Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-08-17
20, ANOTIIER'S CRIME.

daring the forty years OF her life, AMI
@ae people had long ago ceased to ex'
pcct that there would be any change il
Ler condition.
There had been times when Locust
Hill was a scene of hospitality and
gaicty. Times when the old rooms
were frightened by beautiful young
faces, and made musical with the song
aad laughter of happy voices.
Ia those days Colonel Harper, Mar
garet's father, was alive-a gallant,
courteous old man, who liked the So
ciety Of young people, and who almost
lived over his own youth in witnessing
the happiness of his children.
He had two children-three hc was
In the habit of saying, for Gertrude
Morse, the daughter of his wife's dear
eat friend, had long been made at home
st Locust Hill, and it is doubtful if the
old man loved John and Margaret, his
own children, better than he loved this
child of his adoption.
In truth, she was soon to become his
daughter, for she was engaged to John
Harper, and the marriage was to take
place at Christmas.
CoIonel Harper died suddenly n cou-
ale of months before the appointed
u~edding-day, and the cvest disturbed
the quiet current Of affairs in a very
sad way. The house was closed to
sceues of festivity, and Johns wedding
day was postponed a year.
During the year following her faith
or : death, Margaret Harper had been
wou by a young physician who had
C.luae to locate in the neighboring viii
.age; and il was decided that she and
Dr. Churchill should he married at
cite same time as John and Gertrude.
Churchill was rot wealthy, but he
aad talent of no low order, and was
-spidly securing a lucrative practice.
But even had there been no prospect
af hiJ making a fortune, this fact would
"a 40 wise have influenced Margaret.
She was not a woman to permit pecu-
MARY considerations TO interfere with
.1cr heart s best interest.
Two days before Christmas. John
Harper rode into town to get the fami-
.g Jewels which had been reset for his
bride, and when night came he did not
return AS expected.
The anxious family waited for him
uutil midnight, and then Margaret sent
uWt tic servants 10 search TOR him. l.
was a very short quest. The found
laiA in a little hollow near the maiE
lDAd. and not fifty rods from home. He
sas dead, stabbed to the heart.
7,e diamonds were lying uudisturb-
81 ia their case in his breast-pocket,
tbut his pocket-book and watch were
lsisSAig.
Nothing could describe the g}icf Of
t4esc two bcreavcd women; Gertrude
faded like u Hover in autumn, and bo-
fore the SHOWS had we'll covered the
tnrf on John Harper's grave, she lay
beside him.
Margaret hardened under the aillic.
tlon, aud applied herself TO discover
gug the murderer. she offered large
gewards, and employed detectives OF
~euainence and sagacity. DR.. Churchil
foiacd in the search with earnestness
md was Margaret's sole support in
.l3is time of bitter trial.
On the day of Gertrude's funeral
while Margaret, broken-hearted with
grief, was weeping on the shoulder OF
Leg loyer-the officers of justice came
90 Locust Hill and arrested Clement
a. 7Airchill for the murder.
The fearful suddenness OF tAc blow
struck Margaret down. aud for weeks
she laBguished on a sick-bed. knowing
nothing of what occurred about her,
When she at last came to herself. She
beard the terrible story and was blight.
ed by it for ever.
The charge against Churchill was
Sustained by unquestionablc evidence.
The detectives engaged in working IN
She case had long had suspicious oi
nirn, but had rcfraincd from striking
IuGii tho thing was ripe.
fS the first place DIR. Churchill had
aeea seen riding with Mr.. Harper be
ewsen ten and eleven o'clock an tht
1Fgst Of the murder. This fact wa,
freely admitted by Churchill; he In,
'lcen ovcrtaken by Harper, and haC
taken a seat in his buggy, by invita-
-i0a, rs far as his looms.
fa the second place the dead man
vxatci. was found in Churchills posses
siou. This, also, the accused admit
ced- The watch, he said, had been
giveu to him to take 10 a shop for re
pairs.
In The third place he was known I,
gaavc passed some money which had
been drawn from the r. Bank by
5alsn Harper on the day Of his death.
a5d this Churchill did not deny. II
had been paid to him, he said, by tbs
deceased in liquidation of a debt hc
tCburchilD had incurred in Johns de-
half some time previous.
There were u score of other triflino
circumstances, which, summed mp.
made a very weighty whole, and the
LUxy could not couscientiously do 9th
e-gwisc than find Churchill guilty.
"-Gailty OF m~auslaughter" was thcit
verdict, aud the young mar was sen
c.aced to Imprisonment for fifteen
yeats.
From the day that Clement was tax
GA 10 prison. Margaret was Il changed
l~sing. ALL her youth and beauty faded
froin her, and with them she put aside
eife garments OF youth. and wore only
s4.Yubre black.
Churcllill name was never men
toned i'll her presence, and by no wore
ay outward sign of grief did she giy'
cakeu 90 those around her that she sui
Eeced.
ar Elan,ont rh,rohtI ~ all +boes