St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-15
Copyrighted.
THE MI RIDER
WEST THIRTEENTH STREET.
A Story by Julian Hawthorne.
Written for the Globe.
I Il


On New Years eve several years ago. 1t had
considerable newspaper celebrity at the time,
but probably most people have forgotten it
now-partlv because the mystery connected
with it was never solved, and partly because
the victim had no relations and apparently
few friends and acquaintances in the city.
My recollection of the incidents. on the
other hand, is very fresh, not only because L
was engaged to defend the accused man. but
also by reason of another circumstance
which, believe, has never as yet been made
public.
In order to explain this circumstance,
however, it will be necessary to pass in re-
view the leading points of the tragedy. The
house in which it took place is
handsome, but not specially noticeable build
ing few doors west of the avenue, on the
north side of Thirteenth street. 1t was oc-
cupied, and | think owned, (but as to this
will not be positive,) by wealthy lady,
widow, whom 1 will call Mrs. Mannering.
The house was somewhat deeper than the av-
erage, the back parlor-used as a dining
room-being built out over part of the space
usually left for the back yard. The house on
Fourteenth street, corresponding to this one,
was, at the time 1 speak of, standing empty,
and was advertised for sale. 1t was the the
DRY of the prosecution that the murderer had
effected an entrance into Mrs. Mannering's
by way of this unoccupied building.
As have just intimated, Mrs. Mannering
was very little known. She had lived in New
York about ten years when her fate overlook
no han Of
80, with a husband much older than
herself. Inasmuch as Mr.. Mannering died
within year after his arrival, and seldom
left the house except for drive in the park
of a fine afternoon, his acquaintance
were even fewer than his wife's. But it was
said that he was quite an illiterate parsonage,
or at any rate that his speech showed lack of
cultivation. As the couple were understood
to have come from ''out West the theory
was hazarded that Mr.. Mannering had made
q fortune in oil or silver, and that Mrs. Man
nering had taken his name for that reason.
But no satisfactory evidence was ever added
to that point.
Mrs. Mannering was we'll educated, and in
appearance q lady. She was tall, and Of
finely developed figure, with light hair and
gray eyes. She always dressed well, and
wore good deal of handsome jewelry. Her
home was well furnished, and she
evidently had all the money she
wanted. But what was peculiar
in a woman so gifted by nature and fortune
was that she never made any attempt to
open relations with society. She gave no
dinners or receptions, and she attended
none. She drove every day in the park, but
abe bowed to no one she met. She went
every summer to the seaside or to the noun
tains, but, so far as was known, she found
no acquaintances among the people she en-
countered there. In all respects, save one,
she was as much alone in the world as if she
lived in a desert.
The one exception was her connection
with the church. If PERSONS heart can be
judged by actions she was decidedly relig-
Gus woman. She was member of the
Episcopal church, and was punctual in the
performance Of all duties thereto appertain-
ing. She attended every service, and made
large and regular contributions to the church
establishment She also subscribed regu-
larly and generously to all such charities as re-
ceivcd the ecclesiastical support and sanction,
and finally, after her death, it was found
that she had bequeathed her entire property
with the exception of two or three trifing
legacies) to the church to which she belonged.
If to do all this be the sign of a religious
spirit, then Mrs. Mannering was religious.
On the other hand, no woman was less
priest-rdden than she. Her clergyman was
not her conddant. Her associations with
her spiritual guides were conducted.
80 to speak, strictly on a business
footing All emotions of Christian
love and brotherhood, if they existed, were
kept in the background Nor was Mrs. Man
ncriug ever known to relieve beggar at her
door, or to give her attention to any case of
distress that was brought before her other
wise than through the orthodox channels.
Moreover, her life, though solitary was by
no means ascetic. She dressed in the latest
fashion, her table was sumptuous, all her
habits were luxurious. Apparently she left
no sonorous taste unqualified. Upon the
whole, therefore, she was aud re-
manned an enigma. If her course
Of life were voluntary, it was
strange. But could it be involuntary Could
which made her afraid or unable to minglc
in the world for which she seemed so we'll
fitted Was she solitary, not from choice,
but by compulsuul II so, what or who com
PEELED herr | merely state the surmise; l do
not authorize it. No such compelling agent
ever came to light. But when person dies
a violent and mysterious death surmises are
inevitable.
Mrs. Manneriug's household consisted of
five persons: a female companion, a butler
and three female servants. Her carriage and
horses were kept at livery stable, and she
was driven by one Of the employees of her es-
Enlistment The female companion was
foreiguer-apparently q German or Il Swede.
Her Office seems 10 have been to
read 10 her mistress, to play for
her on the violin, and to assist
her IN her toilet. Mrs. Manneriug habitually
conversed with her in the German tongue,
and the butler, who was an EnglIShman, ana
who waited at table. was consequently
never able to crafty whatever curiosity he
may have felt as 10 the topics discussed there;
which was the greater pity, inasmuch as he
testified that Mrs. Mauueriug uubeut good
deal at table, chatted and laughed freely with
Madam Holzen (the compauioul, and habit
ually drank i've or six glasses of wine.
The night on which the murder was com
mittcd was an unusually warm one for the
time of year; it had raiued during the dav,
aud at sunset a gusty wind had arisen From
$ to half past l. there was only one person
beside Mrs. Mauueriug in the house,
End that one was the cook, an elderly !
sud somewhat infirm woman, who /
slept in the top story. Madam Holzen had |
received permission to attend 4 New Years |
L - L. IL /