The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-01-13
miscellaneous.
A TERRIBLE TEN MINUTES

1t happened one afternoon last year, in III,
month of November, that received a tele
gram calling for my presence in Londor
early next morning ON an important business
matter To such summons there was but
one answer possible, so, with just a Iegretfu
thought for card party should have tc
forego, wired back this reply:
"Mr. j. DeU0n, Andert0n'S Hotel, London
'Shall leave Burtown by the IL tonight, and
KNIGHTLY."
Having dispatched my message, | finished
off the days work with all speed, and then
returned to my lodgings TO make prepare.
tons for my journey. These consisted prin.
cipally of examining a soft cap and a few
other necessaries into a carpet-bag, after
which followed the discussion of hearty
meal, and the delivery of an exhortation to
my andlady to feed my fox-terrier, Grip, at
his usual hours.
The remainder of the evening was spent
in skimmiag over the morning paper, where
in | found little to interest me. In dis
gust, | flung the thing on the floor. 1t
alighted at a graceful angle, on whose apex
appeared the heading, as conpcuous as lead
ed type could make 1t shocking Wife
Murder in Burtown-Arrcst of the Murder
err"
With mental apology 10 the publishers of
the Chronicle for the injustice / had done
them as caterers to the public craving for
horrors, picked up the paper and proceeded
TO digest the "harrowing details"
The glst of news was as follows: An
Abandoned ruffian, Chippy Watson by
by name, had, after the fashion of his class,
beaten in his wife's skull with a mallet, in
consequence of some domestic disagreement.
Having committed the deed, he cOolly put
on his coat and hat, and was proceeding to
depart, when the neighbors and police, at
tracted by the screams of the unfortunate
victim, rushed in and secured him. This was
all, or nearly all the paragraph contained,
except for the usual information that "tbe
prisoner will be brought up before the mag
istrates this morning, and charged with caus-
ing the willful 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 full
ly two miles. Fortunately, my bag was light,
and shared in Its pleasing characteristic of
being unburdened by superfluous weight
None the less, on reaching my destination
there was only one minute left me wherein
TO take my ticket and secure O seat. The
latter operation, thanks to the slowness of
the booking clerk in handing me my change,
had to be accomplished by running the gaun-
let of the guards and porters as the train be-
gan TO move.
No sooner had ascertained that my limbs
were uninjured by the unceremoniOus fash
ion in which the railroad officials had assist
ed me TO my seat, than discovered that the
only other tenant of the compartment in
which was ensconced was young lady,
and one, moreover, of no small beauty. Now,
| am a shy man as far as the fair sex is con-
cerned. Among men, have selEpossession
enough and to spare but in the presence of
ladies, that seltpossession vanishes with
most uncalled-for rapdity. In the presence
of ladies, yes; but here there was but one,
who was bound to keepme for whole hour,
until the train should make its first stop. So
il happened that, as | contemplated the
charms of my vis-a-vis from behind the even
ing paper, which had found time to buy on
my flight to the station, measure of my
courage returned, and in the inspriting
words of Mr.. Gilbert said to myself: "ril
take heart and make a start faint heart
never won fair lady"
II trust you were not alarmed by my un-
ceremonious entry ?' remarked, with some
inward misgivings, but much outward as
surance.
For answer, a quiet stare and slight con-
traction of the pretty mouth of my compan-
COMMUNICATING her opinion that, as strang.
er and uhintroduced, had no right to speak
to her
This to an ordinary male animal was the
moment for strategic attack upon the fair
ones scrupies for me it was the exact oppo-
site-the moment for flight, had fight been
possible. Ostrichlike, buried my face be-
hind my newspaper-there being no sand
available-and in few moments heard, to
my relief, a corresponding rustic from the
opposite side of the carriage as my pretty
prude followed suit. The sense of defeat and
disgrace fairly overwhelmed me for while,
and my eyes wandered over the paper / held
in my hand, seeing but understanding not
what they saw. At length they lighted upon
familiar name: "Chippy Watson" and
their owner recovered his senses 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:
ION leaving the court Watson was con-
Quoted between four officers TO the van. Just
as he was stepping in, and when the police
men were endeavoring to keep back the
crowd that pressed round, the prisoner sud-
denly snapped his handouts in some mex
plcable manner, and knocking down the
constables who threw themselves upon him,
broke through the bystanders and fled down
the street. The whole affair took place as it
seemed in a second. One minute, and Wat
son, vigorously guarded, was quietly walk.
ing into the van in the midst of the officers;
the next, and he was free, tearing down the
street with the police and populace at his
heels. He was seen to dodge down back al
ley, known as Shut Lane, and followed by the
crowd of several hundreds. At the end of
Shut Lane he disappeared round a corner,
and, strange TO say, has not been seen again.
There can be no doubt that he will be recap.
tured; but his present escape and disap-
pearance are most mysterious. We under
stand that the fellow possesses singular
strength and agility; but none the less, ii will
be standing disgrace to our police authori-
ties that a prisoner should thus, in broad