The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-15
SHOES OF HUMAN SKIN.
PECULIAR REVENGE OF a BE-
TRAYED HUSBAND.

Her Downward Career Until Death
Overtakes Her-His CHASTITY Relic
From the Diesecting Table.
From the Chic19o Herald
There is a man in Chicago who within
The last six months gave bis shoemaker
o,e NJ the oueerest orders that worthy mer-
chant has ever received since he began bust
meas forty years ago. 1t was to make pair
n shoes from the hide of q human being,
the material to be furnished by the con-
sumer IN its crude state.
~ refused point blank to have anything
to do with such job when the matter was
frat broached," said William Gee, whose
shoe store is at the north approach TO the
Clark street visduct, 'but the gentleman
was insistent and backed up his order by
the production OF a letter from promi-
nant physician which stated that the bearer
had received the human skin from the dis
secting table and had a perfect right TO its
possession Even then l was dubious about
the work, explaining that it was extremely
doubtful if could get the SKIN tanned, and
assuring the gentleman that 1t would in
any event be a pretty costly job compared
with the ordinary price OF pair of shoes.
~ remarked the curious, cynical sort OF
smile that stole across his face when spoke
Of the cost and he hastened to assure me
that money cut no figure IN the transaction;
that il declined to take the order there
Eere plenty of other shoemskers in town
who we're likely to be less squeamish than l,
and with that ne picked up his Gladstone
bag and started toward the door.
TWeu. l hated to have him think it was
because held conscientious scruDles that
refueed. for l rather pride myself on my
I NDA i fuh
do it. sir; sit down there and let me take
your measure
THE STRANGE SCAR ON THE KNEE,
The gentleman turned back, briefly indi-
Gated the style Of shoe he desired and in
A few minutes | had the impression Of his
foot. together with the necessary measure
ments He then unfastened his sachel and
produced "a small parcel wrapped in MANILA
paper. This be unfolded very deliberately
and exposed large fabby piece Of skin
which from its shape, reminded me some-
what Of blacksmith 's..apron. 1t was, so he
Informed me, q strip OF skin taken from the
right limb Of young woman who had died
in the county hospital and whose body had
afterWard gone to the dissecting table. 1t
was stripped from the front part of the
limb and appeared to have extended from
the thigh to the kneepan, the skin being
much thinner at the later end. | noticed
Queer-shsped seer right at the kneeoap and
mechanically drew my finger across it, at
the same time wondering whether it would
wear off in the tanning process.
Looks like the letter M remarked,
and as if it had been burnt in
a. Yes was his laconio response.
"Wel sir, l had a dickens of a time In
getting that skin tanned. My regular house
utterly refused to touch it, and several
other tanners whom l approached peremp-
torily declined. finally found q man, who
lives away out on Clybourn avenue, and
for healthy consideration he agreed to
turn the CHASTITY relic into leather When
he brought the stuff back he said it was the
last job of that kind he ever wanted, no
matter what he was paid, as ne felt like a
criminal all the time 1t was in his shop.
1T was innocent looking enough when 1t
came iutO my hands again and, except for
its extreme porous appearance, might
hsve been mistaken for a piece OF
pigskin. A leather expert would
have detected difference, perhaps
but my workmen passed it without COM
Tnent and the shoes were made up aud duly
delivered to the customer when finished. In
spite of the process to which the skin had
been subjected in tanning the strange scar
on the kCeecap had not been etfaced, and
when the shoes were completed l observed,
on the uppers of the right shoe, that the
mark was still distinguishable, although, of
course the letter NJ could no longer be
traced
This was the substance of Mr.. Gees story,
which he told in modest, apologize man
ner, as If his conscience still gave him a
twinge occasionally for having undertaken
the uncanny commission. His strange GUS
toner had not been in the store since the
shoes were delivered nor had Mr.. Gee been
able to discover the motive that prompted
him to spend SO much money in carrying
out what appeared to be the morbid within
OF an otherwise rational human being He
admitted that for some days after the shoes
left his hands his curiosity was greatly
aroused in the matter, but as time passed
and other cares interviewed he had given
the subject no further thought.
That there was story concealed in this
queer recital was pretty evident TO the
mind Of the young man from the Herald
who heard the foregoing facts, AID he lost
no time in seeking the prominent physician
who bad written the letter vouching for the
erratic stranger aud whose name MIR. Gee
luckily remembered. At first the doctor
alphabetically denied the authorship of the
letter IN question and tried TO bluff his visi-
tor oy affecting complete ignorance of the
ontlre matter. But his visitor refused to
90 satisfied with this evasion and 80 pressed
the physician that he weakened and cons
tessed there was a story which he would tell
II his own name and those of the two prin-
made public. A ready acquiescence was
gwen to this request, upon which the doctor
untolded queer tale of love and revenge
tnat In ITS startling situations and sensa-
uonal denouement Is strongly suggestive
o. one OF MRupassants vivid romsnces.
STORY TOLD BY THE DOCTOR,
Ten years ago." began the surgeon, "a
young law student who came to Chicago
from Virginia fell desperately in love with
ihe only daughter of a wealthy contractor
HVlug on tho north side. His affection was
IeeIprocated and the young people secretly
plgated their troth. This was done in the
lace OF decided objections advanced by the
girls parents to her lover's suit. In the
nFst place, they considered their daughter
VOC young to become engaged, and secondly,
sie uncertain prospects of the law student
uia not warrant his taking such serious
sep. All this they had told him kindly and
HeaSantly enough. But he was young, hot
o.ooded, aud very much in love. He cbafed
az the ban placed upon his social intercourse
WIN their daughter. and despite their
her.
shortly after this the family went TO
Ocohomowoc, where they had a summer
cottage. Thtther the young man followed
us n8ncee, meeting her secretly and enjoy
iug many stolen interviews with her at that
aehghttul resort. One morning Florence
toIl heE mother that she w0s going to a
pic1lc With some young friends, to be gone