The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-03-29
THE TEXAN CHIEF JUSTICES STORY
How an Invalid Husband Revenged the
Betrayal of His Home.

The Alamo Plaza in San Antonio is
pleasing spot at all times; but at
night, when the electric lights are
ablaze, it is especially attractive.
One evening the Chief Justice and /
were walking across the plaza.
"Do you know" he said, "that man
we just passed reminds me of MannP"
Now, l had never heard of Mann, so
naturally l asked:
What about Mannp"
"To be sure! You are stranger in
this part of Texas, and this rare bit of
tragedy has never reached you. Let
us be seated"
In every well-planned place for rest
and recreation there are seats or rest
ing places, and the plaza is no excep-
ton. fhe Chief Justice chose very
comfortable one under banana tree,
and, after lighting cigar, continued:
"Mann was Postmaster in the little
town of Mattoon Ind. He had con-
sumption, and when his term expired
he came down here to San Antonio.
He left his wife and little boy in Indi-
ana. OF course he liked San Antonio
everybody does-and sent for his
family. They lived in a little house
near San Pedo springs, and very hap
PLY, it seems.
@At the time was practicing law.
One day Mann came into my office. l
had met him before, bat had paid but
little attention to him. That day mis-
face fairly startled me. The poor fell
low was wasted and withered; his eyes
glowed like Goals, and he was yellow
as saffron. He was so weak it was
all he could do to talk above a whis-
per.
"'Judge,' he said, .l'm in trouble
"sTell me about it, said.
"'There's man. he went on, Lives
near me. His name is Chase. and he
runs a briek-yard. He's big fellow
and handsome, not like me-
"When Mann said this he held out
his bony hands and looked at them.
They were so thin you could almost
see through them.
"'He's a widower. He used to come
around my house a good deal, and [
treated him kindly. Sometimes l
would come home and find him there.
He liked my little boy and would trot
him on his knee. | used to do that,
but lately l haven't the strength
"AlI this time Mann had spoken
slowly and with an effort. Suddenly
his voice grew higher, his cheeks
turned pink, his eyes famed, and he
said:
SHE fell in love with nv wife, and
they've run off. I am going to kill
him. l pray God to let me live long
enough to kill him.
"Then he was seized with cough
ing fit, the blood bubbled from his
lips, aad l thought he would die then
and there. [ poured some whisky
down him, aud presently he was bet
ter. l advised him to 90 home and let
his wife run off as often and as far as
she wished.
"'Judge,' he said. and his whole
soul was in the words, .I'll kill him
kill him like dogr With that he
went away.
Several days later 1 met him in
the plaza. He was looking more wan
and more meager than ever But his
eyes were unnaturally bright.
"'She came home, Judge he said,
came home day before yesterday. ]
was out and when went back she was
lying on the bed, stark dead. She was
| dressed all in white; her wedding
uICoo. 0nO 1OOhCo 81 SdI ctuu plIllul !
could almost have forgiven her. Poi
soned herself; and she was one of the
best of women, Judge, until she fell
We'd been married ten years
Il could see he was miserable be-
yond expression and so weak he tot
tered. He came very near to me; mis-
| face almost against mine.
Judge he said, Pm laying fol
him. Killing is too good for him.
"With that he broke down, and
what with his coughing and strangling,
came near sinking to the ground.
called cab and sent him home.
"That was the last | heard of him
for two weeks. Then one morning
looked at the paper and read in big
letters: Another Murder! John Mann
Killed William Chase etc. He had
crept up to Chase's brick-yard early
one morning. He vas too weak tc
carry a gun, but he hired Mexican
to carry it for him-a big, double bar
relied shotgun loaded with buckshot
When Chase came to work Manr
rested the gun on the fence and shot
him dead.
THAT'S all of it, only that they tried
Mann and I cleared him. Next day ht
died, and Pm raising his boy. ."-Sa'
Francisco A7'go7a0att.