davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
~.
THE woMAN's DEFENSE.

On the ensuing day the case against Moa
Barrios was completed in single forenoon
session of the court. All the points for con-
viction were made as promised in the Dis
trict Attorneys opening address. was
placed on the stand and made to testify to
what had observed in the car. I no longer
felt proud of my work, but as mean fellow
who had deliberately bounded down pos
sibly innocent woman. But for my evil
dence about the poison seen in her posses
sion, and that of her husband about the rope
and the food, she would not have been sus-
pected. Why had put the slumbering au-
thorIties on her track ? She had done me
no harm; nor, surely, should I have done
any in leaving hunted soul one chance OF
salvation and life Of love with the man
who honored her, for the handspring OF his
happy existence was now as surely broken
as hers. For one piece of reticence con-
graduated myself. I had made no mention
Of the meeting between Moa and Mercer ct
the Snow Hole, and it was not developed in
the evidence that they had ever met after
their separation in New York until his
fatal visit to her home on the mountain.
The court took a recess, and after 1t the pro-
eeedines were resumed with an address BY the
lawyer employed to defend the prisoner. he
spoke at considerable length Of her previously
good reputation, and l felt convinced BY his
emphasis upon that point that he had nothing
substantial upon which torely for an acquittal.
He vehemently declared that his client was
innocent but his utterance did not seem sin
cere, and the case Of Moa Barrios was at that
time hopeless. HIS first witness was the wo-
man herself, and after she had answered some
preliminary questions without revealing any
thing that the reader does not already know,
she was directed to give an account OF her con-
nection with the death of Henry Mercer.
HE did come to me late that afternoon, as
has been testified tor she said. speaking with
dogged calmness. II asked how he dared to,
and what he wanted. He said that he loved
me-that he had always loved me, and always
should. He was my husband in the sight Of
heaven, and must be his wife, wouldn't let
him touch me. / told him he mnstn't even talk
to me any more. That loved myreal and true
husband, and was just going to go TO distant
part of the country, so as to be far away from
the places that had sad reminders for Albert.
Then he got excited. He blamed me. He said
had done an injury to him as great as he had
done to me. and we both ought to forgive and
forget"
"He meant that had destroyed some papers
belonging to him. was the reply. He gave
them to me for safekeeping, when we
were living together in New 1ork.
and when we parted I brought them
away. This loss was his ruination-so ne said
and that was as bad as his deception OF me. 50
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

year round. The opening is like wide well,
under a shelving rock, so that the sun never
shines in. The snow drifts into it in winter,
and melts Just enough in the hottest days in
summer to form ice. This solidly frozen sur
face extends obfiquely down into the cave,
which nobody has ever explored.
1t did not at the time strike me as singular
that Moa chose the Snow Hole as the place
to meet Mercer. That was a quiet spot where
they would not likely be seen, and one
which, being easily designated, secured
natural selection. The hour for the confer
ence approached. Her cheeks were flushed.
Her eyes were shining strangely. She was
more beautiful than ever. She went on her
wav, and 1 followed her stealthily. As she
went she spoke snatches of the story of the
Witch Princess. L saw her climb the cliff
and stand on its summit. / saw the mans
figure as he came forward to meet her
sharply outlined against the sunset s 1
crept as close as 1 could to the Snow Hole.
hidden by jutting rock. saw him bend
toward her and speak earnestly. She
stepped back and shook her head. He drew
out of his breast pocket roll of.bank-notes.
he who had driven her out penniless to
starve-the villainl-and held them toward
her. She struck them from his hand. The
wind caught them, and they disappeared
into the cave of ice. He threatened. He
put out his hand to her breast and seized
the papers. She stepped sharply aside, and
he moved as quickly. He stood with his
back to the cave. Then with wild cry she
threw herself upon him. She clung to him
locked him in deadly embrace The
meaning of it all rushed upon me. She
meant to realize the legend of the Witch
Princess by falling with him into the Snow
Hole, and so ending their lives together. 1
flung myself at her, intent only on saving
her life alone. I caught her by her skirt
and drew her back.
Mercer was held by her eneircling arms so
tightly that he, too, was saved by my rescue
of Moa. think that, in my rage, should
have flung him into the cave, and let him
disappear into its unknown frozen depth:
but in terror he fed so quickly that could
not lay hands on him. We have not seen
him since. The papers only had slid down
into the cave.
Well, Moa slowly regained her beauty.
She is to marry me. Only one thing is a
problem. Was she legally the wife of Mer-
Ger? l do not think so. OF course, if she
were 50, a divorce could be gained, but not
without exposing the whole OF her advent
ure In New York, and probably her attempt
to kill him and herself at the Snow Hole.
That would make rs both unhappy. You
say that, under the circumstances, We could
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

