The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-15
A WEDDING MURDER.
Why Toast to the Bride Was
Cut Short by Death.

The first time visited Midhampton was
in pursuit of young fellow who had en-
bezzled a few hundred pounds traced
bin to the barracks, whers, having spent
all his money he had enlisted. Havin Q
taken the shilling before noon, he went TO
enjoy himself in the great manufacturing
town till the evening, when he was in
Structed to return to sleep, preparatory to
going before the doctor early next morn
ing, and being attested before the magis-
trate. 1t was a nasty, cold night when
returned TO the military quarters and |
was not little pleased to find the sergeant
who accompanied me an intelligent and
superior man. The street in front of the
barracks was a wide thorougbfare, well lit
up by the shops and public houses on the
opposite side. Being quite mile from the
town, black gap seemed to lie between
them and 1t. Three miles further on is the
smaller community of Hilston, and the
sergeant explained TO me that the road
way formed something like an irregular
seml-clrcle, so that actually the distance,
as the crow flies, was less than four miles
''The fact is" he continued. ''thsre is a
pathway across the moor which is quite a
mile shorter, and foot-passengerS in the
daytime mostly use that way. 1t starts
from the bottom end of High street, and the
soldiers at tattoo mostly return that way,
although some of them come to rare grief
when a bit tOp-heavy,' for the waste
ground is full of ruts and holes, and, in the
winter time, particularly, big pools are
formed in which more than one warrior
has closed an inglorious caresr. It's dis
NAL spot, and the mere sight OF it gives me
the 'blues'''
There's sentry on the back gate, then,
suppose." | said.
tGThnrn'S q amt, ON 70 loo =,
the back of the officers quarters, and from
there another gate leading into the barrack
square, but that is closed at tattoo so that
men who are late must pass the main
guard. expect that will be closed earlier
tonight" continued the sergeant. "for
there are great 'goingS on among the Of
ficerS.m
Indeed = l said
yes" continued my informant. 81
don't suppose the old building has ever
witnessed such scene before The Adiu-
tant of the Third Battalion of the Mid
hamptonShire regiment-that is the militia
was married this morning TO the Colonel's
niece, and as it is the last day of the annual
training, the wedding breakfast is made
general gueSt-night and the fair sex are of
course very well represented
There Is no regular regiment here
Them | remarked.
No; only the depot OF the First Battal-
ION, at present at the Cape"
After q short delay cried:
'Slnce 1t Is not yet tattoo our man could
manage to get in by the back gate.n
Il don't think il Is at all likely, - returned
my companion, "unleSS, indeed. he made
the acquaintance of some of the other
men. We may, however, have a walk
round. In the meantime I'll just ask the
corporal to detain the youth in the guard
room, should he turn up in our absence"
Having done so. We walked Ieisurely
along the front wall in the direction of the
town and then turned up alongside the |
higher one running at right angles, within |
a few feet of which the dwellings were
built. The chill rain was drizzling in our |
faces, and both with one accord raised the |
collars of our overcoatS. At the same in |
stant, and before we had left the highway |
twelve PAGES, we heard Somsthing that |
caused the sergeant TO cry:
"Halloa,' -
whats that!'' Iexciaimed.
Its Snot," he returned
There's no practice going on inside inst |
now" proceeded
mot at this hour" he replied. There !
must be something wrong. The sound |
seemed to come from 6ehind us-the main
entrance, ia fact Two years ago SER
Seant, who expected being broken for
drunkenness, shot himself in the guard |
room hope it isn't such another CASE
Lets see, cried, and / set off running
IN the direction we had come. followed bV !
tne heavier and more deliberate man in
uniform.
When we got to the main gate one of the
servants had Just arrived from the mess.
breathless from running and white with
horror.
"The Colonel orders the large gate to be
shut, policeman sent for, and every man
who enters after now to be detained before
going to his quarters"
Here is police sergeant said the SER
geant of the guard, as we entered. What's
the matter!r
Tho Adjutant has just been shot-dead-
through the mess room window"
There was general cry of amazement
and horror from the men forming the
guard. was disguSted with the job I was
on, which gave no opportunity for exer-
cssing skill, and felt somehow elated that l
happened To be on the spot when what
promised to be very mysterious affair
occurred. Addressing the servant, who
vas clad in blue striped jacket of the
Eaton cut. cried: -
LEAD me to the scene of the murder in
sks shortest way" Then, turning to the 4