Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-06
CHAPTER XXXIIL.
THE CONFESSION.

Nv nat am now aDOuG u WTllo ID ocL LOLIh
by me so that the true circumstances con-
nected with the Hanson Cab Tragedy
which took place in Melbourne in lS-, may
be known. | owe confession, particularly
to Brian Fitzgerald, seeing that he was ac-
cused of the crime Although know he was
rightfully acquitted Of the charge, yet wish
him to know all about the case, though am
convinced, from his altered demeaner to-
wards me, that be is better acquainted with
it than he chooses to confess. In order to ac'
count, for the murder OF Oliver Whyte, |
must go back to the beginning of my life in
this colony, and show how the series of events
began which eliminated in the commital of
the crime.
SHOULD it be necessary to make this con
fesliou public, in the interests CT justice,
car say nothing against such course being
taken; but would be grateful if it could be
suppressed, both on account of my good
name and of my dear daughter Margaret,
whose love and affection has SO soothed and
frightened my life.
IF, however, she should be informed of
the contents of these pages, ask her to deal
leniently with the memory of one who was
sorely tried and tempted.
II came to the colony of Victoria. OF
rather, as it was called then. New South
Wales, in the year 49,. ! had been in
merchants Office in London. but not seeing
much opportunity for advancement looked
about to see If could better myself. ! heard
of this new land across the ocean, and though
it was not then the Fl Dorado which it after.
wards turned out, and truth to tell had
rather a shady name, owing to the tranSpor
tation of convicts, yet longed to go there
and start new life. Unhappily, however,
had not the means to go, and saw nothing
better before me than the dreary life Of a
| London clerk, as it was impossible that
could save out of the small salary got. Just
| at this time, however, an old maiden aunt of
| mine died and left few hundred pounds to
| ME, so, with this, came out to Australia,
| determined to become a rich man. | stayed
| some time in Sydney, and then came over to
| Port Phillip, now so widely known as Mar
| velous Melbourne, where intended to pitch
my tent. | saw that it was q Young and
rising colony, though of course, coming as
did, before the days Of the gold diggings.
never dreamt it would spring up as it had
done since, to nation | was careful and
saving in those days. and indeed, | think it
l
"a bought land whenever | could scrape
the money together, and, at the time Of the
| gold rush, was considered we'll to do. When,
however, the cry that gold had been discov-
cred was raised, and the eyes of oil the ma.
tions were turned to Australia. with her
| glittering treasures, men poured in from all
parts of the world, and the Golden Age
commenced began to get rich rapidly,
kal fIa Ikk
man in the colonies bought station and
leaving the riotous, feverish Melbourne life,
went to live on it, enjoyed myself there,
for the wild open air life had great charms
| for me, and there was a seust Of freedom to
| which had hitherto been stranger But man
is a gregarious animal, and |, growing weary
of solitude and communings with Mother
| Nature, came down on a visit to Melbourne,
where, with companions as gay as myself,
spent my money freely, and, as the phrase
goes, saw life. After confessing that loved
| the pure life of the country. it sounds strange
| to say that enjoyed the wild life Of the
town. but did was neither Joseph nor
a st. Anthony and | was delighted with
Bohemia, with its good fellowship and
charming suppers, which took place in the
small hours of the morning, when wit and
| humor reigned supreme. 1t was at one of
these suppers that | first met Rosanna
| Moore, the woman who was destined to curse
| my existence She was burlesuue actress.
| and all the young fellows in those days
| were madly in love with her She was not
| exactly what was called beautiful, but there
was brilliancy and fascination about her
which few could resist On first seeing her
did not admire her much, but laughed at
| companions as they raved about her On
becoming personally acquainted with her,
however, found that her powers of fascina.
tion had not '"en overrated and ended bv
| falling deSwratri; in love with hcr mnlp
inquiries about her private life, and ionni
that it was irreproachable us she was guarded
| by veritable dragon of a mother who
would let no one approach her daughter
need not tell about my courtship as these
phases of mans life are generally the sam"
but it will he sufficient tc prove the depth uf
my passion for her when | at length deter
mined to make her my wife. 1t was on con
dition, however, that the marriage should be
kept secret until such time as should choose
to reveal it. My reason for such course
was this: my father was still alive, and he,
being a rigid Presbyterian, would never
have forgiven me for having married a
woman Of the stage So as he was old and
feeble, | did not wish him to learn that
had done SO, fearing that the shock
would he too much for him in his then pres
ent state of health | told Rosanna | would
marry her, but wanted her To leave her
mother, who was perfect fury. and not an
agreeable person to live with. AS was
rich, young and not bad looking. Rosanna
consented, and, during an engagement she
had in Sydney, went over there and mar
ried her She never told her mother she had
married me; why, do not know, as never
laid any restriction on her doing so The
mother made great noise over the matter.
hut gave Rosanna large sum of money
for her, and this the old harridan accepted
and left for New Zealand Rosanna went
with me to my station, where we lived
as man and wife. though. In Mel
bourne. she was supposed to I've my
mistress At last feeling degraded in my
own eyes as to the way was living to the
world, | wanted to reveal our secret, but this
Rosanna would not consent to- was as
tonished at this and could never discover
the reason. but in many ways ltosanna was
an enigma to the She then grew weary OF
the quiet country life, and longed to return
to the glitter and glare of the footlights
This refused to let her do, and from that
moment she took dislike to me- A child
was born, and for a time she was engrosse.i
with it, but soon wearied of the new play
thing, and again pressed me to allow her to
return to the stare again refused and