The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-02-20
FRIED OYSTERS.
An Account Of the Disappearance
of Mr.. Cassidy.

An Account of the Disappearance
of Mr.. Cassidy.
"My dear" said Mr.. Cassidy, put
on the frying-pan, and get ready to
make some oyster fritters. I'm hungry
and Well have bit of supper before we
sleep"
Mrs. Cassidy liked bit of supper and
oyster fritters as we'll as her husband,
and she nodded an assent; and, putting
by her work. went into the little kitchen
at the end of the fat, and having handed
her spouse small tin kettle with a
handle, looked to the fire, and set all
that was necessary on the cooking.
table. Then she sat down to wait for
him.
1t was warm in the kitchen, and com.
Portable and cozy.
Mrs. Cassidy, waiting for her spouse,
leaned back against the wall and shut
her eyes. Not sleeping; oh, no, only
thinking. The clock licked on; the tea.
kettle sang its song. Mrs. Cassidy was
back in the country place where she
was born, talking at the garden gate with
Tom. Then something aroused her.
She started up
Tom! Tom! Why, where was Tom
Cassidy? He had been gone an hour. And
the oyster saloon was only around the
corner. She must have had nap.
Frightened and nervous she ran to
the door. All was very still in the
street, and where the houses were not
utterly dark, the lights had gone to the
upper floors.
Perhaps the saloon was closed and he
had gone farther for the oysters. Yes;
that must be it.
She went back to the kitchen and
waited, but no Tom came.
In fact, he did not come that night,
About dawn next morning the servant
coming downstairs to kindle the fire.
saw her mistress crouched up in the
corner of the kitchen Fireplace moan
ing and rocking herself to and fro.
When asked what was the matter, she
said:
Your master is dead, Sally"
Sally shrieked, but when informed
that her lady's reasons for this statement
were that her husband had gone out in
tending to return in few minutes, and
was not yet at home, Sally grinned and
took the affair lightly.
depend upon it, num- she said,
'he's only gone off on a spree. They
all does it sooner or later. My last
lady didn't see hers for three weeks one
winter. Mr.. Cassidy III turn up all
right again SOON"
But her mistress could not be COM
forted. Neither was Sally true prophet.
1t was soon evident that Mr. Cassidy
had disappeared.
All his male relatives and connections
soon as they could be telegraphed for.
No gentleman of his description had in
quired for oysters late that evening in
the neighborhood.
At his place of business a person
waited for him at nine that morning, by
appointment. Failing in this meeting
was very Instantaneous to Mr. Cas-
sidy.
He had bought tickets for the theater
the next evening, for Mrs Cassidy and
himself, and had given them to her to
tective of them all could believe that
Mr.. Cassidy had voluntarily left home
A respectable gentleman of his age,
well dressed as he always was, prob
ably, would have been taken to a
hospital if he had been seized with a
sudden attack of illness in the street;
or, at least, if he had been supposed to
be intoxicated, dubbed, and locked up
in cell for daring to have apoplexy or
heart disease, his remains would have
have been found by this time. They
searched high and they searched low
for week. At last body was found
in the river. Its clenched hand was
closed over something that proved to be
the handle o. tin can. Time and
weather had dune the worst with person
and wearing alparel, but the body was
identified by the loss of two front teeth
and bald spot on his head.
To be sure, M. Cassidy in life had
worn two artificial teeth, but that was
nothing. The detectives, the brother
in-law, the two cousins, talked the sad
affair over, and decided that there could
be no doubt concerning the manner OF
his death.
The unfortunate widow had the news
broken to her. She was prepared for
the worst by that time. And the next
days paper had full account of the
affair. They stated that
'Mr. Cassidy, o prominent business man OF
our city, feeling some appetite at eleven O'Clock
at night, on Wednesday, the - Of, with
the simplicity and amiability that distinguished
him, took u small tin can from his kitchen
dresser end set forth to procure q certain mum.
Der Of these luscious bivalves, which his esti.
mable lady-a true American wife-agreed to
dress for him. Proceeding down the street. he
had reached a lonely and deserted place oppo
site the well-known church under the pastor
age Of DR.. Checkem, when suddenly from the
shadows Of tho sacred portal ruffan darted
toward him, crying: Your money or your life r
and at the Same time dealing him q furious
blow in the mouth, which deprived him Of two
front teeth. Mr.. Cassidy defended himself
ably with the can, but finally fell senseless
under the blows the wretch continued to deal
him. The can was wrenched from the handle
which his manly hand still clutched even In in
sensibility, and after having been robbed Of all
: his valuables, his pocket-book, and even his
shoes, he was dragged toward the wharf and
cast In. In vain his anxious wife watched and
listened for his return. His body lay beneath
the dark water; his soul had flown heavenwart
and the murderer fed safely with his ill-gotten
spoil. Mr.. Cassidy's terrible death is deeply
regretted by all who knew him.
The funeral was large one For
awhile every one thought poor Mrs.
Cassidy would die, but she had fine
constitution, and with this grief is not
apt to kill, though it may put an end to