The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-06-28
BETRAYED BY 4 BUTTON
BIZ CAROLINE CONRAD.

There had been murder done at
IOdd's Corners most extraordinary
/ thing, and the more so. that it seem
ed absolutely withot motive, the Vic
tim being a poor, old woman. who had
no enemies. 50 far as whas known, and
/ possessed neither money nor yaluables
OF any kind to tempt any one.
Iodd's Corners was a sort Of cOun-
try settlement, consisting Of some
dozen scattered houses. a post-of1ice
and store in one, and blacksmiths
shop.
Grandma Wagner, as the murder
ed woman was called, lived IN an old
house next the store. She had no
relatives except one granddaughter,
who lived with her, and supported
them both by going out to sew by the
day
This girl usually slept at home, but
chanced not to 10 so this time. being
detained by an extra job Of work,
which kept her too late to come home
after it was done. and she did not re
turn until the following day at night.
The murder had not been discover
ed until then, when the granddaugh-
ter going in, found her aged relative
stiff and cold in her bed. with blood
all about her.
Lucy Wagner was terribly fright
ened. but she did not go into hyster-
les or faint, as some girls would have
done,
She ran out Of the house and into
the store next door, startling the
group Iounging there for it was still
early evening with the announce
ment:
Some one has killed my grand
mother. My grandmother has been
murdered. Oh. what shall | do?"
There was a general rush to the
spot WHARF the poor, old woman lay
with her skull crushed in, her soft.
white hair and the pillow on which
she lay soaked in blood A very large
tall. old fashioned clock stood in the
room The pendulum Of this had
heen unlocked from its rod. and used
hy the assassin to give the fatal blow.
1t lay on the floor near the bed, with
a lock Of bloody, white hair still cling
ing to it.
Lucy Wagner had not shed a tear
yet She was a tall, slim girl, with
dark bright eyes, and a handsome
face. Her grandmother and she were
known to have been most tenderly at
tached.
The girl stood like a statue of de
spair, staring down at that still form
with dry and stony eyes, while the rest
made the usual exclamation and com
ment.
The first words she said were:
Il wish | knew who did it"
One Of the men showed her the pen
dulum upon the floor The unhappy
girl stared a moment, with her eyes
almost starting from her head. Then
she fell upon her knees with a wild
burst Of weeping that rent every heart
there
oh, grandma, grandma~ she cried
out, 'he shall hang for this, whoever
he is, I'll never rest until | find him"
Further investigation developed
these facts The clock already men
toned was large enough for a man to
stand upright inside the case. The
| house occupied by Mrs. Wagner and
Lucy was separated from the store
only by a wall and had originally be
] longed to it, the store having been
built at first for d dwelling door
| led from the house into the store and
/ was bolted on the store side usually.
! 1t was discovered now to be unbOlted
The oldfashioned clock stood
against this door on the Wagner side
The inference was that the assassin
/ had unbolted the door in the daytime,
| and then concealed himself in the
clock during some temporary absence
| of Mrs. Wagner meaning to rob the
! store when night came.
Thus much was conjectured and
| discovered, mainly through Lucy
] Wagner herself
He killed grandma for fear she
would wake and call some one" said
Lucy, ''and he shall hang for it. if |
can find him; and I'll never stop try
ing till do
But the store had not been robbed.
Ii these coniectures We're correct. the
villains heart must have failed him
with fear at sight of his murdered
| victim. or else he had been unable to
move the clock, which was very heavy.
Then it began to be inquired who
had been in the store the day before
the murder, and it was discovered
that most Of the Todd's Corners peo
pie, as we'll as the farmers near, had
visited the store that day, owing to
the fact that it was an election day,