Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-07-03
KENDALL'S BROTHER.

morning of the day fixed for the exeeu-
ton OF Jonas Toms. who bad been con-
yicted of the murder of the old farmer.
Joseph Kendall. The down-train on
the branch from x to the county
seat had come through without diff
Guilty and the up-train--with a load of
morbdly curious men who had taken
passage for the purpose of witnessing
the hanging was at last reported as
having reached the county seat So
the road was open and if the snow did
not drift into the cuts there would be
no need Of sending out the snow-plow.
Jonas Toms was looking through the
grating OF his cell when the whistle of
the uptown reached him and for Il half
hour he waited expectantly, hope not
falling him until the sheriff came to the
cell door and shook hands with him in
silence.
"She did not Gomez" the condemned
said despairiugly.
mo. She was not on the train but
there are two hours yet and ] have put
3 deputy at the telegraph Office with
orders TO run here at once with any
message.
You are very kind, sheriff, faltered
Jonas and turned away from the
grated door
1T wouldn't be human not to try to
make an ugly job like this as easy as
possible, muttered tho sheriff, "aud l
never was sure Jonas was guilty,
though be couldn't prove he wasn't"
The sheriff's opinion of the case was
shared by great many citizens of the
county Of, ana they had signed
petition to the governor for respite
for the prisoner, and communication of
his sentence il the governor could not
see his way clear to grant pardon.
With this petition Mrs. Jonas Toms
had gone TO the capital to make use Of
it in pleading for her husbands life.
That morning the prisoner had looked
for her return with definite information
concerning whether he was to die
that day or not AS no word had been
received Nom her. he was not hopeful
and he had really expected her to come
back to him only for final leave
taking.
Yet. when the sheriff spoke of the
telegraph, hope asserted itself again
and Jonas was buoyed with imagining
his devoted wife wrestling still with the
governor and refusing to abandon the
struggle for her husband ultil il was
useless TO plead longer,
And while the condemned was thus
catching ut II straw, and his heart was
oycrbowng with love and gratitude to
his devoted tireless wife. the deputy
left the telegraph Office and FASTENED to
the Jail The sheriff seeing him COM
ing, ran TO meet him, but paused
abruptly when he could SEQ clearly his
subordiuatc's face
"Ihe operator cau't get x said
the deputy
How can't get him. asked the
sheriff. with the impatience OF serious
man with riddles when plain words
were Of urgent need"
Cant get the operator at K to
answer his call; the wire must be
down"
The sheriff groaned aud trembed as
II shaken by strong wind. GO back, y
he said-"go back and wait, for II
there's word to come it viii get here
The sheriff spoke as if he expected
a miracle to be wrought to deliver him
from the awful legal duty of taking a
mans life to satisfy the vengeance OF
the law, but yet he, having once more
obtained control of his nerves, walked
firmly back to the Jail. where he pro-
ceeded at once to conclude the prepara-
tious for solemn act.
Meantime crowd of men was surg.
ing about the Jail entrance and some
l.. 81 4
the wall at the scatfod. The deputy
in charge of the door admitted those
who had passes and kept back the
others. who nevertheless clamored 10
be let in. Those who were within the
gates by permission trampled the snow
in the yard and impatieutly wished the
sheriff would hurry up while the
other prisoners in their cells were
silent Sud curious, and glad--not glad
because one who had been with them
i'm compulsory association was to be
hanged, but glad because their crimes
were not so heiuous rs his, and they all
vowed TO reform lest they, too, should
end on the gallows.
But at " the telegraph operator
was frantic, He had called the
operator ut the county seat aud could
not get reply; he was in despair aud
he thumpcd the key. There before
him lay a message from the governor
of the state:
TO THE SUERrrF or--COUSTY; Respite
OF ten days granted to Jonas Toms
The telegram was signed by the gov.
eruor's secretary bat apparently it was
ns useless as IL it had never been written.
The county seat was thirty miles dis.
tant and there Was but an hour to get
word OF the respite to the sheriff before
il would be forever too late.
A restless man stslked up and down
the long platforms he seemed to be
waiting for a train and impatient be
cause il WAS DELAYED. lie noticed the
telegraph operators agitation ard
made inquiry concerning the cause
The operator showed him tho message
and the mans face blanched 40 he de-
mauded, TREMENDOUSLY:
"WhY don't you send it,H