Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10


lent to harm him. But snatebsd the box
"Do you believe he meant TO commit sui
cider
I did then. A woman is ready TO credit any
Iecklessness to man whose love she repulses.
Anyhow, 1 kept the box away from him, and I
suppose pitied him. But 1 loathed him, and
sola MN ne must instantly go away, as ex-
RsSteo srSS, ALBERT. II you win clear out, sald,
IN promise not to tell that you have been
pe[e. Ihat wasn't altogether out OF pity Tor
Mn, Mn, 0ot because any reminder Ofmy connection
Win Tl5i MN always made Albert unhappy and SO
. Mo2iq nave been glad TO keep his visit secret
wen, expected Albert home to supper, and,
19oklng out OF the window, l saw him coming
ne Ioulo De Two or three minutes before be
Soulu ReI 70 The house. but there was no way
for Mr.. Mercer to escape without his seeing
DIM was half distracted and think Mr..
Mercer was heightened at the idea Of being
s1sg =. VIII me. thought Of the buttery as
place % nloe MIN In. There wasn't any time to
lose. AZ occurred to me that, as tbe deep hole
was PAD place to stay in. and as he might be
Soln npeLleo 70 remain there some time. he might
De tempted 70 reveal himself There was lauda-
mum IN my cupboard. had used it for tooth
ache. Some whisky was there. too, and
poured out glass Of it-dropping in safe
warm, said, "and will hide you in the cell
lar until after supper. As soon after that as
possible 1 viii let you OUT I meant
down there, so there ,TonIdnIt be any
danger OF his making a noise i wanted to
save my husband from any unfounded jealousy
or sorrow on my account. Mr.. Mercer did as 1
oade him. lowered himinto the hole-he was
aliYe-not dead; and it was 10 more than done
before Albert entered the room We had our
supper, and went to bed early. As soon as
Albert was sound asleep slipped away from
him, opened the trap door and called 20 Mr..
Mercer. He did not answer made up my
mind he was sleeping. Before daylight called
again TO MN, Dut didn't get any response. The
inside fastening Of the doors and windows
showed that he had not climbed uD and gUne
away in the night. was little alarmed but
could not do anything to find out the truth
Whicn was, am sure, that he had
died OF the arsenic. Something in his
condition had made a dose fatal that
he could not have stood any other time. Wen,
Albert and ate our breakfast and made ready
TO leave the house. Still there was no sound
from the well. was glad to get away without
seeing Mr.. Mercer again. But didn't wish
him to climb up BY, and the food for him 70 eat
Just as has been testified TO. That is the
truth. your Honor" She seemed to see in
credulsty IN his face. and she solemnly re-
peated: That is the truth, SO help me GodP
The court adjourned until the next day, and
Moa was taken back to her cell, with nobody
except Albert Dawers and believing her ac-
count Of the death Of Henry Mercer.
Bitterly did regret the part had taken
against her. and distractedly did try to devise
means Of eorroborating her testimony. Clearly
nothing except the documents lost In the Snow
Hole would serve the purpose. An EFFORT no
matter how hopeless, must be made to recover
them. That evening Albert Dawers and made
the trip by rail from the county Town to H0osac,
and at midnight We were alone at the mouth Of
the cave. We had rope and lantern. IL
might read like an exploitation OF myself II
should describe my descent Sufice it that it
was made without accident The sturdy Al
bert held the rope. .one end Of which was firmly
fastened around my waist, and. with the lighted
lantern in my hand, I slipped cautiously
down q steep incline Of ice for =
distance of fully 200 feet. Then came to =
level place. hoored by clear clean ice, and en-
bedded deeply therein / dimly saw the bunch
of papers They were carefully dug out before
trustworthy witnesses early next morning.
They proved Mercer's habitual use Of arsenic,
they supported Moa's testimony in the other
particulars, and they brought about her
acquittal.
So, if the legend Of the Witch Princess had
led Moa Barri0s into q sorrOsful experience,
and into a reVengeful attempt to duplicate Its
tragedy it had also saved her from the hang
man, and left her to finish her life in repentans
peace and happiness.
1.-THE KND.1