Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-28
THE MIDNIGHT BELL.

ILL 4h4D4N OAALs
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 matter. To such summons there
was but one answer possible; SO with just
such regretful thought for card party l
should have to forego, wired this reply:
''Mr. j. Devon, Anderton's hotel, London.
Shall leave Burtown by the IL tonight,
and will call on you tomorrow at S:15.
Knightly" Having dispatched my message,
l finished on the days work with all speed,
and then returned to my lodgings to make
preparations for my journey. These, as the
masculine reader needs not be told, consisted
principally of examining a soft cap and a
spirit flask, together with a. few other neces-
saries, into a carpet bag; after which fol-
lowed 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
Swimming over the mornings paper, wherein
l found little to interest me. In disgust I
flung the thing on the floor. 1t alighted at
graceful angle, on whose apex appeared the
heading, conspicuous as loaded type could
makeit: shocking Wife Murder in Burtown
Arrest of the Murderer" With mental
apology to the publishers of The Chronicle for
the injustice l had done them as caterers to
the public craving for horrors, picked up
the paper and proceeded to digest the char
rowing details" The gist of the news was
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 domestic dis
agreement. 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 I'M
fortunate victim, rushed in and secured him.
This was all, OF nearly all, the paragraph
contained, except for the usual information
that 'sthe prisoner will be brought up before
the magistrates this morning, and charged
with causing the willful murder of his wife"
It was now past 11-time for me to make
my way down to the station; rather more
than time, in fact, since that imposing struc-
ture was distant from my lodgings by fully
two miles. Fortunately my bag was light
and 1 shared in its pleasing characteristic
of not being burGened by superfuous
weight. None the less, on reaching my desti-
nation 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 unceremonious fashion
in which the railway officials had assisted"
me to my seat, than l discovered that the
only other tenant of the compartment in
which I was ensconced was young lady, and
one, moreover, of no small beauty. Now,
am shy man as far as the fair sex is con-
cerned Among men, I have self possession
enough and to spare; but, in the presence Of
ladies, that self possession vanishes with most
uncalled for rapidity. In the presence Of
ladies, yes; but here there was but one, who
was bound to keep me company for whole
hour, until the train should make its first
stop. So it happened that as contemplated
my vis-a-vis from behind the evening paper,
which I had found time to buy on my fight
to the station, measure of my courage re-
turned, and in the inspiring words Of Mr.,
Gilbert, said to myself: "Tll take heart and
make start; faint heart never won fair
lady"
81 trust you were not alarmed by my I'M
ceremonious entry?' remarked, with some
inward misgivings, but much outward as
surance.
For answer, a quiet stare and slight con-
traction of the pretty mouth of my compan-
ion-indicating her opinion that, as a 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
opposite the moment for flight had
fight been possible Ostrich like, I
buried my face behind my newspaper
there being no sand available-and in
few moments heard. to my relief, a cor
responding 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 a familiar
name, "Chippy Watson" and their owner
recovered his sense and almost forgot his
grief as he read the following lines; ''Tbe
Burtown murder-escape of the prisoner"
After detailing the incidents of the hearing
before the magistrates and the remand OF the
prisoner, pending the inquest, the paragraph
went OF as follows: ''On 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 pressed round, the
prisoner suddenly snapped his handouts in
some inexplicable manner, and knocking
down the constables who threw themselves
upon him, broke through the bystanders and
fled down the street. The whole affair took
place, as it seemed, in second. One minute,
and Watson, vigorously guarded, was quietly
walking into the van in the midst of the otfi-
GERS; the next, and he was free. tearing
down the street with the police and the popsl-
lace at his heels.
HE was seen to dodge down back alley,
known as Shut lane, and followed by the
crowd of several hundreds. At the end OF
Shut lane he disappeared round a corner,
and, strange to say, has not been seen again.
There can be no doubt that he will be recap
tured; but his present escape and disappear
auce are most mysterious. we understand
that the fellow possesses singular strength
and agility; but none the less, 1t Will be
standing disgrace to our police authorities
that prisoner should thus, tn broad day
light, and in the midst Of q crowded thorough
fars effect his escape from the very hands
of Justice. A reward Of 2100 has been Of
fered for his reapprehension. Watson is about
five feet nine inches In height, strongly built,
and when he escaped was dressed in gray
fustian suit, with d red scarf and soft hat.
He may further be distinguished by q seaf
across his chin, and by having an arrow tat
tooed on the back of his left hand"
This was about the extent of the informa'
ton contained in the paragraph, and my
readers will agree with nae that the news was
sufficiently exciting to occupy my thoughts
to the complete exclusion OF the unpleasant
experiences | had Just passed through. As I
lay back in my seat to lnrse upon what ! had
read my thoughts began after while to wan
der and my head to nod according to their
won't at midnight. and before long fell asleep
How long slept I cann.t tell-probably for
a few minutes only-but in those few minutes
underwent most discomforting dream. l
dreamt that Chippy Watson stood over me,