Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1891-03-19
A CURIOUS MANIA.
John Rhett's Narrowing Expert
cnce In a Barber's Chair.


nan in the county. he Of the raven
locks and with the beautiful black
mustaehe that the women ad,rcd-
John Rhett walked INTO the barber
shop in Yorxville for shave
IL WIS a cold day and there were
three Or four 81 his friends. besides sew
erai tonsorial artists. standing around
the stove az the tirnc; but the man who
alway~ did hts work b~ing idle. she
walked directly over and threw himself
INTO the comfortable chair
The bart--r was tall. well-builf
young fellow ~ the name of Henry
Casey. whom Rh~tt Rad known for
bong time. The usual preparatory
process was gune through with and
then he sharpsued his razor amt went
- work, but he started OF in a manner
that made Rhctt uncomfortable from
the first. This was due IN the unusual
and seemingly reckless way in which
he handled the razor. There was en-
tirely ton much flourish about il ~
make one feel easy lie would y-hirl
IL round in one or two circles before IL
touched the face. and then take il of
again in the same artistic stvle. This
may have looked very pretty To- spec
tator. but to the person vho formed ths.
crrtcr 81 theSs eOn-entrie circles.
Ehett thought It was any thing but
pleasant- At first he was Inclined to
think the fellow was drinking But he
so-'n dismissed this idea for the work
was being done well and si<iIlfuIlv and
a. no drunken man could do L. FINAL
" he told Casey that he didn't like any
such fiourishes around his head. and tn
stop IL
But the only reply he received was
the press If The BARRIERS finger against
his throat, and a short kissing keep
still.
This made Rhett mad. and he started
To express himself very forcibly. but
when lie looked up at the man who stood
drawing the sharp razor over his face.
his anger gave way tn far more fear
full FEELING The words died on his lips
and \ Sudden chill crept over his body.
He had booked into the wild. excited
eyes of 4 maniac
Don't you move or say a word: IL
YOU do III cut your throat, came again
IN suppressed whisper. as that sharp.
cunning face bent near tn his
-'Ilp you know. said the barber. a. he
kept On with the work: do you know
that this viii b. your last shave-that
intend To kill you with this same razor
the moment have ;inisheds
Il have long wanted To make the ex-
pertinent. he continued. a. ne went
rapidly on. Just IN SEE how quickly it
could be done Perhaps you think an,
crazy, but You are wrong. | oaly want
To do this work in the interest of
science. ! believe it viii prove TO be
the most painless and quickest of all
deaths. III | succeed to-day. as | ex-
Peet To do. my method may become the
public mode of execution in this eoun-
try, supPlnnting the gailOws- You see
what an honor it will be TO have started
such reform in capital punishment.
Ny name will become immortal. There
will be none of the suspense attending
executions now; none of the terrible
scenes at the gallowS You simply
take the condemned man in for a shave
and before he knows it he is in eterni-
ty.-
He kept on talking in this rapid. ex-
cited way. and kept on shaving
khett heard his friends conversing on
the other side of the room and he
turned his head to see If he could tell
them of his danger But it was quick
Is jerlSed back in position and the
barber told him If he did that again or
tried To get out of the chair it would be
the signal for his death. And the
wicked CLEAN of his eye. more than his
words. showed that he was in terrible
earnest. Under the circumstances. the
intended victim thought IL best not to
move again. and 50 he laid there as still
Is death
hut his brain was not idle. II was
working with the rapidity of Lightning.
and well it might
Rhett had always been regarded as j..
cool and brave young man; he had
proved II on more than one trying occa
sion And he determined in this las,
extremity 20 be himself and to meet the
sharp cunning of the maniac with an
equal cunning.
Then commenced a fierce and hidden
game between those two. n game in
which one knew the prize for him was
life, and II he lost. the profit death.
Henry. said the young man. and he
smiled. though his heart was beating
fast. you shouldn't try to brighten a
good customer in tina; way. You know
you wouldn't kill an old friend like
rae.
IN show you. Mr. Rhett." half
shrie5ed the barber, and the cleaning
eye grew fiereer and the voice treInbled
with passion
khett saw that this had only added
fuel Ia the fame and he began todespair
Of consolidating the mad man
Yes said Casey. and his wild hand
grew wilder. and the razor pressed
harder upon his victims face: yes. Won
must die this very hour for the sake OF
science Why, it viii he a noble death.
Ion orgh. 10 feel honored 20 perish in
such a cause
The young man was now thorou9hIv
frightened. and he watched for an on
p-prtunity ~ spring from the chair and
escape But he looked in vain. Though
the barber occasionally relaxed the
stern grip upon his throat. vet he still
held him with his gliitering eve.
on See. the criminal will not know
tlAt klS hour i Al hand ~. y,,,-b-