The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-25


an Errand of Biurder-Killed by tn
Husband.
F1on the Chicago Herald.
A tall, full-bearded young man OF athleti
.n,sarance, stalwart and straight as an In
Alan. and wearing the garb of an artisan
was among the passengers who boarded tn
eoclock train that left the Northwestern
5enot for Wisconsin yesterday afternoon
Tr.dar his arm he carried box of flowers
This Young man was W. NJ. Langdon, who
GAS taking the body of bis wife TO be-
t,rrar home at Madison. hrs. LangdoE
nos murdered at Grand Mound, Ia.
Monday. by John W. Bevan of Chicago
Tears glistened in young Langdon's eye
,yban he stood on the platform watching the
bspeagemen transferring the pine box con
canning his wife's remains from a HAND
truck TO the express car.
The story of the double killing was most
graphically told by young Langdon while
waiting for the departure of the train that
bore Mrs. Langdons remains back to the
home of her parents, which she so recentlt
left. ''Bevan," he said, mad an insane ida
tbot nv wife still loved him. He could MT
rast dav or night, until he found the o.
Dortunity TO see her once more and ask her
Fare to face if it were not so. Several dSs
600 I received at Grand Mound an anoy-
mons telegram containing a warning in
a brief sentence. 1t said Look but
for Bevan.' l have since learned hat
+his dispatch came from Eugene ESw-
lev of Madison, who is engages to
marry Miss Minnie Smith, a sister OF my
e. Rowan had dana rod
before leaving for Iowa that his love for
Mrs. Langdon was deep and inextingisha
BILE. and that without the companionslip of
the idol of his heart there was nothing left
for him to make life worth the living.
Revan. in leaving Madison, whittier le had
GONE in the hope of finding Mrs. Laigdon,
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 a train fo' Rock
ford, 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.
On Monday, about IL o'clock, when l was
ont O short distance from the house of Mr..
Twogood. where we boarded, engaged on
the work of the railroad which my father
and myself are building for the Northwest
ern between Clinton and Cedar Rapids.
Bevan suddenly walked up and spoke to
me- hardly knew him. He wore huge
goggles, and appeared to be attempting a
disguise. feared the man, though l was
armed aud prepared for him. He asked me
to step aside and talk with him. Before
complying, | said in a low voice to one of
my fellow workmen: That man will either
kill me or | will kill him.
81 have come to see your wife, said
Bevan in peremptory tones, at the same
time nervously clutching revolver which
he carried in his outside coat pocket. In
reply | told him that he could not see her;
that it would be wrong to grant such q re-
quest after he had been following us around
like a 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 refused, began to
act wildly. 1t then occurred to me that |
should run to the house ana warn
my wife of his presence. feared that he
would shoot me before / reached the house.
and | gave loud whistle to attract Mrs.
LangdOu's attention. She heard me and ap-
peared at window. / reached the house
in safety. Beyan saw her face at the viii
dow. He came nearer to the house, like one
attracted by some strange power OF fasci-
nation he could not resist. For au hour or
more, while we remained indoors, he wan
dered about among the bushes in the yard
At lest, 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 dis
armed!
mo, said Bevan, L have never sub
United to anything like that, but | will be
honest | will not use any weapon. But
must see your wife. / would willingly
cross the ocean or go to the end of the world
to See her. Give me the opportunity now.
4on dare not put me away
"Foolsnly relying on the promises of the
insane creature, whom ought to have killed
On the spot, yielded, and went in to re-
guest Mrs. LaDgdon to grant the interview.
/ told her that he had promised to go away
and cease troubling US if it were granted.
one cneerfully consented. AS she walked
9ut into the front yard to meet her Tilted
l9Ver, my fears were greatly aroused.
something seemed to tell me that she was
gong out to meet deal b in an awful form.
4heh came the most exciting and irving
ordeal OF my life. | went upstairs and
COOK down rifle from its accustomed
Place with this weapon / went to- a
WINDOW where there was a hole in the
screen. through this aperture had a full
anu lair view of Bevan and my wife where
lucy STOOD talking in the front yard. Bevan
was facing me, but the screen secured me
oa!ey from observation. Then and there
, "Itn my rifle drew a bead on Bevan and
Aepu MN covered till the interview appeared
" oe at an end and Bevan turned as if to
uopait during the awful minutes of sus-
PeISe supposed that Bevau had his re-
ttolFeT IN his hip pocket, where / had seen
b i,oiin pace II. My resolve was that in case
s n0 iiaue motion toward that pocket to
Jid iI nuliet through his brain. Oh, why
jato n9' 40 IL without waiting till it was too
'ate ana save my darling wifel
A., relaxed my fears at the wrong moment
r uau not know that Bevan had changed his
no e%poh from his hip pocket to the inside
eyra ao. VI us coat. Instead of going, as |
No,o ne still fingered. He took out a
wan4 o3ok, which he consulted. I then
lso eis uo"h stairs and out into the ward.
volraEg my rifle behind, and taking my re-
WIFI w.t. n AS drew near | overheard my
1.f saying: Mr.. Bevan, you are no man.
this LIS =. IS tlme for this to end l said. At
bntto u1olIent Beyan stood with his coat
grssr o.gl y. up oy the lowest button, while he
Min ij'p Iro me lapels with his hands. l was
/ pnkot ~ LOT motion toward his hip
| tic 10 lie let his right hand slide Gown
Der 7 ~ un4er his coat, in a listless man
/ svelod i''Ae nash his revolver was out and
%'eLed point blank at NV wife's head
1 ess;o "eL9 700 sharp reports in rapid sue
~oioI; With little scream Mrs Lang
8 tron' "a on the grass, and the blood trickled
q hEVul Two bullet wounds down her neck
q ~"as . over before l could get NV revolver
:" VI my coat pocLat A." -