The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-04-08
SAVED BY A SCRATCH.

OA Y ED D1 "A SChAlCH.
For twenty years Hamilton Duke
was my client. In fact, it was to him
that I owed not only competent fort
une, but my position in society.
But for this should never have un-
dertaken his defence in this last case,
my best feelings were so against him
not that was an migrate, but because
I believed that he had murdered his
wife.
Many things compelled my drawing
such a conclusion.
He was well-bred, refined and cultur-
ed, while she was of common stock,
the personification of ignorance and
low-breeding. For ten years he was
all of chivalry and tenderness to her
that lofty nature could be. while she
was always sullen, morose, dissatisfied.
1t was claimed by their closest
friends that he loved her the first few
years of their united life, though never
believed this-it was such manifest
impossibility.
Any way, he hated her cordially when
her life came to its tragic close, and so
he had for a considerable period prior
to that event.
Being entirely in his confidence he
often came to my Office, pallid and
trembling, to tell me of some new
vulgar violence of hers which had
driven him nearly to the last extremity
of desperation.
And so one morning when Mrs. Duke
was found dead with an ugly stab
through her heart, her husband stand
ing over her with reeking knife in
hand, naturally believed that he had
killed her.
Later on, when I saw him, my suspi-
cions seemed confirmed.
He was in state of wild excitement
when entered the sheriff's Office in
answer to his summons.
Until that moment no one had sue
ceeded in getting word out of him
about the murder.
''What does it all meanp" / asked,
when we were alone.
Il don't know" he gasped. 81 don't
know whether it was l who killed her
or not. But I don't want to die. I
mustn't be allowed to die. You must
defend me-you must save me-"
Though pitied him, I believed him
guilty, and though 1 defended him 1
felt that he merited death.
But my efforts were vain ones. The
evidence against him was too conclu-
sive.
An unusual noise in Mrs. Dukes
room had attracted the buffers atten-
tion the morning of the murder. On
entering he saw Mr.. Duke rising up,
knife in hand, from the PROSTATE body
of his wife, as if he had just stabbed
her.
That and the fact that the Dukes had
indulged in many bitter quarrels of
late was enough to win disastrous
verdict from any jury.
Mr.. Duke was found guilty and
sentenced to death. He was to be
hanged in forty-fve days.
Reopening case at that time was
not the easy thing it is now, and l
found it impossible to get him a new
trial.
On and on those grace days swept,
seemingly with lightning swiftness, un-
til the time set for the execution was
but fifty hours off.
was desperate; Duke was frantic.
You must go to the governor" he
cried at length. You must get
pardon for me-"
Impossible. answered. There
isn't enough time"
Yes, there is. This is Wednesday
morning, and am not to hang until
Friday noon. The train goes in an
hour. If you leave here at once, you
can make the trip and get back here in
time"
But on what pretextp Simply see
ing the governor will do no good. 1
'You 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 so 1 went away, walking about
the streets in sheer bewilderment.
By blind chance went to the rail-
way station. arriving just as the train
rolled in. Detected and reckless, scarce
ly knowing what was about, l clam
bered on board at the last moment and
went whirling away toward the COVER
nor's, bent on wild mad purpose,
which / well knew could only prove
entirely fruitless.
When the station next to my destina-
tion was reached, a woman came on
board, who instantly pounced on me
and kissed me.
1t was my niece.
What under the sun is the matter
with youP" she demanded.
When 1 told her of poor Dukes
| predicament her face became very
grave, but the moment she discovered
my business with the governor it
frightened.
How very fortunate!" she exclaimed
clapping her hands gleefully.
''What?" demanded, nearly stupe-
fed with amazement.
Leave it all to me-" she said, "and
/ will save your friend. No-rm not
crazy, Listen: Last night the governor
proposed to me. Of course ] love him
dearly, but didn't want to be too
cheaply won, and so 1 refused to give
him an answer. He dimes with US to-
night. After dinner, when his stomach
is full and his heart easy to get at. Pll
promise to marry him on the condition
that he pardons poor old Duke"
Then and there. on a public train
though we were, l both hugged and
kissed her.
She was as good as her word, and six
/ hours later / was on board another
\ train, homeward bound, and in my
pocket was reprieve for Duke-the
case against him being so strong that
the governor deemed full pardon i'm
polite then.
The reprieve granted him another
three months, though, and by that
time popular sentiment was likely to
cool down sufficiently to make pardon
feasible.
On the way home was fairly happy
and tried to picture to myself Dukes
face when he knew he was safe.
This made me so comfortable that
fell asleep.
Nothing disturbed my slumbers un-
| Al Al loI bn "A