physically, Of her enterprise. To thrust
him feet foremost down that
pit would be easy enough, yet,
with all a woman's extraordinary insensi-
bility to crime, but sensitiveness to cruelty,
she could not bring herself to do this, but
with arms stronger surely than a woman's
ever were, lowered him so carefully that not
bruise or mark was anywhere to be found
on his person. Picture her placing her
husband, his feet to the pit, his head to her
knees. See she gives him a strong push
that sends his feet over the edge, and in
stautly the body disappears with such
jerk as nearly TO throw her forward on the
ground, but with straining muscles she
holds firmly on, her shape bent back, and
resisting in every fiber the dead weight that
seeks to drag her down, down to the place
to which she has condemned himl Now the
head is over-has vanished. Bit by bit she
lets out the cords that are twisted round
and round her hands. Presently they grow
slack. A dull tremble runs through them.
The body has reached the ground. She
casts the cord in after him, drops the trap
door, and all is over.
So far she has acted with extraordinary
promptitude and skill, ably seconded by
great physical strength. She is even able
to greet Albert Dawers as if nothing had
happened, and to wash the cup out Of which
the dead man drank; but in the morning she
breaks down. and attracts suspicion to her
self in a way little snort OF madness. At
breakfast she sets aside food as if for
visitor; she returns to the house after they
have both presumably left it forever; she
lifts the trap-door, and leaves it open, and
from hook inside suspends long piece of
cord, by which person might easily de-
scend to the vault below, or ascend from it
to the room above. By the trap-doOr she
places the plate of broken food, and having
thus drawn attention to what might never
have been suspected but for the indications,
she rejoins her husband, every soon after
committing another and even worse act Of
stupidity, since it is witnessed to by
one who gnasps the full significance of the
incident, and who, in following up
the clue then given, brings all
the facts nome to the woman at last. This
gentleman, on reading Of the murder, went
straight to Hoosac. The town authorities
had thought that the man might have got
in after the two left, and had chosen for his
own reasons 10 eo1eeal himself below; but
the medical evidence proved that he had
been dead al least three days, and the key
was found by the landlord in the place
agreed upon, while every window was
securely bolted from within. But suspicion
was not certainty, and this prisoner would
have reached the far West unmolested had
not the stranger who travelled with them
produced the arsenic box. and given his
evidence at the inquiry then being held.
The result you know. The woman was
brought back Immediately. and committed
to prison to await her trial. One cannot
sufficiently admire the sagaeity and acumen
of this amateur detective, who would put to
shame professional expert. We viii place
him on the stand as our principal witness.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

turned In a few days. They conferred to-
gether in low voices, and he went away sat
isfed. Mercer was coming thenl 1 went
about my work as usual, but Moa saw some
thing in my face that had not been there
before and beckoned me aside and said:
"You are thinking of revenge. 1t is
right of you, for am only a woman and
cannot avenge myself! But you must let
me see him frst-alonel He is to meet me
at the Snow Hole tomorrow, when there is
no one about. When he leaves me do your
will. You have wrongs to avenge as well
as l. 1t is a bargain, brother. is it not?"
She called me "brother" now, as in the for
mer time.
You do not know the Snow Hole? 1t is
considered a curiosity in these parts, but 1
suppose it wouldn't amount to much in the
eyes of a traveller. Up. yonder on Hoosac
Mountain is q cave almost filled with Ice the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
bert Albert r. and fell at my feet like one

