Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-04-16
THE REPRIEVE.


For 20 years Hamilton Duke was nv
'a<2nnt in fact it was to him that owed
&e only competent fortune, but my
HD6ti0n in society.
But for this should never have un-
~s8artnken his defence in this last case,
ny best feeling were 80 against him
rnse that l was an migrate. but because
believed he had murdered his wife.
Many chings compelled my drawing
41Rch a conclusion.
He was well-bred, refined and Gull
arod, while she was of common stock,
4Ao persOnification of ignorance and
1ow-breeding. For 10 years he was all
- chivalry and tenderness to her that
u lofty nature could be- while she was
always sullen, morose, dissatisfied.
It was claimed by their closest
1kte1ds that he loved her the first few
years of their united life, though never
Believed this-it was such q manifest
RfmpOssibility.
vwhen her life came to its tragic close,
:1nd 80 he had for considerable period
lEfor to that event.
Being entirely in his confidence, he
often came to my Office. pallid and
azemblmg, to tell me of some new vul-
gar violence of hers which had driven
him nearly to the last extremity of des-
Raration.
And so, one morning, when Mrs.
Duke was found dead with an ugly stab
through her heart, her husband stand
.hg over her with a reeking knife in
llAnd. naturally believed he had killed
her.
LATER on, when saw him, my sus-
E1ci0ns seemed confirmed.
He was in q state of wild excitement
When entered tho sheriff's Office, in
answer to his summons
Until that moment no one had sue
eneded in getting word out of him
about the murder.
what does it all mean?" asked,
-~hcn We were alone.
Il don't know" he gasped. II
don't know whether it was who killed
her or not But don't want to die.
II mustnet be allowed to die. You must
~saefand me-you must save me.'
HhorEh I pitied him, believed him
8Mny; and though defended him,
.1elt that he merited death.
Anat my efforts were vain ones. The
evidence against him was too conclu-
.sxiva
An unusual noise in Mrs. Dukes
room had attracted the buffers atten-
xaDn the morning of the murder. On
= sntering, he saw Mr.. Duke raising up,
nAiie in hand. from the PROSTATE body
al his wife, as if he had just stabbed
her.
What, and the fact that the Dukes
laAd INDUCED in many bitter quarrels
al late, was enough to win disastrous
verdict from any jury.
Mr.. Duke was found guilty and sem
tenced to death. He was to be hanged
In Is days.
ReOpening case at this time was
mot the easy thing it is now. and l
found it is impossible to get him new
frial.
Nn and on those grace days swept,
IS seemingly with lightning swiftness.
suntalsfhe time set for the execution
was but so hours off.
i was desperate; Duke was frantic.
*'YOu must 60 to the governor" he
cried at length. "You must get
parann far me-"
4ltmpossible." I answered. There
isn't enough time"
Eyes, there is. This is Wednesday
morning. and am not to hang until
Friday noon. The train goes in an
1sur- If you leave here at once. you
can make the trip and get back here
IN time"
but on what pretext? Simply see-
: ing the governor will do no good.
~"
-iYpu must think OF pretext on the
way. Don't stay here and talk. You
are wasting time, and my life must be
saved. Do go at once.
He was in such wrought-up state
that there was no use arguing with
him, and 80 l went away, walking
about the streets in sheer bewilder-
.ment.
ny blind chance l went to the rail-
Way station, arriving just as the train
ROLLED in. Detected and reckless.
scarcely knowing what was about, I
".ehmbered on board, at the last mo-
lment: and went whirling away toward
rho governors. Dent on q WHO, mao
purpose. which I we'll knew could only
prove entirely fruitless.
When the station next to my desti-
nation was reached. woman came on
board. who instantly bounced on me
anAikissed me.
It was my niece.
.1What under the sun is the matter
with you9" she demanded.
Wheh5I told her of poor Dukes pre-
<aicament, her face became very grave,
! but the moment she discovered my
business with the governor 1t bright
sSaaed.
..How very fortunate!" she ex-
.claimed. clapping her hands gleefully.
,esWhat?" l demanded. nearly stu
y-pNfied with amazement-