The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-01
An Unnatural Sons Extraordi.
nary Fate.

An Unnatural Sons Extra0rdi.
4 nary Fate.
| About fifteen years ago set up shop
MS a lawyer in ayoung town in Nebras-
ka, and the very first case that came
to me was one to delight lawyer 3
heart. An aged woman named Mary
Sharon had decided all her property
to her son William, on the understand
ing that be was to support her and do
so-and-so during the rest OF her life.
After year or two he became anxious
to get rid OF her, being vigorously en-
couraged by his wife, and matters
were made 80 hot for the old lady that
che could no longer stay in the house.
Indeed, she was turned out OF
it, and but for the charity OF
neighbors would have died OF hun
ger and exposure. While she had
a copy OF the agreement drawn
in legal form, and good evidence in a
suit, none of the five or six lawyers in
town would take her case because of
fear OF the son. William had given out
that he would kill any lawyer who
meddled with the case, and he had the
record OF being a desperate, revengeful
man. When the mother came to me
she frankly warned me that must
look out for Bill, but when Ihad look.
ed into the case / determined to be-
come her counsel, Bill or no Bill My
first move was to send for the son, to
see if he desired to carry out his agree
nent. He came into my Office in a
staggering, defiant way, having re-
volver buckled to him and three drinks
OF whisky behind his vest buttons. He
cursed the mother, me, the law, and
all else, and wound up with:
"Now, then, you 60 ahead. The
minute you make trouble for me III
make corpse OF YOU"
"And now you look here" an
swered, as brought six-shooter to
cover his head. "Pm in this case to
the bitter end, and whenever you feel
like shooting don't wait tor me to be.
GIN"
Bill was q boaster and a coward.
He turned white as flour, and became
as humble as a lamb. He went out
of the Office like cur, but ! knew the
feeling raging in his heart, and l real
lied that he would bring about my
death if he could do it with safety to
himself. l had the proper papers
served and the suit opened. Bill
made his threats and boasts, but
kept clear of me. 1expected he would
fill up some day and come into town
for a shooting scrape, but he had an
other plan to work on. We had a
sure case, as his friends informed me,
but he was determined to bluster it
out.
My Office was over store and
reached by outside stairs. There was
front and a back room, and the at.
ter, being a bachelor, was used for
my bedroom. 1t Was the fashion to
leave all doors open during the day,
and when left my Office on any er,
rand or to go to court it was not
locked. When it became known
around that Ihad taken Mrs. Sharon 's
case, and bluffed her son Bill, had
plenty of small business to look after
and was much of the time in the Jus
tices' Courts.
| One day just before the big suit was
to come to trial / went into court or
an ordinary suit and was detained
three or four hours. The Office was
left open, as usual. As returned tc
it three or four citizens accompanied
me, and as we reached the foot o.
the stairs we heard terrible
yell from the rooms above. Next mo-
ment Bill Sharon came rushing down
the narrow stairs hatless, eyes start
ing from their sockets, and such q
look OF terror on his face as I never
saw before or since. He rushed past
us shrieking and yelling, and it was
only when he was clear OF us that WE
made out the horrible truth. Two
great rattlesnakes were hanging tic
him-one by the right wrist, and the
other by the right leg They squirmed
and twisted and Topped as he ran
and his screams and exclamations
brought out the whole town. He rar
about block, and then lay down in
the street and rolled over and over
and the snakes let'go and were killed
as they crawled away.
Bill had been bitten in three places
The only antldote suggested was whis
ky, and a good two quarts were pour
ed down him without the slightest re-
lief. 1t did not in the least stupefy
him nor quiet his excited condition
and in an hour he was dead-his bioat
ed body and purple face presenting 8
horrible sight. 1t did not take much
: headwork to discover how it all camt
about. Bill wanted revenge on me
and his plan was to leave the rattle
snakes i'll my bedroom. He had tax
en- them there in box after seeing tha;
the coast was clear, and had dumped
, them out on the floor. The box was
there to prove it. In his haste to bt
, gone he had been careless, and as tht
i. scrpents were loosened they turned Oh
. him and fastened their fangs in hi:
flesh. 1t was retribution, but none o
US could help but pity his horrible
20 Nav, Nprly CIV,