The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-01-09
MY EXECUTION.


fer charity by respectfully dressed
woman. who stated that she had arrived
from Cork few days ago, her husband
having sent the money to pay her pas
sage to New York. Upon her arrival
she found that he had been killed by a
drunken rowdy, and as. she was penni-
less she asked me for a trifie to get a
nights lodging.
Having been imposed upon the pre-
vious day by tale of the same kind. I
passed on without needing her piteous
appeal.
had walked but a few PAGES when a
teeilng OF regret came over me for nv
harshness, and turned round to relieve
her distress, but she had gone. I stood
muslng, undetermined what to do.
felt had acted with inhumanity; but it
was SO unlike my usual conduct that
consoled myself with the reflection that
always had been the friend of the out
cast, and that very likely the woman
was not in actual want-this the re-
spectability of her attire, led me to
adopt as fact, and, resolving to Danish
the transaction from my mind, I walked
homeward
When | reached the corner of Wall
street man, apparently the worse for
liquor, asked me for charity, and with
an eagerness which evidently astonished
him gave him some money.
This somewhat eased my mind, al
though l felt that l had relieved the
wrong object. AS 1 passed St. Paurs
church l saw by the clock that it only
wanted a few minutes of my dinner
hour, and was always SO punctual that
knew even few minutes delay would
cause the greatest anxiety to my wife
and daughters, whose affection for me
was the great comfort of my life.
Resolving to crush the haunting feel
ing, hailed an omnibus and jumped in;
but new torture now seized me; the
noise of its wheels seemed to echo the
woman's appeal for charity SO visibly
that l involuntarily looked out Of the
window to see that she was not running
at its side reciting her tale of sorrow and
restitution.
Getting out at the corner of Washing
ton street, walked hastily to my house
and paused an instant on the steps, half
resolved to go on wild goose chase in
search of the mendicant Finally pulled
the bell. When the door opened, instead
OF following my usual custom of enter
ing the parlor to greet my wife and
daughters, walked straight up to my
dressing room, where l sat for some time
in gloomy abstraction; then, bathing my
head with cold water, mechanically
changed my dress and again seated my
self in the deepest detection.
l was aroused by my wife, who, sur
prised by my unusual conduct, asked
tenderly if l did not feel we'll
yes replied, ''but very tired. The
weather tries me. But, however, let us
to dinner"
Ny daughters and niece who was on
a visit came round me and playfully
scolded me for being SO naughty. At
last ] sat down to the table but could not
eat mouthful. After several attempts
to eat requested my butler to bring me
the brandy decanter, which surprised
them all, as / was strict temperance
man, and merely kept wine and liquors
for such of my guests as did not share
my scruples.
When the brandy was brought filed
agoblet nearly full of the Liquid damna-
ton" as | had recently called it in a
speech L had made at temperance
meeting, and drank it of at single
draught. This somewhat relieved me
and enabled me to swallow few mouth
fulS of dinner.
Ny Spirits somewhat returned, and we
all adjourned TO the drawing room. The
arrival of some visitors to my wife and
daughters afforded me an opportunity Of
leaving the room unobserved. | put on
my hat, resolving to call upon friend
who lived in the next street.
Not finding him st home, strolled on.
The evening was fine, and before | was
aware of the distance | had walked l
found myself near the North river At
Hacted by crowd which had gathered
round the end OF ons OF the piers, went
towards It, and was told by policeman
that poor woman had just been taken
cut OF the water
J. pressed EOfW&Tu, ana 0XclalmSa
aloud, on the impulse of the moments
when gazed upon the llfeless form;
"Great heaven! the very woman treat
sd 50 hrutally not an hour agor
The words were scarcely out OF nay lips
when strong hand graspsd my collar.
It was the policeman who had just
spoken to me.
sob tbs murders out them" he cried.
"You know something Of this mstter!"
A cry was Immediately raised that l
had confessed myself the murderer; and
as there was severe bruise on the poor
woman'E head, doubtless occasioned by
her striking against the pier, it was ex-
aggerated into fractured skull.
Al was now eleAr to the excited mob.
had first killed my victim with blow
on the head, and then, to conceal my
crime, had thrown her into the river. In
vain did l protest my innocence; they
paid no more attention TO me than had
to the poor woman herself. SO strong
was the popular feeling that the police