The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-16
A STORY OF THEMIDNIGHT MAI

A STORY OF THEMIDNIGHT MAI
1t happened one afternoon last year
during the month of November, that
received telegram calling for my pres
ence in London early the next morning
on an important business matter. Tt
such a summons there was but one ans
wer possible; so. with just such re.
gretful thought for a card party should
have to forego, wired back this reply
Mr., j. DEVON, Anderton's hotel, Lon
don.-Shall leaye BurtOwn by the 12 tC
night, and will cali on you tomorrow al
S:l5 KMGHTLY
Having despatched my message, l fin
ished off the days work with all speed
and then returned to my lodgings tC
make preparations for my Journey
These, as the masculine reader need not
be told, consisted principally of cram.
ming a soft cap and spirit flask to-
gether with few other necessaries into
a carpet bag; after which followed the
discussion Of substantial meal and the
delivery of an eXhortation to my land
lady to feed my fox terrier Grip at his
us ,al hours.
The remainder of the evening was
spent in skin ming over the mornings
paper. wherein | found little to interest
me. In disgust flung the thing on the
floor. 1t allghted at graceful angle, on
whose apex appeared the heading, con.
spicuOus as loaded type could make it:
Shock ng wife murder in Burtown-ar-
rest of the murderer. With mental
apology to the publishers of the ChrOni-
Gle for the injustice had done them as
caterers to the public craving for hor-
rOrs | picked up the paper and proceed
ed to digest the narrowing details.
The gjst OF the news was as follows; An
abandoned ruffian, Chippy Watson by
name. after the fashion of his class, had
beaten in his wife's skull with a malet,
in const quence of some domestic disa-
greement. Having committed the deed
he coOlly put on his coat and hat and
was proceeding to depart, when the
neighbors and police, attracted by the
screams of the unfortunate victim rush.
ed in and secured him. This was all, or
nearly all the paragraph contained, eX
cept for the usual information that the
prisoner will be brought up before the
mag strates this morning and charged
with causing the wilful murder Of his
wife
1t was now past eleven-time for me
to make my way down to the station;
rather more than time. in fact, since
that imposing structure was distant from
my lodgings by fully two miles. FOrtu-
nately my bag was light and shared in
its pleasing characteristic of not being
burdened by surpertluOus weight. None
the less, on reaching my destination,
there was only one minute left me
wherein to take a ticket and secure a
seat. The latter operation, thanks to
the slowness Of the booking clerk in
handing me my change, had to be aC-
complshed by running the gauntlet of
guards and porters as the train began to
move.
No sooner had / ascertained that my
limbs were uninjured by the unceremo
nious fashion in which the railway of
ficials had assisted me to my seat, than
| discovered that the only other tenant
OF the compartment IN which was en-
sconced was a young lady, and one.
moreover, of no small beauty. Now, l
am shy man as far as the fair sex is
concerned, Among men, l have self
possession enough and to spare; hut in
the presence of ladies, that self posses
sion vanlshes with most unCalled for ra-
pidity, In the presence of ladies, yes;
but here there was but one, who was
bound to keep me company for a whole
hour, until the train should make its
first stop. So it happened that as | con
templated my vis-a-vis from behind the
evening paper, which had found time
to buy on my flight to the station, a
measure of my courage returned, and in
the inspiritlng words of Mr.. Gilbert. I'D
| / IN f.. FOL nd 10.
start; faint heart never won fair lady.
| | trust you were not alarmed at my
unceremOnious entry, | remarked, with
some inward misgivings, but much out
ward assurance.
For answer, quiet stare and slight
contraction Of the pretty mouth of my
companon-indicating her opinion that
as n stranger and unintrOduced bad no
right to speak to her.
This, to an ordinary male animal. was
the moment for strategic attack upon
the fair ones scruples: tor me it was the
exact oppOsite-tAe moment for flight
had fight been possible. Ostrich like,
buried my face behind my Newspaper
there being no sand avaiable-and in
few moments heard, to my relief, cor.
responding rustic from the opposite side
of the carriage as my pretty prude fol-
lowed suit. The sense Of defeat and dis
grace fairly overwhelmed me for while
and my eyes wandered over paper /
held in my hand, seeing but not under
standing what they saw. At length they
| lighted upon familiar name, Chippy
Watson, and their owner recovered his
sense and almost forgot his grief as he
read the following lines: The Burtown
murder-Escape of the Prisoner. After
detailing the incidents of the hearing
before the magistrates and the remand
of the prisoner, pending the inquest, the
paragraph went on as follows, On Aav-
ing the court, Watson was conducted
between four officers to the van. Just
as he was stepping in, and when the po
| lcemen were endeavoring to keep back
the crowd that pressed round, the pris-
oner suddenly snapped his handouts, in
some ineXplicable manner and knock
ing down the constables who threw
themselves upon him, broke through
the bystanders and fled down the street.
The whole affair took pace,as it seemed
in second. One minute, and Watson,
vigorously guarded, was quietly walking
into the van in the midst of the officers:
the next, and he was free, tearing down
the street with the police and tn popu-
lace at his heels. He was seen to dodge
down back alley, known as Shut Lane,
and was followed by the crowd of sever. !
al hundred. At the end of Shut Lane
he disappeared round corner, and
strange to say. has not been seen again.
There can be no doubt that he Will be
re captured; but his present escape and
disappearance are most mysterious. We
understand that the fellow possesses
singular strength and agility, but none
the less, 1t will be a standing Disgrace to
our police authoritses that a prisoner
should thus, in broad daylight, and in
the midst of a crowded thoroughfare,
effect his escape from the very hands Of
justice. A reward of one hundred
pounds has been offered for his resppre.
hension. Watson is about five feet nine
inches in height, strongly built, and
when he escaped was dressed in a gray
fustian suit, with red scarf and soft
hat. He may further be distinguished
by scar across his chin, and by having
an arrow tatt6Oed on the back of his
left hand.
This was about the extent of the in