The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-07-06

ton of that gentlemans residence, foi-
lowed Immediately by an agonixing
scream. They hastily forced the front
door, and after a vain search in several
rooms, all untenanted, they reached the
study. There, PROSTATE on the floor, was
the form of our well known citizen
dead. A hideous wound In his left tenn
pie and a revolver lying near at hand
showed the cause of death. Stretched
across his body, her hair dabbling In .
pool Or blood, was hia beautiful wife, 1t
was at frst thought that she also was
0eau; UuE nasty examination showed
that she had only tainted.
One OF the horrifed gentlemen ran Tor
the nearest do;tor and also to report the
melancholy news to the proper authori-
ties Tha others set to work to revive
Mrs. Waldemer, and soon had the salts
faction Of seeing her recover conscious
ness.
By . fortunate coincidence DR.. Breslon
happened to be In the neighborhood, and
he was soon In attendance. He pro-
nounced Waldemer past al medical aid,
but said that the lady was only suffering
from q severe nervous shock, natural
under the circumstances.
Despite her protestations Mrs. Wal
demer was taken into custody and re-
moved to the house Of detention, where
she remained during the night, all offers
OF bail being resolutely refused.
Owing to most extraordinary and
fortunate circumstance we are enabled
to clear the unhappy lady from all sus-
picion, and also to give our readers the
details Of q very singular duel that took
place In this city but few days ago.
and which undoubtedly caused the sui-
eide Just mentioned.
Last night at half-past 10 o'clock q
messenger left o package In the ante
room with instructions that it be sent
mp to the managing editor. Upon the
removal Of the outer wrapper was found
sealed envelope with the following
note:
.June is. 1889
ITO the Managing Editor: 4
lyon viii find inclosed an important
| item of news, which yon are at liberty
10 use only On condition that this en-
velope be not received before 10 o'clock
this night. II trust TO your well known
honor to see that this stipulation il faith
fully carried ont
| RUDOLPH WALDE1mR."
| Long before the receipt cf the mys.
| terious package Waldemer's suicide had
been discovered, and 20 the seal was i'm.
mediately broken Inside was the fol
lowing remarkable confession:
ssThesc. my last words, are written or
the threshold Of the unknown. Though
in the prime OF life, the mere thought 81
living has become dread more terrify
ing than that Of death.
/ ut is still fresh In tIAe xnind of thepub
lic how overheard In my club the nam,
Of my wife banded about by lecherou,
scoundrel, who has already gone ths
Iroad shall travel tonight
81 challenged him. The challenge wa
accepted. All the details were left 10 /
mutual friend--a man learned In elec
trical science-who enthusiastically pro
posed the adoption of electricity as
weapon. assented with Indifference
not needing thaagentso that I had my re
venge Ny antagonistagreed, prompte'
| by professional curiosity. For severa
days the mysterious preparations wen
on, and at last there came note Stain,
that I was to call at certain house OF
the outskirts Of the city at midnight.
| ION arriving at the place indicated th
scientist met me ut the door and led th,
way to q little anteroom on the secon,
door. There found my antagonist, an,
it was only the knowledge that but
few minutes could elapse before W
would be engaged In mortal combat tha
restrained me from throttling him wher
he stood
I'VE were taken into an adjoinin
room, and what saw there filed M
soul with grim joy--the lust for mur
der. Returning again to the outer room
we were requested to submit withou
demur to any preparations necessary.
complied with alacrity. but he evidentl
. hesitated before answering, and Inotice
with pleasure that his voice tremble
and bis face paled with a cowardly dread
"The old electrician produced tw
long, close fitting robes that envelope
as from neck to heels, and with skillfr
fingers he speedily buttoned them aroun
us, making the shroudlike garment
more secure by passing stout cor
, about the outside in innumerable turns
Fettered in this way we lay upon th
, | floor unable to move hand or foot. Sa
! isfied at last that the fastenings wer
secure, he dragged us with infinite caz
into the chamber Of death.
: "It was a small, square room, devoid :
furniture, and but dimly lighted by
common oil lamp suspended from ii
. ceiling. The floor had been waxed an
I polished until it was as smooth as glas
In two corners Of the room, diagonall
opposite each other, were . couple Of p
culiar looking metal disks placed hor
zontally on the floor, and having rouns
!. flat knob in the center. Leading froi
: : each were two lines of insulated vii
about six or seven yards long, ending
! shallow cups containing dampened fel
Placing us side by side, midway b
tween the corners, the cups were fastene