Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-08
QUEER REVELATIONS FROM
A PRISON CELL.


Cry up to me over ALL. ". R;ley.
QUEER REVELATIONS FROM
A PRISON CELL.
''The poker point was the means of
getting me five years. That was the
last time was here. 1t came about
this way. The young and newly mar
ried squire had furnished an old house
for the reception of his bride, the
daughter of a rich merchant in the
neighborhood, who, it was rumored,
had large dowry. The new plate,
clocks, loose money, etc., they were,
in a measure, obliged to keep in the
house was too tempting for me, a bur-
glar: I arranged with my accomplish
to send the squire telegram calling
him to St. Louis in haste, which he did,
telegraphing me that he had done so.
l proceeded to the house and watched
the squire depart; then, waiting till
night, admitted myself as 1 we'll knew
how. Finding nothing of value down
stairs, l crept up to the library, but
found nothing, so concluding the val
uables were kept in their bedroom, I,
after moments thought, determined
to risk all and try for the cash, which
needed and wished for most. crept
to what I thought would be the door;
but no, the room was unfinished and
empty. Stopping to consider, l saw a
light from under the door opposite to
me. THAT I thought, might be the
room, and the lady, being timid, is
afraid to 60 to bed. Shall try? It's
very dangerous should she scream.
Never mind I'll try-may never get the
chance again. Creeping to the door,
l turned the handle; the door yielded.
I entered with my pistol cooked, and
remarked, If you scream I shoot.
But it would have been better had not
spoken, she having fallen asleep in her
chair by the side Of the fire (the light
of which had seen under the door,
but at the sound of my voice she started
up in terror-dumb. l said, If you
make sound I'll murder YOU After
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found her watch and jewelry orna-
ments, so again turning to her, l babe
her tell me where the cash was kept.
She, too terrified to speak, pointed to a
small oak chest, which had escaped my
notice. There I found both the money
and plate. had put the cash into my
vest pocket, and was preparing to pack
the plate in my bag, when a slight
noise attracted my attention. Some
body was stirring. I listened; it was
some one coming up stairs. l looked
at the lady. Yes, she had evidently
heard it too. Her face wore relieved
LOOK. Closing the chest, l turned to
her, cooked my pistol, and said, If you
breathe one word that I'm in the room
I'll murder you both,' then slipped I'M
der the bed, hoping to escape later.
The person we had heard ascending
the stairs proved to be her husband,
who told his wife he only went as far
as Alton, where the line, owing to an
accident to a freight train, was blocked,
and finding could not reach St. Louis
till very late, he telegraphed on to know
if it would do in the morning, or must
he drive to the next station, arriving in
St. Louis about midnight. He received
reply that they did not understand
his message. What did he refer to-?
He again wired, sending copy of the
message he had received from them in
the morning. They answered they had
not sent the message and there was ev
identity some unpleasant hoax, H. he
continued, feared it might be burglars,
and that ere I could reach home again
you might be murdered in your sic ep.
But how is it you al e not in bed at this
late hour? There's nothing wrong,
l hope,' he asked his wife. I, under
the bed, lay waiting her reply before
deciding whether to bound for the door
or remain perfectly quiet.
''She answered., Feeling nervous and
lonely, did not care to 90 to bed until
certain you had not returned by this
train, and was also timid of burglars,
they have been SO busy in the neigh
borhood. But have you had anything
to eat?' she asked.
''He said he had dined at Alton. but
had had nothing since, and felt rather
hungry.
'She told him she had brought up
some eatables and tea, thinking he
might return, and would prepare them
while he warmed himself.
''He took the chair on the other side
of the fire, opposite his wife. She
placed the kettle on the fire to boil, and
then, for a time, perfect quietness
reigned, but it was during that quiet
ness-1 afterwards discovered on my
trial-that she disclosed to her husband
the fact that I was concealed under the
bed by means of the dumb alphabet,
which both understood perfectly. He,
remarking the time the kettle took to
boil was beyond the patience of hum
cry man, began to poke the fire, 1eav-
ing the poker there till it became red
hot; then he drew it forth, walked over
to the bedside, and lifting up the coun-
terpane, commanded me to come forth
or my nose would be in danger of being
singed. I, fearing he would put his
threat into execution if dared to come
out at the side where he stood, bounced
out on the other side, when, to my
| surprise, was met by his wife with
the tongs, likewise red hot at the ends,
with which she struck me on the hand
fearing / was going to murder her as
threatened-and caused me to drop my
knife, which l had drawn in self
defense, knowing that if used my pis-
tol l should alarm the whole house,
and that then all chance of escape
would be gone. The squire rushed
round the bed, kicked the knife out of
my reach, and putting the poker close
to my eyes ordered me to sit in the
chair he had occupied, or he would
burn my eyes out. I obeyed, the sud-
denness of the double attack having
stupefed me. He requested his wife
to call the servants, and send one for
the gardener. When the gardener ar
rived the squire ordered him to fasten
my wrists together. 1 resisted. He
put the poker to my nose. The pain
and heat were so intense I yielded.
My wrists secured, he ordered the gar
dener to lead me down stairs. He fol-
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