bert Albert r. and fell at my feet like one
struck dead.
She lay i'll for many days at my lodging,
waited on by me and the good landlady.
When she recovered her senses she knew
me, and wept, and by degrees learned the
whole story-a common, ugly story enough.
He had tired of his handsome toy, and left
it to the world to break, in few months.
He was no theatrical manager. BE bore a
well-known name, although black sheep
in his family flock. He had married Moa;
not with ceremony, but with formality suf-
fcient to be binding in law, probably. That
point has never been tested. brought her
back to Hoosac. OF the sad past no one
spoke to her. I thought of her as man
thinks of woman whom he has loved and
whom he can love no more. But was mis-
taken about that. In spite of her ruined
hopes, her listIess hopelessness, her evident
despair and her physical wreck of her
former self, 1 loved her as much as ever.
A year passed, and then something hap
pened that you must promise to keep a
secret. tell it to you because you are a
wise mau-an experienced mana man fit
to advise half-distracted fellow. l want
to gain your confidence by intrusting to YOU
what has until now been known to only
three persons-Moa, Mercer and myself.
The belief that Mercer would seek her out
eventually never left her. nursed the de-
sire of vengeance still, but 1 let it slumber.
A time would come when it would wake.
One dav stranger got off train at this
station and inquired for the dwelling of
Miss Barrios. As l afterward learned, his
errand was to obtain some papers which
Mercer had intrusted to Moa, and which she
had brought away from New York. They
had become vitality important to him, and he
wished to recover them by force or fraud.
By the strangers threats she was unmoved,
to his offered bribes insensible, to his elo-
quent pleading she only answered In few
words:
''The papers are mine. They were given
to me by the man himself. Let him come
for them himself, if he wishes to have
them"
The stranger went away detected, and re-
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

Moa's notice, but she never looked at him.
We ate our roasted apples, and drank the
on the floor of the old barn in the light of
candles.
Next day the stranger came to this house:
He was rich man, so they said, and well
known in New York. He took up his
board in our house, for the sake of the
hunting and fishing hereabouts, and we
made him welcome. He slept in the spare
room you are now using, and ate and drank
of the best that we could give. He told us
his name, or the name by which it was his
whim to be known among us-Henry Mer-
Ger. A curse upon his namel A curse upon
the day when he brought his face into our
aousel
November came; the skies grew gray and
the last poppies of the year hung withered
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

would give no explanation Of her state. She
showed extraordinary eagerness to catch the
train, but did not utter one syllable on the
Wav.
Very soon after the outset of their journey
on the railroad a sinister incident occurred,
and this important episode (here the counsel
turned and looked steadily at the writer of
this story) was witnessed by gentleman to
whose keen observation, swift action and
masterly manipulation of fact and surmise
was due the brilliantly conclusive chain OF
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
GOING TO SEE A MAN.


san Francisco Chroniele.l
twas mid-week in the country. There
were half dozen girls whose brothers and
sweet hearts were al toiling in the eIty and
eould not get to the watering place till
sunday. There was not male human in
Eioht. and hadn't been for two days. They
were ali sitting gIoomily on the Vsranda Of
he hotel.
aGiris, can't stand this any more, sx-
claimed one.
Lets 90 down 10 the station"
"What for2 1t isn't train time" 'I've
been making inquiries. There's . freight
train coming In ten minutes.
whats the good Of q freight train?''
"Why we can 60 down and see the brake
man 60 By.
And they trooped of, running like mad
that they might not miss him.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
Moa and I were brought up topether here

Moa and 1 were brought up together here
in Hocsae. You see what handsome
woman she ha grown to be. That is only
the maturity of beauty that marked her
from her earliest years. Her folks died,
and left her alone: but my father was then
alive, and he and mother took her into our
family. Well. we called each other brother
and sister at first; then cousin, and finally
she got to know that L was her lover, al
though we never spoke of it. Father died,
and mother kept up this little tavern, with
the patch of farm. Moa is Spanish, you
know, no matter if she never saw Spain, and
from her mother she learned a lot of Spanish
legends. One of these she often told. 1t
was that OF a Princess who was an evil
sorceress, and by her arts won the love of a
pure young priest, and never rested till
she had tempted him to sin by marrying
her, although he had solemnly vowed him
self to celibacy. In despair he cast himself
from the high rocks at the full of
the tide, and was drowned. And she, rid
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
ALBERT DAwERs' STORY.

