The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-18
his WhereabOuts,

The taking of human life in any unlaw
ful manner is naturally regarded as the
greatest of all crimes Others. that need
not here be specified, are perhaps more re-
voting and worthy OF nearly as severe pun
ishment, but murder stands out alone rs
the most hideous thing for which person
can be held responsible
Yet, strange to say, the full severity Of
the law is visited upon less than % per
cent. of the fiends who shed the blood Of
innocent victims. Some evade not only ar
rest, but even suspicion, Others find the
machinery of the courts exactly suited TO
their wishes for acquittal or a light sen
tence, and the few who reach the gallows
are generally those whose guilt is coupled
with unusually shocking details and whose
pockets are not well filed enough to meet
the demands of able but high priced coun-
sci.
Still it can hardly be said that the assas-
sin who walks from a court room a free
man, ''vindicated' by u verdict of not
guilty, is beyond the reach OF punishment.
There remains the sting Of guilty con-
science; popular opinion may not be at one
with the finding of the jury, and there is
always the vague, haunting fear that a
higher power will sooner OF later rectify
the error of human tribunal. Catherine
Ring believed thoroughly in the righteous
vengeance Of God when she stood up in the
old city hall of New York late one night
ninety years ago last spring, and shaking
her finger at the judges. the jury the de-
PENDANT and the lawyers, cried with indig
nant fury: Il call upon tar Almighty to
curse you all, and he will do it,"
Who was Catherine Ring, and what the
occasion of her wrath
She was Il Quaker woman, whose fair
young relative had been murdered on the
evening of the day she expected to become
a wife. The Rings, Elias and Catherine,
lived on Greenwich street, near Franklin.
With them resided their cousin, Gulielma
Gilmore Sands, a beautiful girl just bud
ding into womanhood Elma. As she was
called, had several suitors, but gave her
preference TO Levi Weekes, q wealthy
builder and owner of the City hotel How
far she trusted 70 the honor of her be-
trothed will never be known, but one thing
is certain, when be suggested a secret mar
rage she gladly asseuted. and Dec. -.
1893, was set as the date for the ceremony.
Weekes insisted upon the most absolute
privacy, but when the wedding morn ar
rived EIIna coulGed her prospects 10 her
cousin.
The day seemed one long shrek Of win
ter and Of storm, and 10 the darkness Of
early night the frost king grew even more
fierce and bitter in has fury. The snow
swept about in binding eddies. The wind,
rushing down from the sound. h1wled over
Manhattan Island, while the piercing cold
joined hands with these to complete the
trinity Of the tempest. But when the clock
on ST. Pauls struck a1d jiugiing sleigh
bells ceased their music before her door,
Miss Sands bade her friends good By and
stepped out, confident o. a speedy return
a. the wife Of Der lover The watchers
within waited her home coming. but they
waited ia vain. Three hour. Later Weekes
entered-aIone. What followed l. best told
IN the Language Catherine Ring:
The moment be entered ! cast NY eyes
upon him. His cOunteaance was pale and
much aZItAted- lie sat down add said. Is
Elma gone TO bedy I answered No. she
has gone out. At least I saw her ready 70
go. and have good reason 70 think she
went. BE said. j am surprised she should
50 out 30 late at night and alone re-
piled. l have no reason 20 think she went