The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-07
THE FATAL RAIL.

III inc HOUSE OF INC tuiiii'HN 'I'<'''f'
electrical scientist. Senior Juan Mirenque,
has lust been concluded in Barcelona.
Snain and Sc was expected has resulted
In the complete oXoneratioh OF senior
M;rononc fr5I, All blame. At the same
tim ,hoy, qaerls 10 be a tscit understand
inn in the community that in such find
ing the written law OF tho criminal code
bsd been loss considered than the un
written law, that gives every man Ger
tain rights for the protection Of his
honor. The story Of the case is a curious
one. well worth narrating
Senior Mirenone is Q man Of full 81 years
of agc, o thorough scientist, engroSSed
most Of the time IN his studies and eApeil
nents, possessed OF an almost chlldiIke
innocence of The ways OF the world aud
both respected and beloved by all who
know him. His fortune IS ample and his
social standing doservejly high.
About seven years ago he committed
the folly OF marrying a very handsome
Young woman named KoSita falaiieia
whose mother was the widow OF an army
officer. between whom and Sener Mirenque
lifelong friendship existed. Rosta. a
girl of some 20 or perhaps ~ summers
was in herself poor assurance OF qulet
lie 20 q husband then nearly 30 years ola
and there is reason 10 believe that she
very reluctantly became his wlle' her
mother, however compelled her anu
wheedle1 him so that Che lily mated pair
were matched.
Ono OF tho witnesses in the recent pro
ceedinrs went so far a. 10 say very plainly
that the Young woman s conduct had been
so i'll guarded that her mother would have
found difficulty IN marrying her 10 any
man in good society who was not 80 aO
normally innocent and unsuspecting as
Senior Mirenque BE that as II may, the
old scientist was quite intatuat, within
Young wife, and for time al least
seemed very happy
Tho friend who called Oftenest upon
Sonora Mirenque and was most frequently
alone with her was Lieut. Rafael Laga
On the 23d of September last the
"eain+s' day' of the fair Ro5ta was cele
brated bv grand ietc III the elegant man
sion of her husband The spacious garden
and the conservatory we're 50 superbly
decorated. by means Of electric nights III
colored globes. flowers. drapeIy and other
adiuncts of light and color. that they
seemed a portion Of fairy land. me
orchestra furnished the music for the
dance. The supper was one to be reneu
bered. And the scene was enhanced III ITS
beauty and magnifconce by the presence
of the most charming Of Barcelona fair
ladies. escorted by caballeros Of uhques
tionablv the best society u the city,
among whom Rosita moved like queen
as well rs q most gracious hostess
Senior Mironque was present. OF course,
and If Was felt 70 b. no small condescen
sion that. even upon such an occasion he
had torn himself away from his labora-
tory. No one appeared 10 be happier than
he. and even those who deemed that they
had reason to suspect scandal IN the air
had their spicions disirmed 10y the man
fest cordially. affection and confidence
that he demonstrated toward his young
wife. Evidently, they thought, he knew
nothing. for he smiled upon Lieut. Laga
and shook hands with him as no con
sciously outraged husband could have
done
One of the chief adornments III the con
servatory was superb marble bust
three.quarters Of life size-ol Sonora
MirenJue. q birthday present from her
aGectiOnate husband. Ii stood III semi
circular space backed by some rich trop-
ical foliage and was surrounded by pro
tecting silver rail. the supports OF winch
were based III it's heavy marble pedestal.
On one side Of it, near at hand. WAS the
entrance from the parlors on The other
side. Q door that led II Sonora MTenquc
private apartments. and beyond, through
q second conservatory, lay the way 10 the
gardens. Every one had to pass the bust
and al stopped to admire it as they went
by.
Tro .,to was a complete success in
ever resvect. and it was almost daylight
when me last Of the guests took their dc
partu'e. and their host, weary old man,
was at liberty 10 retire TO rest Bat be-
fore going he was very careful about see
inc personally 10 certain precautions. The
electric currents that had been supplying
the lamps all the night had been furnished
from powerful storage batteries. and no
one knew better than he the dangers Of
those contrivanccs, SO lie saw TO it him
self that every one OF the batteries, was
disconnected and left in such condition as
to be absolutely harmless, gayethe strict
est orders that nobody should touch bat
teries or wires, or anything else connected
with the display until he could personally
supervise the handling OF them tho next
day. and then went of 10 bed
la taking all this trouble he had acted
very prudently for. while several OF the
batteries had been completely exhausted
and were as harmless as 50 many blocks
Of ice. there were others that had not
been touched or drawn upon al all, and IN
which terrific energies were still bottled
up. sufficient to kill many persons should
they come in contact with the current
In view of his prudent care the subse-
quent events were all the more surprising
and inexplicable
Between IL and II o'clock Of the sue
ceeding forenoon Lieut.. Zaga made a
morning call upon Sonora Mrenque. That
was 4 favorite hour for his visits 1t was
q time when the old man was almost alb
solutely certain to be in the laboratory,
when there were not likely to be any
other visitors. and when his interview with
n II. /. L.. t,,+e tod