Next day Albert Dawers kept his promise
to tell me the story of himself and Moa. I
am not a stenographer, and at the time
there seemed no occasion for an exact record;
but subsequent events fixed the narrative in
nv memory, and I shall not be importantly
inaccurate in writing hisnarrative, although
the diction may be less his than my own.
But we will regard the rest of this chapter,
if the reader pleases, as being essentially
Albert's own language.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
ninmnnda nn nar Rnn.

Boston Herald.1
Blessings on Mrs. Kendall She has
shown women one more way to display their
diamonds. Sticking extra diamond pins in
the lace mount Of miladT's fan is happy
thought, for which our overburdened social
diamond mines ought 70 beetsrnally crate
f,4I
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10

admit tacitly the informality of the union
with Mercer, and safely marry, so far as the
law is concerned? We will follow your ad-
vice, You wish us joy? Thank you, sir
thank you.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
1.-THE end
A CALCULATING MAN.

oopzrlgh.sd, 1ssa. An righ.s rsserved. 9
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
THE OLA PoDRIDA.

AM a Spaniard on a
tour around a n d
around the world.
During 20 of the 60
years of my life 1
have travelled aim
>lessly, or at least with
zno otherpurpose than
ito find pleasure in
3new a d shifting
sights. Long ago L
exhausted the novel
ties of the big cities
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

KANSAS is pre'emlnenly q woman's
state. The fair sex seems to rule. Women
helped to put prohibition into the constl-
tuition ci that state; they have full muni-
cpal and school ballot privileges, co-edu-
cation in the state university, and the
number of women preachers, doctors and
lawyers is greater than in any other state.
The assistant attorney general is woman,
and women are farmers, bankers, county
school superintendent, editors, printers
aud merchants. Women serve on the
school boards in every county, and there
are women treasurers of school boards
superintendent OF schools, registers o.
deeds, and at Cottonwood Falls the police
juslireis woman. And withall, Kansas
seems TO flourish and increase in wealtf
and population:
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

fenced to three years Imprisonment, was
paHloned upon the recommendation OF
the presiding judge at the trial, tho dis
trigt attorney and prominent citizens, on
account Of the good condu9t Of the prison
cr and his extreme youth, and believing
that lie lad been sufficiently punished. -
Jose Leon Gonzales, convicted at the
March term, 1882, San Miguel court, OF
rape and sentenced to fifteen years I'M
prisonment, was pardoned. lie had con-
Quoted himself in such an exemplary way
that owing to the communication OF time
his sentence would have expired Decem'
her %, 1890. Owing to sucI, conduct and
upon the recommendation Of the attorney
general and many prominent citizens OF
San Miguel county, was this action taken.
On the same day VIM. L. Bemis, con-
yirted at the March term, 1885, in Coliax
county, OF horse stealing and sentenced TO
one year, was pardoned upon the recon-
mendaton OF the trial Judge, the district
attorney and many citizens.
These were the pardons granted by Gov.
Prince, and they number eleven.
Acting Gov. Thomas, since September
IS, 1889, has pardoned two boys, both
under 20 years Of age.
One, Henry Smith, convicted in Colfax
county of stealing mule aud sentenced
to one year. The trial Judge and the
members Of the trial jury, besides many
prominent citizens, requested the pardon
on account OF Smiths extreme youth and
believing him to I've entitled to mercy on
account Of many eXtenuating circum-
stances and doubts existing rs to his guilt
Young MendenhaII had been sentenced
to q 500 fine for obtaining money under
! false pretenses. lie had served sixty
days in the Santa Fe county Jail and that
was considered enough,
No unparalleled or fair minded man
will assert that there was anything I'M
proper or unfair in the granting or these
pardons. On the contrary, the record in
each case will show that the public inter
ests were subserved in every case, and
that the cases were proper and right ones
for executive clemency.
Gov. Prince and Act. Gov Thomas arc
great deal better prepared and in posi-
ton to judge correctly and act for the
best interests of the people than is the
Enterprise. They have acted right and as
they should have done. Their conduct
is approved by the people. 1t is well tc
! look before one leaps.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

