Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1891-11-06
ABOVE PROOF.
! don't like Menken.

He is, however, very good company,
and | have passed a good many even
ings with him over a pipe, and will
acquit him of ever having bored me.
went to his lodgings with him
few nights ago from the club, and soon
found myself seated in an arm chair
by the fireside. We talked of many
things, till at length, forget how the
conversation turned on murders and
murderers.
After all" said, lin ninety-nine
murders out of hundred circumstan-
tial evidence and motive are the only
helps to conviction. No one in his
senses commits a murder if there is
any one looking on!''
No" said Menken, slowly, 'peo-
pie prefer doing these things in pri-
vate, if possible. But sometimes they
| are not aware that there are wit
nesses."
He paused and filled his pipe.
lit is not every one, he went on,
'who has been secret witness of a
murder; but have"
WAS he convicted and hanged?" /
asked
ut wasn't he, but a she.'" said
Menken, smilingly. "And she was
not convicted and hanged, or even
tried"
But surely you / was beginning,
when Menken broke in.
my dear fellow, nothing | could
have said could have convicted the
woman. 1t was very odd case alto
gether; one of the most ingenious
things ever heard of. l will tell you
the story, if you like; it will be simpler
than your getting 1t out of me by cross
examination. about four years ago
was travelling in Switzerland. In
the course of my rambles / reached
Tauserwald. was much taken with
the place; the scenery was superb,
the hotel old-fashioned but delight
fully comfortable.
After | had been there about a
fortnight, on entering the dining room
for dinner, | noticed some new ar
rivals. Among them was party of
three English-.-an old gentleman, his
young wife, and a daughter of the old
gentleman by former marriage. The
| daughter poor girl. was blind. She
was about twenty and looked delicate.
] cannot say she was pretty, but yet
she was not unpleasing. The old boy,
her father, was just like other old
English gentlemen you see about.
The wife was decidedly pretty; she
was about eight-and twenty, fair. with
gray eyes. and a most undeniable fig
ure. They seemed to be we'll off, but
they did not hold much intercourse
with the rest of the inmates of the
hotel.
II was not long in finding out three
facts. First that the old gentleman
was madly fond of his wife and indif-
ferent to his daughter; secondly, that
the daughter adored her father and
did not like his wife; thirdly that the
wife hated them both.
''One morning after the party had
been in the hotel about a week, the
old gentleman did not appear as usual
at breakfast and, in reply to inquiries,
his wife said that he was not feeling
well. In the course of the day the
doctor an Englishman by the way.
was sent for. and in the evening the
landlord, who was az angry with the
old man as If he got his illness on pur-
pose, told me confidentially. with tears
of rage, that the old gentleman had
been pronounced by the doctor to be
| ill of gastric fever and that the case
was serious. The landlords anxiety
| tuif 60 "a
could not be concealed. and visitors
began to leave in haste. Only few
besides me remained on. am not in
| the least nervous about illness. and
had no intention of leaving the place.
| for such Il cause, resolve which
raised me greatly in the landlords es-
| TEEN.
One morning the French maid came
running down to the family with great
excitement in her dark face, and in
broken English informed them that
Madam had slept not in her couch,
nor could Celeste find her anywhere
though she search, she search every,
| wherem
Then Henry recollected all at once
that he had rather neglected his
mother lately. Mrs. Henry forgot hel
cultured" calmness and Joined in the
search. weeping bitterly. Jane came
running in with reproaches for her
self and all the Others Joe left his
desk for once and set telegraph wires
to work, and confusion and grie
reigned supreme. while the sons ant
daughters found their minds wander
ing back TO childhood and mother, )
us they had not done for years, and
think they learned over again, ant
far more perfectly the lesson of fila
love.
Hours passed, and no news came o
the missing, and fears grew graver ant
stronger till at last Henry, walking
the floor in anxiety. exclaimed sudden
ly, as the idea struck him, She's gone
homer and running to drawer In
his desk. where keys OF every size ant
form lay punched and singly, hi
turned them hastily over.
Yes, the key is gone and she ha'
wandered back home. I'm sure of 1t
Why we did not think OF it before.
cannot think. Oh, mother! you nevel
wanted to leave il. the dear, dear 0lt
house where we we're born. and which