Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-22


He Immediately started for
Tabuta. Kansas, where his wifa resided
arriving there Eve days later. The day
following his arrival William Chapman,
the second husband, was found lying
dead On his own doorstep with bullet
through his brain. Twodays later Her
mann vas lodged il the county jail on .
charge Of willful murder.
The morning following the arrest the
prisoner was taken before the local JUS
tice for examination. A crowd Of rough,
bearded frontiersmen thronged the little
room where the proceedings we're held.
Justice was usually swift and stern IN
that district; In serious crimes Judge
Lynch reigned supreme. In this case,
so far IS the spectators knew, the pris-
oner had been arrested on mere sus-
piciOn as being q stranger If evidence
turned up to prove him. guilty there was
no Jail strong enough to hold him from
the vengeance of the people, nor any
legal power sufficient to stay the execu-
ton Of his death warrant or punish those
who carried it out.
The first witness was Mrs. Chapman,
q fair, childish looking little woman,
whose woe-begone face and widows
weed sent murmur of sympathy through
the spectators. She testified that the
previous Sunday evening she had paid a
visit to neighbor Had been gone
about an hour, and on coming home
found her husband lying dead on the
doorstep. Her husband did not carry q
pistol; there had never been q pistol in
the house to her knowledge. she be-
lieved her husband had no reason to
commit suicide; was certain he would
not do such a thing. He had sold cattle
few days before, and had the money
in his pocketbook that day-&120 in
currency. He had a 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 presumed rob-
berry had been the motive for the crime;
she knew of no other.
do you know the prisonerG" asked
the Judge.
YES" she faltered.
DO you know his business in coming
here7'
No reply. The question was repeated.
''Ohl Judge" she burst out, with
torrent of sobs, ''he is my husband, my
true husband! But he didn't do it'll
Oh, Judged God knows heis innocenti"
A buzz of excitement spread through
the room.
'silencep' said the Judge, rapping his
desk sharply.
Then It was found the witness had
tainted in her chair. Presently she re-
covered, and eventually the story of her
first marriage and the recent discovery of
herself by the prisoner was wrung from
her. Only once the prisoner spoke.
'eTell the whole truth, Amelia, and
fear nothing. = he said.
She said the prisoner had been to her
house the day of the murder Her hus-
band-the deceased-was off on the
farm at the time She had decided to
break the newsto himsthat night and 60
off with her first husband--the accused
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 she fact Of
the prisoners visit to Chapman's house,
and on this ground had made the arrest
The prisoner had freely told the story of
his marriage, and that his business here
was to get his wife who was living with
Chapman. The only money the prisoner
had on his person when arrested was
about $25 in greenbacks and silver and
$40 in gold certificates. He had neither
pistol nor watch:
Then the prisoner was asked to testify.
In simple, homely language he told of
his search for his wife, his visit to the
village after receiving her letter, his
meeting with her-not knowing or car
ing whether her second husband was at
the house or away and of receiving her
promise to meet him at the railway sta
ton and depart with him next day. At
the hour the murder was committed he
was alone in his bedroom, trying to pass
away the time with pipe. He asserted
he never saw Chapman in his life, and
had no desire to do him harm nor any
enmity whatever against him. He simply
wanted his wife. He would have been
willing to tell the story to Chapman, but
his wife preferred to tell it herself, and
he was satisfied.
The landlord of the hotel where Her
mann had stopped said he did not know
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. Il
was evident Hermann doom was sealed.
He was certain of few hours respite,
but once the sun went down those men
would surely gather around the prison.
the doors be burst open, and within 3 few
minutes the victims body would dangIe
from the limb Of tree, while bis soul
winged its fight to the great judge of
all. It had occurred so often before that
Sr,anrv <.s.n 1r.,ns., ~xyla& fha danarftro of