St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-19


panionship of the idol of his heart there
was nothing left for him to make life
worth the living. Bevan. in leaving
Madison, whittier he had gone in the
hope of finding Mrs. Langdon, not
knowing that she had joined me in
Iowa, told Rowley that he was going
back to Chicago. RoWley, however,
watched him and saw him board train
for Rockford, evidently bound for Iowa.
This was on Friday of last week.
The next thing [ heard was that Bevan
had made his appearance in the town
of Dewitt, in the same county where
we were living. Monday, about II
o'clock. when | was out short distance
from the house of Mr.. Twogood, where
we boarded. engaged on the work of
the railroad which my father and my
self are building for the Northwestern
between Clinton and Cedar Rapids,
Bevan suddenly walked up and spoke to
me. l hardly knew him. He wore
huge goggles and appeared to be at
tempting disguise. ! feared the man.
though was armed and prepared for
him. He asked me to step aside and
talk with him. Before complying l
SAID in q low voice to one of my fellow
workmen: THAT man will either kill
me or will Kill him.
" l have come to see your wife said
Bevan in peremptory tones, at the!
same time nervously clutching a revolt
yer which he carried in his outside coat
pocket. In reply l told him that he
could not see her; that it would be
wrong to grant such request after he
had been following US around like
crazy man and making threats against
her life. He had repeatedly written
her in letters that she would not be Mrs.
Langdon very long. Bevan being re-
fused began to act wildly. 1t occurred
to me then that l should run to the
house and warn my wife of his pres
ence. feared that he would shoot me
before l reached the house,
and gave loud whistle to
attract Mrs. Langdon's attention.
She heard me and appeared at win
dow. l reached the house in safety.
Bevan saw her face at the window. He
came nearer to the house, like one at
tracted by some strange fascination he
could not resist. For an hour or more.
while we remained indoors, he wandered
about among the bushes in the yard. At
last, wearying of the fearful situation, |
went out and urged him to go away and
leave US in peace. He refused unless he
could first see my wife.
'"Then,' said |, if she will see you,
will you consent to being searched and
disarmed %
mo said Bevan, 4 have never sub
mitted to anything like that, but will
be honest. Twill not use any weapon.
But l must see your wife. would
willingly cross the ocean OF go to the
end of the world to see her. Give me
the opportunity now. You dare not put
me away
"Foolishly relying on the promises of
the insane creature, whomI ought to
have killed on the spot, | yielded, and
went in to request Mrs. Langdon to
grant the interview. l told her that he
h'd promised to go away and cease
troubling us if it were granted. She
cheerfully consented. AS she walked
out into the front yard to meet her
Tilted lover my fears were greatly
aroused: Something seemed to tell me
that she was going out to meet death in
an awful form. Then came thu most
exciting and trying ordeal of my life.
| went up stairs and took down
a rifle from its accustomed
place. With this weapon l went
to window where there was hole in
the screen. Through this aperture /
had full and fair view of Bevan and
my wife where they stood talking in the
front yard. Bevan was facing me, but
the screen secured me safely from OBJ
ServatiOn. Then and there with my
rifle drew bead on Bevan and kept
him covered till the interview appeared
to be at an end and Bevan turned as if
to depart. During the awful minutes
of suspense supposed that Bevan had
his revolver in his hip pocket, where |
had seen him place it. My resolve was
that in case he made motion toward
that pocket to send bullet through his
brain. Oh, why did not do it without
waiting till it was too late and save my
darling wife!
moment. did not know that Bevan
had changed his weapon from his hip
pocket to the inside pocket of his coat.
Instead of going, as l expected. he still
fingered. He took out a notebook, which
he consulted. L then went downstairs
and out into the yard, leaving my rifle
behind and taking my revolver. AS /
drew near 1 overheard my wife saying:
MIR. Bevan, you are no man.
g 1t is time for this to end,' l said.
At this moment Bevan stood with his
coat bnttoned up by the lowest button,
while he grasped the lapels with his
hands. / was still watching for mo-
tion toward his hip pocket. He let his
right hand slide down under his coat,
in listleSs manner. Like a flash his
at my wlfe'S head. There were two
sharp reports in rapid succession. With
little scream Mrs. Langdon fell OH the
grass, and the blood trickled from two
bullet wounds down her neck. 1t was
over before | could get my revolver out
OF my coat pocket, the hammer catching
on the lining as | attempted to jerk it
upward. Bevan turned upon me next.
We fired at each other almost simulta-
neously, my shot little in advance of
his, think. Mine took effect and his
did not. Then he began to reel and
stagger. but he managed to fire again.
Whether at himself or at me l cannot
tell. l was terribly excited. Before he
fell rushed upon him and shot him five
times. Four bullets went into his brain,
where they were found at the post
mOrtem, and the fifth entered his neck.
lie fell dead beside my wife. Crazed
with grief, carried her, dying as she
was, into the house. She never spoke
afterward. The whole neighborhood
soon became aroused by the awful
tragedy, and the excitement was very
great"
Bevan was buried in the potter's field
OF Clinton county. Langdon now re-
members very vividly how the infatuated
young Englishman tried to shoot him at
the home of the Smiths in Madison. on
July 4 last. when he first became known
as rival suitor for Ella Smiths heart
and hand. The marriage took place
July 6. and both before and afterward
Bevan said he would never let another
opportunity escape to kill both the bride
and tie groom.
CONDEMNED AND SOLD.