THERE is great deal OF interest being
taken blythe people in and out OF New
Mexico in the statehood movement for
this territory. Requests for copies OF the
recently framed constitution are very
lrequent;. the copies are being rapidly
distributed, and placed where they will
do the most good The constitution is a
most excellent and progressive document,
and its distribution throughout the states
and amongst members Of congress is Civ
ing New Mexico some very valuable and
extensive advertising.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

TIE Pan-Americans are having an ex-
calient time Of 1t. They are fitting from
flower to flower, from city to city, slipping
here and dining there. Ii they do not get
too full, so as to have headaches, they are
bound to have Il good opinion of this
country. BanQuets and champagne are
great civilizers.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

SIR JULIAN PAUNCErorE, the British
minister, has brought his four grown
daughters TO this country. They are all
pretty and there was no duty on them
They ought to marry American husbands
and be happy.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

THERE are almost 400 Indians on the
Mescalero reservation ID Lincoln county
Tire reservation contains G50,0O0 acres OF
some Of the finest lands in New Mexico
The reservation ought to be cut down. l
:, too l,,.,n
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

TIE taxes paid for territorial purposes
are being properly and honestly accounted
for. What becomes OF the taxes paid on
behalf Of and for Santa Fe county proper?
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

MAN is not perfect, but woman is near.
ly SO, and that is enough. Perfect people
are very tiresome.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

The poor man generally has clear
title to mansions in the sky and to castles
in the air.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

A BOARD OF county commissioners that
will do its duty is the need of the hour.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

A GIRL has been Rugged to death by
her lover at Salem, Ohio. Must have
been an easy death.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

THIS autumn weather is all right. No
complaints to make.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

The Santa Fe Water company ought to
extend its mains down Palace avenue.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

TIE most encouraging reports come in
from the mineral and coal fields OF south
ern Santa Fe county. Good enough.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

TIE Santa Fe county tax payers had
best rise up.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

IT is great thing to live in fine
climate.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31
that the Demo-

1t is rather. singular that the Demo-
cratic counties OF New Mexico are bank
rupt, while the Republican counties are
in Il prosperous financial condition.
buquerque Citizen.
Not at all; Republican counties are
honestly governed and their affairs are
being honestly administered.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31
DON'T BE- A CLAM

Is familiar expression, made popular
BY Mr.. Frank Siddall, of soap fame. 1t
is very appropriate in expressing how
foolish people are to believe ALL the
promises made by some American merch-
ants in trying to secure patronage.
Nearly every ad ertisemcnt headed
$50 Per Cent Discount" "Closing Out"
"Suits $40, Worth $40, etc, are simply
bats to ca Oh buyers not posted In val
ues. None OF us are in business for fun,
and how can we afford a reduction OF 80
per cent and come out even, unless we
double the C, st? We buy and sell more
Clothing tLan any house in Chicago, and
Wn
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31

Attorney aud Counselor at Law, ?. o. Box
Of" Santa Fe, n. NJ. practices In supreme ana
all district courts OF New Mexico. Specia! al
tention given to mining and Spanish and Mex
lean land grant litigatiOn.
Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-31
ATTORNEYS AT LAW

HTNNf Il. W ALOUt
Attorney at Law. Win practice IN the sever,
courts OF the territory. Prompt attention give
to all business intrused to his care.