The Portland daily press., 1888-02-04
ATERRIBLE TEN MINUTES.
A Thrilling Story of the Mid
night Mail.
Chambers Journal

1t happened one afternoon last year, dur
ing the month of November, that received
telegram calling for my presence In Lon
don, early the next morning, on an import
tant business matter. To such sum-
mons there was but one answer possible; so'
with iust a regretful thought for card
party should have to forego, wired back
this reply: "MR. J. DEVON, Anderton's
hotel London. Shall leave Burtown by the
70 tonight, and will call on you tomorrow at
s.1b. KNIGHTLY." Having despatched my
message. l finished off the days work with
all speed, and then returned to my lodgings
to made preparations for my journey. These,
as the masculine reader need not be told,
consisted principally of examining soft cap
and spirit flask, together with few other
necessaries, into carpet bag; after which
followed the discussion of a substantial
meal, and the delivery Of an exhortation to
my landlady to feed my fox-terrier Grip at
his usual hours.
The remainder of the evening was spent in
skimming over the mornings newspaper,
wherein found little to interest me. In dis
gust / flung the thing on the floor. 1t
alighted at graceful angle, on whose apex
appeared the heading, conspicuous as loaded
type could make it: shocking wife murder
In Burtown-arrest of the murderer" With
a mental apology to the publishers of the
Chronicle for the injustice / had done them
as caterers to the public craving for horrors,
l picked up the paper and proceeded to
digest the "harrowing details" The gist of
the news as follows: An abandoned ruffian,
Chippy Watson by name, after the fashion
of his class, had beaten in his wife's skull
with mallet, in consequence of some domes-
tic disagreement. Having committed the
deed. he coolly put on his coat and hat, and
was proceeding to depart, when the neigh
bors and police attracted by the screams Of
the unfortunate victim, rushed in and Sc
cured him. This was all, or nearly all the
paragraph contained, except for the usual
information that ''the prisoner will be
brought up before the magistrates this morn
ing, charged with the causing the wilful
murder of his wife"
1t was now past eleyen-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. Fortunately my bag was
DBUb, anu SUdtCu III PlCdoihS SbdAdStSA
istic Of not being burdened by superfluous
weight. None the less, on reaching my des-
tination, there was only one minute left me
wherein to take my ticket, and secure seat.
The latter operation, thanks to the slowness
of the booking-clerk in handing me my
change, had to be accomplished 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 upceremonious fash
ion in which the railway officials had
assisted" me to my seat, than | discovered
that the only other tenant Of the compart-
ment 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 concerned. Among men, have sef-pos-
session enough and to spare; but, In the
presence of ladies, that self-possession van
ishes with most uncalled for rapidity. In
the presence Ct the ladies, yes /; but here there
was but one, who was bound to keep me COM
pany for whole hour, until the train should
make its first stop. So it happened that as l
contemplated my vis-a-yis 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 inspiriting
words of Mr. Gilbert. said / to myself: "Pll
take heart and make a start; faint heart
never won fair lady"
81 trust you we're not alarmed by my I'M
ceremonious entry?" / remarked, with some
inward misgivings, but much outward as
surance.
For answer, quiet stare and slight con
traction of the pretty mouth of my compan-
Observation-Disclosures opinion that, as stran-
ger and unintroduced had no right to
speak to her.
This, to an ordinary male animal, was the
moment for strategic attack upon the fair
ones scruples; for me it was the exact op-
posite-the moment for fight had fight been
possible. Ostrich like, buried my face be-
hind my newspaper-there being no sand
available and in few moments heard, to
my relief, 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 paper L
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 sense and al
most forgot his grief as he read the follow
ing lines: 1.-THE Burtown murder-Escape
of the Prisoner" After detailing the incl
dents Of the hearing before the magistrates
and the remand of the prisoners, pending
the inquest. the paragraph went on as fol-
lows: ION leaving the court, Watson was
conducted between four officers to the van.
Just as he was stepping in, and when the
policemen were endeavoring to keep back
the crowd that was pressing round, the pris-
oner suddenly snapped his handouts, in
some inexplicable manner, and knocking
down the constables who threw themselves
upon him, broke through the bystanders and
fed down the street. The whole affair took
place, as it seemed, in second. One min
ute. and Watson, vigorously guarded, was
quietly walking into the van in the midst of
the officers the next, and he was free, tear
ing down the street with the police and the
nonnlace al his heels. He was seen to dodge
down back alley, known as Shut Lane, and
followed by the crowd OF several hundreds.
Attbe 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 mysteri-
GUS. We understand that the fellow pos
sesses singular strength and agility; bat
none the less, it will be standing disgrace
to our police authorities that 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 mas Deen
effered for his reapprehension. Watson Is
about 1--WE feet nine inches in helgnt
strongly built, and when he escaped was
dressed in gray fustian suit, with req
scarf and soft hat. He may further be as
tinguished by scar across HIS chin, and by
having an arrow tattooed on the back OF his
left hand"
This was about the extent of the infor-
nation contained in the naraQraDl. and