The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-09-23
A SHOCKING RETRIBUTlON.

About fifteen years ago | set up shop
as lawyer IN Young town IN Nebraska,
and tue very first case that came to me
was cue 10 delight II lawyers heart. An
aged woman name Mary Sharon had
decided all her property to her son VIII
liam, Oh the understanding that he was
to support her ana DO 50 and SO during
the rest Of her lie. After year or two
he became anxions TO get rid of her,
being vigorously encouraged by his wife,
and matters were made SO hot for the old
lady that she could no longer stay III the
house. Indeed, she was turned OUT ol
it, and but for the charity OF neighbols
would have died OF hunger and exposure.
While she had copy of the agreement
drawn IL legal form and good evidence
IN suit, none OF the i've or six lawyers
III town would take her case because of
fear OF the son. William had given out
that he would kill any lawyer VINO med
died with the case, and he had a record
Oi being a desperate, roveDgetnl man.
When the mother came TO me she frank
ly warned me that | must look out for
Bill, bat when | had looked iuto the
cast | determined to become her counsel.
Bill or no Bill. Ny first move was o
send for tee son, to sec If he desired 10
carry out the agreement. He came into
ny office III staggering, defiant way,
having revolver buckled to him and
three drinks of Whiskey behind his vest.
buttons. He cursed the mother, me, the
law, and ali else, acd wound up With:
Now. then, you go ahead. The min
ute yen make Trouble for me, III make a
corpse Of you"
''And now you look here, | answered,
as L brought six shooter to cover his
head. "lm in this case to tie bitter
end, and whenever you feel like shooting
don't wait for me to begin"
Bill was a boaster aud coward. He
turned white as flour, and became hum
bic as a lamb. lie went out of the office
ike cur, but l knew the feeling raging
III his heart, and l realized that he would
bring about my death if he could do it
with safety to himself | Lad the pro-
per papers served and the suit opened
Bal made bis threats and boasts, but
hept clear Of me. l expected he would
ill up some day and come into town for
a shooting scrape, but he had another
plan to work on. We had sure case,
determined to buster 1t out.
My office was over a store, and reached
10y outside stairs. There WAS front and
a back room, and the lat 'er, | being
bachelor, was used for my bedroom it
was the fashion to leave all doors open
during the day. and when left my Office
on any errand, or to go to court, it was
not locked. When ii became known
around that lad taken Mrs. Sharon S
case and b,utfed her son Bill, | had
plenty Of small business 10 look after.
and was much of the time "a the justices
courts.
One day, just before the big suit was
TO come TO trial, [ went into court Gu an
ordinary snit and was de aimed three or
four hours. The Office was left open, as
usual As [ returned 10 If, three or four
citizens accompanied me, aud as we
II aChed the foot OF Tie stairs we heard
terrible yell from the rooms above.
Next moment BID Sharon came rushing
Gown the narrow stairs hatloss, eyes
starting from their sockets, aud such
look Of terror on his face as | never saw
before or since. lie rushed past US
shlieking and yelling, aud it was only
when he vas clear OF rs that we made
out the horrible truth. Two greab rattle
snakes were hanging to him, one by the
right wrist and the other by the right leg
They squirmed and twisted and Topped
as he ran, aud his screams aud exclama-
tiOns brought out the whole town. He
rau about block aud then lay down in
the street aud rolled over and over, and
the snakes let 60 of him and were killed
as they crawled away.
Bill had been bitten in three places
The only antidote suggested was whiskey,
aud a good two qUarts were poured down
him without the slightest relief. 1t dld
not in the least stupefy him nor quiet
his excited condition, and IN al hour he
was dead-his bloated body and purple
face presenting horrible sight. 1t did
not take much headwork to discover how
it all came about. Bill wanted revenge
on me, and his plan was to leave the
rattlesnakes in my bedroom. He had
taken them there in box after seeing
that the coast was clear, and had dumped
them ont on the floor. The box was
there to prove it. In his haste to be
gone he had been careless, and as the
serpents were loosened they turned on
him ard fastened their fangs in his flesh.
1t Was retribution, but none of us could
help bnt pity his horrible fate
York iS,ua.
A WEDDING occurred on a train near
Trycnville, Pa, one day last week.