Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-11-09


But for this / should never have un-
dertaken his defense in this last case,
my best feelings were so against him
not that was an migrate, but because
] believed that he hal murdered his
wife.
1twas claimed by their closest friends
that he loved her the first few years of
their united life, though l never be-
lieved this--it seemed such manifest
impossibility.
Being entirely in his confidence, he
often came to my Office, pallid and
trembling, to tell me of some new vul-
gar violence of hers, which had driven
him to the last extremity of despera-
ton.
And so, one morning, when Mrs.
Duke was found dead with an ugly
stab through her heart, her husband
standing over her with reeking knife
In hand, l naturally believed that he
had killed her.
He was in a state of wild excitement
when entered the sheriff's office, in
answer to his summons. Until that
moment, no one had succeeded in get
ting word out of him about the mat
ter.
'What does it all mean?" asked,
when we were alone.
II don't know" he gasped 81 don't
know whether it was l who killed her
or not But l don't want to die /
mustn't be allowed to die. You must
defend me-you must save me-"
An unusual noise in Mrs. Dukes
room had attracted the butler's atten-
ton on 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.
Mr.. Duke was found guilty and SEN
fenced 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 new trial.
On and on those grace days swept,
seemingly with Lightning swiftness,
until the time set for the execution
was but fifty hours off. l was desper-
ate, Duke was frantic
"You must go to the governor" he
cried, at length. "You must get a
pardon for me-"
"Impossible!" l answered. There
isn't enough time"
"Yes there is. This is Wednesday
morning and Pm not to hang unit
Friday noon. The train goes in ar
hour. If you leave here at once yor
can make the trip and get back here il
time"
"But on what pretext? Simply see
ing the governor will do no good. L
"You must think of pretext on tht
way. Don't stay here and talk. Yor
are wasting time and my life must be
saved. Do go at once"
Detected and reckless scarcely know
ing what | was about, clamberet
on board the train at the last moment
and went whirling away toward tn,
governor, bent on a wild, mad purpose
which knew could only prove entire
ly fruitless
w utu bilC SOdbiOn hSAb w my NAOSpi
nation was reached woman came OF
board who instantly pounced on m'
and kissed me. 1t was my niece.
"What under the sun is the matter
with you?" she demanded
When l told her of poor Dukes pre-
dicament her face became very grave
but the moment she discovered my
business with the governor it bright
ened.
'How very fortunatel" she exclaimed
clapping her hands gleefully.
What" l demanded, nearly stupe
fed with amazement.
Leave it all to me-" she said, "and
will save your friend. No-Tm no
crazy. Listenl Last night the gov
ernor proposed to me. OF course low
him dearly, and so 1 refused to Civ
him an answer. I'll promise to marr,
him on the condition that he pardon
poor old Duke"