'
in the false Eskridge. Upon the re-
ceipt of the letter from his cousin,
BRANTLEY BRAvED EVERYTHING,
and returned to Selma to have an ex
PLANTATION with his wife. She KEEP
out of his way until he was obliged t.
escape to his place Of cOncealment
and once more the lovers breathed
freely and enjoyed zach others society
without hindrance.
Had Mrs. Brantley's intrigue been
with an unmarried, few would have
been found to condemn her, as hel
husband was known to be a vagabOnd
and believed to be q murderer but
kskridge's desertion aud I'LL usage OF
his young and amiable wife, who had
supported him for years, awoke great
Indignation In the community.
The criminal couple saw that mat.
tiers we're reaching a crisis. They
concocted a bold and bloody scheme
to rid themselves of their membranes
and at the same time obtain sufficien,
means to start elsewhere in lie.
Eskridge hit upon the device Of OBJ
tanning insurance on the lite of Brant.
ley for the benefit of the beautiful
Minerva. She Obtaired an accident
policy for the sum of $4,000, and
Eskridge obtained another for the
same amo-!nt. Eskridge now endeav-
ored to lure Brantley from his con.
cealment to Selma, at the same time
he was egging Oh Towards brother
to have Brant.ey brought to justice.
Mrs. Brantley wrote atfectionate le!-
tiers to her misunderstanding made
him discredit the allegations in bis
cousins letter, and begged him to visit
her. He consented, and named a
time, of which Eskridge Immediately
apprised the Towards. But neither
they nor Brantley put in an appear
ance and the lovers then saw that
they must do tie bloody deed them
selves.
Mrs. Brantley wrote to her hus-
band that she could no longer exist
without seeing him. and he agreed to
meet her at a certain time at the de-
pot in Shuqualik. They went to a
village named Demopolis, where they
boldly passed a. man and wife, and
where they fully matured their plans.
Eskridge rode there on a very fine
irons gray horse, which was noticed by
every one.
They remained in Demopolis for
two days, keeping in their room all
day, and even ;aking their meals
there. On The second evening they
went Or =, walk, and it was remarked
that the gentleman had a shotgun
when they returned. The next day
Mrs. Brantley left for Shuiualik by
the cars, and Eskridge preceded her
.o the samn place lilo iron gray
horse, carrying the gun in bag on his
lap.
He arrived during the evening.
Meanwhile Brantley, expecting bis
wife to arrive by the early morning
train, requested permission to sleep at
the passenger station-house. Eek
ridge lay in wait for bis victim with
blanket wrapped around his shoulders
and carrying his gun muzzle down.
Some time during the carly morning
hours Brantley went into the depot
and fell asleep before the fire. This
was
EsKRIDGE's CHANCE.
He took deliberate aim, and, shoot
ing directly from where he stood on
the platform outside, sent a bullet
through a pane of glass into Brantley's
head. He dropped dead from the
chair on which he had sat sleeping.
The only other person in the room
where Brantley was killed was mail
carrier, who was lying on a bench
asleep. When the shot was fired he
jumped up in alarm, rushed out on
the platform. and hid under car un-
til daylight. Although 30 hurried
and terrified, he recognized Eskride
whom ne had seen arrive that night
on the iron-gray horse.
After the shooting Eskridge sprang
into the saddle and dashed away.
When the early train arrived on
which the murdered man had expect
ed his wife she ran to the door of
the car, exclaiming, "Where's my
Observation-Disclosures my husband 7"
No husband appeared, and she went
oa the next station, but was arrested
Immediately after her arrival. She
showed no surprise, but the greatest
Indifference, when informed that her
husband had been killed that morn
ing. Her letter asking Brantley to
meet her at the station that fatal
dav was fnund on his hOdv.