Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-30
KING SOL0M0N'S TOMB.

Ta.H,Ia fishing village of Rockport, on
..,c,t-. of rhe ~tatcof NJ. was strange
,.-.f..pr and almost deserted. 1t was not
,I,ttge men were mt sea engaged in their
...,.sI uy1.lrlon for their boats were drawn
mn In "A long line ON the sands and their
NET, were driving in the sun. All who
.,rII be- spared from their homes had that
morning travelled over the rocky road that
led % SrIgycA. the county town, situated
.1rne miles in the interior. They had gone
10 attend Il trial which was to take place
In the court, then in session.
Par5 %. those who made this unusual
Journey were subpRnaed to appear as wit
le,ses, while the others We're drawn by "A
natural interest in the case. One of their
townsmeu a fellow fisherman, stood
charged with the highest crime known to
the law. that of murder. And the victim,
while not resident of the village had
lived near at hand, and was well known to
every man, woman and child in the neigh
borhood.
Yes, Jack Hastings, the bravest, biggest
hearted, haudsomest of the young men of
the village, was accused of taking the life
/ Of old Jasper karch. Not one of the fisher
4 folk but would have staked life and honor
upon the innocence of Hastings, while,
4 aside tom the natural horror inspired by
Ai,yoIrur death, little sympathy was felt
t0rtlr murdered man.
/ JsrHr karch, the miser usurer and
grsp.ug landlord, was the evil genius of
bis simple hearted nei@hbors. Impellcd
py his greed for gain, he schemed and
saved, -,.utiug himself IN the necessaries
OF life, until at the age OF fifty he was pre-
flaarnr,it
married. and having no relatives in the re
gioA lived ina house fast falling into ruins
without uyeUa dog 10 share his cheerless
home On the morning Of the day on
which the alleged murder WAS committed
Tue two men were seen upon the beach en-
gagged 90 an angry cOllOquy. The roar of
tag sur, and stiff breeze that was blow
IN prevented the other fishermen who
We're a- work upon their nets and boats
from UNDERSTANDING the subject of their
Conversations But Jack was seen to shake
DIS u.s. 100 the taCe Of his companion, and
was arIrl % shout, Il would drown YOU
iu the sea-
At." minutes later both men entered
their boats, sailing away as if bound upon
4commuu erraud
That evening Jack Hastings returned AS
usual, Jut the boat Of Jasper Karch was
cast UP empty upon the shore, a hole in its
bottom seeming TO indicate that an unsuc-
cessip. effort had been made to sink it.
The living jasper Karch never came back:
bis body, iJ was supposed, lay buried in
the seL
ls was wei, known that an i'll feeling ex-
Is,e1 between the men.
Jack had his little romance. Pretty
Folly Anderson was his betrothed wife,
aud 1t WAS the intention for the young
s9up.s 90 be married before the spring
a1d come again
Polly, with her yellow hair, blue eyes,
PINK cheeks and 1.-the figure, a true child
Oh tHe SEA Kings, was the acknowledged
Dele ID. the village.
One a1y as she tripped along the road
tN1 The house OF Jasper karch, that
worthy leaning on his rickety gate, called
y', 10 her III tone of malicious banter:
20 you are going to marry that beg
gar Of Hastings You'd better take me
widow
Poly, with crimson cheeks and flashing
yes hurried on in silence, glad to escape
rom one whom she both feared and de.
Tested So heartily.
""-" was highly indignant over this in
,''.. addressed rs it was to his betrothed
'"- himself Vowing that on the first OPP
'''.'"..E he would teach the old man
'-,-'h -e would never forget.
'"a Dung fisherman was far too chival
~ TOO inlet bodily injury upon one so
N.I"..f lis senior, but instead spoke to
-'"l Ia words That stung old jasper into n
'al'a. UlroNysm OF rage.
AT. VENGEANCE of Jasper Karch was pro
's'g.t" NO man crossed his path with i'm
r'"..f. lie now began a system of perse-
.'..la which became the source Of untold
"e,... and sorrow TO the young couple
md ,-a.r friends.
o." Was believed outside Of the village
-". "'iNen to extremity, Jack Hastings
1%t destroyed his tormenter.
All. accused young man was able to rem
o-.. ID consistent and highly probable denial
m 'ul grave charge under which he rested
1-,."Fcu that he had parted in anger
I'm jasper karch that morning, but he
.I ''- .s.. HIm alive and we'll when within u
III. Instance Of the fishing grounds His
a'S" Pported testimony was, however, in
'I'-'sht to secure his discharge He had
r- S" 'sinanded to Jail, and this particular
- nc was to stand in peril of his life and
~ Deiore jury of his countrymen.
a "'ll mile to the south of the village a
- - Dl rocks rose in the form of a cliff.
80 "'o'e the sea. At its foot in the deep
''" the waves were churned into foam;
- - summit the sunbeams fell brightan
,, I'm and the light breeze gently swayed
,Iy. Jew hardy plants that sprang from the
sr, ~ tue Gill, his head projecting over its
an, - I''y boy. His garments were neat
V.'eah' hut of coarse material, and had
" 'ol- service as their threadbare con
Ion ~ aoundantly testified.
las ,1s vas perhaps, fifteen years of age, but
M 9''.'ce at his pale, thin face gave the i'm
ea''OA That he was cider in mind and ex-
ps,T'snee than in years.
d.. mole appearance of the youth in.
5-'}' 49," Ihat he was not one of those who
- - IN the village and drew their pre-
subsistence from the sea. Poor ne