The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-22
WITNESSED A TRAGEDY.

man, but he Is, 10 my mind. lust trifle
too unconventional in his ideas.
He is, however. ve"y good company,
and have passed Il good many evenings
with him over 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 armchair by the fire.
side, with u pipe in my mouth and n
glass OF most excellent whisky and water
Beside me We tAlsrd Of many things,
till 1T length, forget how, the CONVEX
Sation turned on murders and murderers.
Some time previous London, and in
deed the whole country, had been ap-
palIed by Il series of CHASTITY murders.
all apparently committed by the same
band, though in no case was u clew af.
fordcd by which the murderer might be
discovered.
Menken explained II theory of his own
on the subject, as novel as it was start
ling, when the subject turned to cir
cumstantial evidence and it's value.
After ALL" said ''in ninety-nine
murders out Of hundred circumstantial
evidence and motive are the only helps
to conviction. No one in his senses com
units murder if there is any one look
ing on"
NO" said Menken slowly, people
prefer doing these things i'll private, if
possible. But sometimes they are not
aware that there are witnesses"
He paused and filed his pipe.
1T is not every one," he went on,
who has been secret witness of muir
der, but have"
"You?" | exclaimed.
Menken nodded.
WAS he convicted and hanged?'
asked
1T wasn't a he, but she" said
Menken smiling. 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 altogether; one
Of the most ingenious things | ever heard
Of. will tell you the story, if you like.
twill be simpler than you getting it
out Of Inc by cross examination.
about four years ago was travelling
in Switzerland. In the course u my
rambles reached Tauserwald was
much taken with the place; the scenery
was superb, the hotel old fashioned but
delightfully."- comfortable.
There were several people staying
there besides myself but as | am gre
garious sort of fellow, was rather glad
of it. After | had been there about a
fortnight, on entering the dining room
for dinner noticed some new arrivals,
Among them WAS party Of three Eng
ish--an old gentleman, his young wife,
and a daughter Of the old geutleman's
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 English gentlemen
you sec about.
"The wife was decidedly pretty; she
was about eight and twenty, fair, with
gray eyes and u most undeniable figure.
They seemed to be well off, but they did
not hold much intercourse with the rest
Of the inmates Of the hotel
"You know rather pride myself on
my powers of observation. Though
made no sort Of acquaintance with the
party, used to watch them and study
them, as do all my fellow creatures
whom | come across.
u WAS hot long in finding out three
facts. First. that the old gentleman was
madly fond Of his wife and indifferent
to his daughter; secondly, that the
daughter adored her father and did moi
. like bis wife: thirdly, that the wife hated
them both,
81 was all tEe lLUle pleased with my
perception Of these facts, inasmuch as nc
one else in the hotel had the least idea Of
the situation. Outwardly there wa:
perfect harmony in the trio.
' "One morning, after The party had beer
in the hotel about Il week, the old gentle
man did not appear as usual at breakfast
: and in reply to inquiries his wife sale
t that lie was not feeling well. In tn
course Of the day the doctor--an English
man, by the way--was sent for, and il
the evening the landlord, who was a
angry with the old man as il he had go
his illness on purpose, told Inc contiden
italy. with tears OF rage, that the oil,
Z gentleman had been pronounced by tn
J, doctor to be i'll Of gastric fever, and tina
!. the case was serious The landlord
\ anxiety was not without reason. TIL
7 fact could not be concealed, and the Wis
itors began to leave in haste. Only
> few besides me remained. ! am no
, in the least nervous about illness, and
had no intention of leaving the place 70
, such n cause, a resolve which raised m
greatly in the landlords esteem.
! ! lone morning, about ten days afte
4 the old gentleinan's seizure, met tn
, doctor coming down stairs. He locke
much less anXious than for some day
| past: indeed. there was an expression al
most Of satisfaction on his face.
| "'How is your PATIENT asked.
= 1.-The crisis is past, or almost past
y l..