The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-12-17

to the window and lOoped the curtain
back | returned to the bed, and. MAX
ing preliminary pass, saw that | could
strike her throat by drawing my arm
back to its full length. threw all roy
strength into my arm. A plunge and
all was over The point of the knife
struck her throat Just at the left ear-she
was living on her right side-and went
clear through. pinn;ng her to the bed. A
sharp pull. and her head was half sever
ed from her body. She opened her ewes.
a'l gave me one glance full of reproach.
One shudder went through her frame
and all was over. | then laid my hand
on the infants head. gave a sharp stroke
with the knife in my right hand, and the
blood of the babe mingled with that of
the mother.
- raised the window and threw the
knife into the yard, pulled the sheet. up
over the heads of my victims, then pack
ed few articles into a yaliSe, and left
the house. As | thought it advisable to
leave the country, came west, and have
been here ever since.
you scOundrelr' said an old gentle
man who had listened to the story,
sprinping TO his feet, you ought 20 be
lICii-C'i. flAiNt ~ III pun SLA 1Ait ~
Similar sentiments were expressed by
the other listeners.
.'Gentleman," said the narrator of the
story, don't get excited. Let me finish.
have recounted Il Gamnable story, III
admit, but when | have finished there is
not one OF you who viii condemn me.
When [ left home | was fully aware of
the enormity of my offense. | was
crazed with the fear of detection. |
| would not read newspaper for fear
would see an account of my horrible
deed. | stunned the fellowship of man.
kind, for | felt that | was detested and
abhorred by all, for l thought every
one knew what had done and only re-
Trained from arresting me because they
saw my wretchedness.
4 went to Mexico and labored in the
mines, | Went to Washington territory
and buried myself in a logging-camp
| for year. | came to Colorado, went to
Leadyille and found employment in a
| mine. / had been there about month
when | was aecosted by young man
who called me by my right name. | de-
MED my identity and he said no more,
| but | heard him telling a fellow miner
d1ttl Wdlt llldl tlt hltN Hlt NCll, liltlt L
was from Milledgeville. Ga; that | had
disappeared suddenly from home, de-
serting my wife and child, and that |
was pretty much of a scoundrel any
way.
Here was a revelation to me. He
| spoke of my wife and child as being
alive. / dropped my drill, rushed over
to him, acknowledged who | was, and
begged him to tell me something. 1t
| was easily done. He had been away
from home for only six months, and he
assured me that when he left hlilledge-
vile my wife and child were alive and
| well, and that my wife had always
thought l deserted her. told him my
story, how had killed her and the child
and fled to escape punishment for the
| crime.
You must be crazy he said. Write
home and see if | haven't told you the
| truth
Il wrote to my wife, and very shortly
! afterward received a reply from her.
Other letters followed, and the result is
| am on my way back home, where l e>,-
| pect to resume the practice of my pro-
fession. Every word | have told you,
| gentlemen, is the truth. | explain it this
way: That night went home consum-
ed with jealousy. l suddenly lost my
mind, imagined l committed the horri-
ble crime, and fled. For four years and
over | have been wanderer, imagining
! had the brand of murderer on my
| brow. | was sane in everything else,
and l hardly know whether | am sane on
| that point now. The illusion was so per-
feet, [ never doubted it. That is my
| story"
"Well, old man." said the old gentle
man who wanted to pull on the rope,
| you ought to leave the law and become
drummer That story of yours would
take with the boys. ."-Denver Nea0s.