The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-03-27
A Terrible Ten Minutes.

It happened one afternoon last year,
during the month of November, that
I received telegram calling for my
presence in London, early the next
morning, on an important business
nat.sr. To such summons there was
tso one answer possible; so with just
s3ch regretful thought for card party
I should have to forego, wired this re-
ply. ''NIr. J. Devon, Anderton's Hotel,
London. Shall leave .Burtown by the
twelve tonight, and will call on you to-
morrow at S:a5. Knightly." Having
dispatched my message, 1 finished on the
days work with all speed, and then re-
turned to my lodgings to make prepara-
tions for my journey. These, as the
masculine reader needs not be told, con-
sisted principally of cramming soft cap
and spirit flask, together with a few
other necessaries, into a carpet bag; after
which followed the discussion of SUBJ
stantial meal and the delivery of an ex-
hortation to my landlady to feed my fox
terrier, Grip, at his usual hours.
The remainder of the evening was
spent in skiuming over the morning S
paper, wherein ! found little to interest
me. In disgust flung the thing on the
floor. 1t alighted at graceful angle, on
whose apex appeared the heading, con-
spicuous as loaded type could make il:
s'Shocking wife murder in Burtown-
arrest of the murderer" With mental
apology to the publishers of the Chroni-
Gle for the injustice I had done them as
caterers to the public craving for horrors,
I picked up the paper and proceeded to
digest the narrowing details" The gist
of the news was as follows: An aban-
doned ruffian, Chippy Watson by name,
after the fashion of his class, had beaten
in his wife's skull with mallet, in con-
sequence of some domestic disagreement.
Having committed the deed, he coolly
put on his coat and hat, and was pro-
ceeding to depart, when the neighbors
and police, attracted by the screams of
the unfortunate victim, rushed in and
secured 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 morning, and charged with causing
the willful murder of his wife.
1t was now past 11-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 light, and shared in its
pleasing characteristic of not being
burdened by superhuous weight. None
the less, on reaching my destination,
there was only one minute left me where
in to take my ticket and secure seat.
The latter operation, thanks to the slow
ness 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.
The only other tenant of the compart-
ment in which I was eusconced was a
young lady, and one, moreover, of no
small beauty. Now, I am q shy man as
far as the fair sex is concerned. Among
men, have self-possession enough and
to spare; but, in the presence of ladies,
that self-possession vanishes with most
uncalled for rapldity. In the presence
of ladies, yes; but here there was but
one, who was bound to keep me COM
pany for whole hour, until the train
should make It's first stop. So it hap
pened that as I contemplated my VISA
Wis from behind the evening paper,
which had found time to buy on my
flight to the station, measure of my
courage returned, and in the inspiring
words of Mr.. Gilbert, said to myself
"I'll take heart and make a start; faint
heart never won fair lady"
II trust you were not alarmed by my
unceremonious entry?" REMARKED, with
some inward misgivings, but much out
ward assurance.
For answer, quiet stare and slight
contraction of the pretty mouth of my
companion-indicating her opinion that,
as a stranger and uaintroduced l had nc
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 opposite-the moment for flight
had flight been possible. buried my
face behind my newspaper-and in a few
moments heard, to my relief, = CORE
spending rustic from the opposite side o.
the carriage as my pretty prude followed
suit. The sense of defeat and disgrace
fairly overwhelmed me for while; ant
my eyes wandered over Il paper
held in my hand, seeing but I'm
derstanding not what they saw
At length they lighted upon familiar
name "Chippy Watson" and their owne
recovered his sense and almost forgo
his grief as he read the following lines
"The Burtown murder-Escape OF th
Prisoner" After detailing the incident
of the hearing before the magistrates ant
the remand of the prisoner, pending tn
inquest, the paragraph went on as fcl
lows ION leaving the court, Watson
was conducted between four officers t.
the van. Just as he was stepping in
and when the policemen were endeavor
ing to keep back the crowd that pressc'
round, the prisoner suddenly snapped hi
handouts, in some inexplicable manner
broke through the bvstanders and fe
down the street. He was seen t
dodge down back alley, known n
Shut Lane, ard followed by the crow
of several hundreds. Al the en-
of Shut Lane he disappeared roun'
- nornpr and Stranre to SAY. has no