Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-05

he threw her on the bed. and not
withstandiDg her prayers and plead
ings, he accomplished his purpose.
Then it was, as he stood at the WIN
dow to escape, that the brothers ear.
in the room above, caught the con
GLIDING words Of the interview.
But said the girl, trying to CON
sole her brother, ''if he will only
marry me need not be ruined
BY daylight" answered Tom, "he
will either be your husband or dead
man"
Throwing his gun on his shoulder,
Tom Shields went 10 the residence of
his brother David, where Sitton was
staying. On entering Sittons room
the latter was sitting on the side of
the bed. Thinking Shields had come
for book which Stton had promised
him, Sitton said.
Here is that book"
On the book, Joe; I've come to
see you about something more seri-
Gus. Are you going away this morn
ingl"
II am, sad Sitton, land I never
expect to come back
81 want you TO marry my sister be-
fore you go, " said Tom you hare
ruined her"
Il can not do it"
"You must"
Making a motion to get his pistol off
the mantel piece. Sitton exclaimed:
"Tll die first
ode, then" said Tom, as he
emptied the contents of his shotgun
into the guilty lecher, who fell dead
at his feet The report called all to
the scene, when Dave Shields ran
in.
HE seduced my sister, said Tom;
4 demanded that he should marry
her at once. He refused, and now, :"
he said, looking at the dead body, Il
reckon he'll never ruin any more poor
women.
Clasping The dead body OF her
brother, and showering KISSES upon
his bloody face, Mrs. Shields sob
bed.
Poor Joe, he loved Mollie, and
would have married her.
The news of the tragedy as it was
told created uubounded excitement.
The youth and beauty of the unfor-
tunate girl aroused deep feelings
against the dead seducer. The com
plicated family relationship made it
Difficult. to talk Of the matter in their
presence, while the universal voice
justified brave Tom Shields for aveng-
ing the dishonor inflicted upon his
sister by a wretch who sneeringly re-
fused to make the only reparation in
his power. When the case was
brought to trial, however, it was
found that there were such evidences
Of cool predeterminatlon on the part
of Tom Shields which would make it
difficult for him to escape conviction
for deliberate murder. A singular
incident of the trial was the evidence
of Mrs. Annie Shields. She was the
one who had acted as the match
maker; her evidence on the one hand
would have to blacken the memory Of
her brother and fasten shame upon
the fair fame of her sister-inlaw, or,
on the other hand, it would send her
husbands brother to the gallows. In
her face and fearful eyes could be
read the story of conflicting emo
tons She gave her evidence with
wonderful nerve, however, and so
framed her answers as to save the
feelings of her double relationship.
When Miss MolIie Shields was placed
upon the stand men stood upon the
seats to look over each others
shoulders, SO anxious were they to
catch a glimpse of her face. She
would not move her veil, however,
aa9 when she told the story of her
final achievement there was not a
man in the house who would not have
slain Sitton if, by some chance, hG
should have walked into the room.
The jury retired with the case, and,
after consultation, brought in YER
dict of guilty. AT first it was felt that
this could not be so, but when the
judge called the prisoner up and SEN
fenced him to death on the gallows,
it became evident that. while the Law
might be enforced, there would be a
miscarriage of justice. The proper
steps were at once taken for an arrsst
of judgment and a new trial. While
awaiting the tedious ordeal of these
proceedings, Shields grew tired Of
pIlSOu lAlG anu tSCdptA. II VI wv
weeks search was made for him, which
resulted in his recapture. During the
two weeks of his freedom he slept in
the woods and lived on roots, and so
emaciated was he that his recovery
was deemed impossible. The second
trial, which has just closed, has re
suited in his conviction of manslaugh
ter. for which he has been sentenced
to five years IN the penitentiary.
Now that the story of the killing is
fully understood, it is felt by many OF
the good ladies Of North Carolina that
a man should not be punished for
protecting his sister Shields is to-day
a hero, and movement will at Dnce
be organized to ask Governor Scales
to release Shields from further pun
ishmeut
Indian Relies Exhumed in Iowa.
Dubuque Dispatch to the Des Moiues Register.
rsa