Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29
A SURPRISE.


Soon after this, to Mr. Chisholm
great establishment, Charles Churchill
appeared at Bristol, to transfer the
agency of the real estate to Liverpool,
and renew his former relation with
George Cbisholm's family. Robert
communicated to his brother the facts
with which the reader is already
familiar, and the brothers had an in
terview with Churchill He solemnly
denied that he was the man described
by Robert, and explained his long
silence by stating that, having made
Ia tour Of the United States, he was
returning to Barbados, when the
vessel was wrecked on one of the Ba
hama keys. He and five others escap-
ed, and were taken off by South Sea
whaling vessel, which left him and
another at the Falkland Islands.
Thence his companion. returned to
America, and he took passage, after
some delay, for Liverpool, by way of
Buenos Ayres.
This explanation was so far c0nSid-
cred satisfactory that Churchill was
still allowed to visit Georges home.
Before a week was over, however, he
/ " ID 5&ICSECJ OIl bnO SLIC@bS VI OI1SOO4
as an escaped convict. His prOtesta-
tions of innocence Ware of no avail and
the storE Of shipwreck was looked up
on as manufactured, as he would give
neither the name of the ship In which
he quilted the Bahama key nor the
names of the men who were rescued
along with him. He was sent to Port
| land to serve out his term. Influence,
however, was brought to bear later,
and ne was released, and went the
Chisholm's knew not whittier.
STILL AGAIN.
Soon after this, man was arrested
on suspicion in Bi1mmgGa am for bur
glarly at a large firearms manufac-
tory. He was supposed to be one OF
a gang of four, and as several bur
glaries had occurred in the neighbour
hood, the arrest caused much excite
ment. George Chisholm attended
the preliminary examination, as he
expected to do from his description,
and identified the burglar as Charles
! Churchill, alias Shi pman. Mr.. Chris
hOlm's better nature was aroused
In favor Of the young man, and he
interested himself in his case, show
ing satisfactorily that the prisoner
could not have committed the CRIME
| for which he was arrested, as he was
at that time in Portland prison, Ship
man was released, and Mr. Chisholm
| took him to his own home. He spoke
to him kindly, and he admitted at last
that he was Charles Churchill,
promised amendment, and declared
his resolution Of at once abandoning
all bis vicious companions, with
whom he had become accidenty ac-
| quainted, he said, on the Cor tinent.
tentlve and behaved so well, that Mr..
| ChrishOlm wrote to his brother and
announced that his reformation was
affected.
WE'D.
In the meantime, Miss Chisholm's
health had seriously suffered from the
terrible shocK which she sustained on
hearing of her lovers criminal cours-
es. II was feared she would so into de-
cline and, as a last chance to save her
life, it was suggested that she should
marry Churchill He declared he
would never face his brother again,
and that he was IN no position to mar
ry. Robert Chisholm, however, prom
Used to make a handsome provision for
the couple, and they were married.
Churchill went into the counting
| house of his father in-law, and paid
strict attention to business for some
| time.
GONE FOR GOOD.
One day he disa ppeared, and thor
ough inquiry and search failed to
show what had become of him. 1t
was soon ascertained, however, that
912, 900 were missing from Mr.. CHS
holm's safe, TO which Churchill had
ready access. Naturally, suspicion
arose that Churchill had taken the
money and decamped to resume his
old courses.
| Six months later something occur
red, what, the writer does not remem-
look for Churchill IN Liverpool
Thither he went and found the young
man in charge Of the affairs of the
Barbados estate. As may readily be
conceived Mr.. Chisholm was very
wroth and bitterly upbraided Church
| i'll for his conduct. The young man
most soleaanly denied sill the charges,
and averred that whomsoever Mr..
Chrisholm's daughter had married,
he was certainly not the man A close
Investigation followed and it was
shown that all Mr. Churchili's state
ments were true and that he had Ger
tainly been in other places at the
very times when he was accused OF
crimes (and as was supposed), con-
victed and punished for them.
Here the mystery rests. It was
certain that the resemblance was SO
close between Churchill, the innocent,
and Churchill. the guilty, as to defy
not only the most experienced detec-
tive to tell the difference, but even to
deceive Miss Chisholm.
Who was the other man?
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