The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-09-26

weed sent murmur of sympathy
through the spectators. She testified
that the previous Sunday evening she
had paid visit to neighbor. Had
been gone about an hour, and on COM
ing home found her husband living
dead on the doorstep. Her husband
did not carry pistol; there had never
been pistol in the house to her knowl-
edge. She believed her husband had
no reason to commit suicide; was GER
tain he would not do such thing. He
had sold cattle few days before, and
had the money in his pocket-book that
day-one hundred and twenty dollars
in currency. He had small gold
watch in his vest pocket. with black
silk ribbon and charm attached. The
watch was hers-a present from her
mother several years ago. Both money
and watch had disappeared. She did
not miss them until the day after,
owing to the excitement. She pre-
sumed robbery had been the motive
for the crime; she knew of no other.
'Do you know the prisonerP" asked
the Judge. .
eyes," she faltered.
"Do you know his business in com-
ing hereP"
No reply. The question was re-
peated.
80! judge she burst out, with a
torrent of sobs; ''he is my husband, my
true husband! But he didn't do it!
o, Judge! God knows he is inno-
cent?
A buzz of excitement spread through
the room.
''Silencer' said the Judge, rapping
his desk sharply.
Then it was found that the witness
had tainted in her chair. Presently she
recovered, and eventually the story of
covery of herself by the prisoner was
wrung from her. Only once the pris-
oner spoke.
Tell the whole truth, Amelia, and
fear nothing" he said.
She said the prisoner had been to her
house the day of the murder. Her
husband-the deceased-was off on the
farm at the time. She had decided to
break the news to him that night and
go off with her first husband-the ac-
cused-the next day, and would have
done so but for what had occurred.
Medical evidence was given to prove
that the deceased had not committed
suicide.
Then the policeman was called. He
testified to the steps taken to discover
the murderer. He discovered the fact
of the prisoners visit to Chapman's
house, and on this ground made the ar
rest. The prisoner had freely told the
story of his marriage, and that his bust
ness here was to get his wife, who was
living with Chapman. The only money
the prisoner had on his person when
arrested was about twenty-five dollars
in greenbacks and silver and forty
dollars in gold certificates. He had
neither pistol nor watch
The landlord of the hotel where Her
mann had stopped said he did not know
whether the prisoner was in his room
at the hour of the murder He paid
little attention to his guests except
about meal hours. He remembered
sending up some beer, but did not
know what hour it was at the time.
Here the case rested.
Some of the men in the crowd
dropped out, with hard look in their
faces. twas evident Hermann's doom
was sealed. zz.--se54
He was led back to the prison while
the Judge went through the form of
preparing an Indictment No one
knew better than the Judge himself
that this was but farce.
The sun was beginning to sink be-
low the Western prairies when a man
rushed into the Judges residence in a
state of wild excitement. 1t was the
constable who had arrested Hermann.
"For Heavens sake, Judge he ex-
claimed, ''come with me to the prison!
That man is innocentl The real muir
derer has been arrested-one of the
Buzzard gang, whom we have been
hunting for months. Chapman S
watch and money have been found on
him. 7a
Judge and constable rushed to the
prison. 1t was rapidly growing dusk,
and already little knots of men were
| gathering around. Thes Judge lit a
lantern and mounted the steps in front
of the prison. ''Halloo!' he shouted
at the top of his voice. 81 want to
speak to all of you.
8 The fast increasing crowd gathered
near. Then the Judge ordered the
constable to tell the story
K Duck Buzzard jugged-hurrah!"
shouted the crowd. Lets go for him,
! boysW
Hermann was liberated then and
there without waiting for legal forms.
a will fetch your wife; wait at my
house for her. said the Judge kindly
And here occurs the strange part of
the story. Why or how it was the
narrator can not explain, but Hermann
absolutely refused to see the woman
He went to the railroad station and sat
in dark corner until train came
along. sss So
Nearly two years passed. About a
month ago he met his wife accidentally
in Chicago, Old acquaintance was re-
newed and the old love reasserted it
self. The marriage license and the
marriage followed in due course. That
saved Troublesome explanations. And
if Hermann had any superstitious ideas
that the Fates had deoreed against his
union to the one woman the world had
for him they are all gone. Chicago
Tribune. FssF rE=
Queen Victoria has lost her favor.
| tie dog, Noble. that had been her con-