The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-05-05
SHOES OF HUMAN SKIN,
The Peculiar Revenge Of a Betrayed
Husband.

There is a man in Chicago who,
within the last six months, gave
his shoemaker one of the queerest
orders that worthy merchant has
ever received since he begaiI busj-
ness forty years ago. II was to
make a pair of shoes from The hide
of a human being. the maj erlal TO
be furnished by the customer in
its crude state.
81 refused point blank to have
anything to DO with such a Job
when the matter was first breach
ed," said William Gee whose shoe
store is at the north approach TO
The Clark street viaduct, "but the
gentleman was 50 insiStent and
backed up the order by The pro-
duc,ion Of a letter from a promi-
nent physician which stated that
the bearer had received the hui
man skin from a di.secting table
and had IA perfect right to its pos
session. Even then Twas dubious
about the work, explaining that il
was extremely doubtful If could
ret The skin tanned, and assuring
the gentleman that it would, in
any event, be pretty costly job
compared with the ordinary price
of a pair Of shoes.
Il remarked The curious, cynical
sort OF a smile that stole across his
face when spoke of The cost, and
he hastened To assure me that
money cut no figure IN The trans
action; that il | declined 10 take
he order there were plenty'O! 9th.
er shoemakers in town who were
likely to be less squeamish than l.,
and with that he picked up his
Gladstone bag and started toward
The door.
"WelI, hated 70 have him think
il was because held conscien'i.
Gus scruple> thai | refused, for
rather prided myself Oh my liberal
views, so | blurted out, 'All right
III do it, sir; sit down there and
let me take your measure
"rhe gentleman turned back,
briefly indicated the style of shoe
he desired and in Il few minutes
had the impression OF his foot, to.
geiher with the necessary meas
nrenents. lie then unlaslened his
satchel and produced small par.
Gel wrapped in MANILA paper. This
he unfolded very deliberately an,
exposed a large flabby piece o.
skin, which, from It's shape, re
minded me somewhat of a black
smiths apron. 1T was, so lie in
formed me, a strip oE'slan taker
from the right limb OF a youns
woman who had died in the coun
, ty hospital and whose body hal
al,erward gone TO the dissectn!
Q table. 1t was stripped from tht
5 front part of the limb and appear
0 ed to have extended from The
thigh to the kneepan, The skin he
ing much thinner al The latter end
: | noticed a queer-shaped scar a
Q the kneecap and mechanical,
e drew my finger across 1t, at ih'
: same time wondering whether j
: would year off in the tanning pro
, cess.
: Looks like the letter NJ, | re
r marked, and as if 1t had beel
y burnt in :
y "'Yes,' was he laconic re
\ Esponse.
e "Well, sir, had a dickens of
Lime getting that skin tanned. NJ
n Regular house utterly refused L
" tduch it, and several other tanner
T. whom l approached, peremptoril.
70 declined. i finally found a ma
'e WHO lives away out on Clybour
m avenue, and for a healthy conSic
10 eration he agreed 10 turn tn
ghaslly relic into leather. Vine
y, he brought The stuff back he sal
ed it was the last job OF that kind h
as ever wanted, no matter what b
u was paid, as he felt like crimins
so all theItime 1t was in his shop,
~ ut Ms lnnosent looking enoug
y when it came into my hands agai
and. except for lis extreme poru
~ A. pearance. might have been mi
~ taken iora Iirce Of pigskin. .
II. II. leasher expert would have deie'
ms ms ted a difference, perhaps, but m
y, workMcn pissed it without con
0' kmenl aud The shoes were made u
-.