The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-31
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SILENT TO THE END.
A Chicago Mans HeartIessness Mt the Au~
proacIl of Death


CHICAGO, July GA strange Iife-story. with
remarkable climax, ended today, when James
Hutching, woll-to-do resident of this eiiy.
was buried from his house sherman ave.
nue.. MIR. Hutchins's death occurred lust az
the night was closing ON Saturday. Tho
deathbed scene in his comfortable home was
an extraordinary one. The dying man had
not spobon word to his wife in twelve wears.
anc Tor that time they had occupied separate
rooms. lie was q singular and obstinate man.
DIR. Parsons told him he had only a few hours
to live. Mrs. Hutcains was crying, and the
dying man, with open eyes, watched her.
With sudden impulse OF IA love that had sur
ylyed the years OF cruel treatment Mrs.
Butohins threw her arms around her dying
husband Is neck, kissed him fondy, and begged
him to speak to her once; to break, before he
died, the silence of dozen years. There was
struggle apparent in his countenanee. His
lips opened as if to speak, but only an inartic-
ulate sound came from them. His face grew
set and stern again. lie slightly repulsed her,
and was taken with n spasm of coughing He
asked the doctor for drink of water. Mrs.
HutchinS made no further attempts at a rec
oneiliatlon, and In half an hour her husband
died
The story of Mrs. Hutohns's peculiar treat
mont has been q subject for the talk and won-
der of the neighbors. They were married
thirty years ago i'll England He was hand
some foot soldier of the British army, and she
was friend OF his mother. They came TO the
y
work with the Union Stock Yards company.
He met Henry Bafrom, and as fellow workmen
they became strong friends, and Barroff, who
was unmarried, used to visit Hutchns at his
house. One evening BawoT dropped in be-
fore Hutchins had returned from his work.
lie sat down and presently Hutchins came in.
'Hello, Barrotf, how are you ?ss' said he.
"Howd'ye do, JIM said Barof and the
conversation proceeded socially for an hour or
two, when BarrofT went home.
AS soon as the door closed behind him
Hutchins charged his vito with infdelity He
broke into frightful passion. He would hear
no reply or explanation, and ended the scene
by locking himself up in another room. Mrs.
Hutchins could not understand it. Their mar
ried life had been happy until this time and
had been blessed by fine boy. She got sup
per, dried her tears Knocked on her husbands
door and told him supper was ready He ate
his meal without a word, and in sullen si-
lence smoked his pipe until bedtime. She
made ono or two attempts to say something
without avail. He retired to their bedroom
while she spent the night in another room. In
the morning it was the same way. He ate his
breakfast and went TO work, mute rs post.
This life went ON for days and weeks and years,
he never saying word to her. Sometimes he
wrote his requests on piece OF paper. Some
times she called in o neighbours child and
talked to him through the child He always
spoke pleasantly on these occasions, but frowned
and became stern IL she venturod to address
him directly. He made her an allowance Of
lWenty-lVe dollars month Tor the household
expenses and her own clothes.
Hutchins was proyident, thrifty man, and
accumulated money, bought houses and lots,
and made loans. He was liftY-six years old
when he died, and during recent years he had
not worked His wife, through their boy,
asked for more money than ss25 q month.
Hutchins grew violent and threw $40 bill at
her. She never asked him for money again.
Mrs. Hutchins, the neighbors say, used to cry
a great deal, and two or three times her hus-
band was seen to weep violently when he
thought he was not observed. But of late
years both have gone on in a matter-of-faet
way Their son married and went west three
or four years ago. Their solitary life went on
as before until q week ago when Hutchna
was taken i'll. DIR. Parsons said le had the
typhoid fever. Mrs. Hutchins cared for him,
gave him medicine and performed all the
offices of the sick chamber He never spoke
to her and adopted her attentions In the same
silence that he had observed for twelve years.
Mrs. Hutchins had no idea Of what property
was left or what money was loaned. The only
business she did was once in awhile TO collect
rent for her husband and give receipts signed
by him.
-a--~-
There is loud call for dispensation OF