The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-11-10
TOLD HIS SAD STORY.
PATHETIC TALE OF AN OLD
MAN IN A JUSTICE COURT.
lie Accuses Himself OF Numbering u
Chance Acquaintancc-An Omccr Says
the Prisoner Is Insane Through Loss
of Employment


dingy furniture, and then, slightly
bowling to the justice. said:
81 must ask, sir. the privilege Of
telling my own story. This fellow
that brought me here may think that
he knows it all and that he can tell it
better than can, but he can't. Never
mind what charge he has against me,
for we all know that man who makes
an arrest is sort OF prosecuting at
torney. / will be my own prosecutor,
and If fail to go deep enough into
my motives, why then ! may call for
assistance from him.
The justice sat looking at the
prisoner, was absorbed in a strange
contemplation of him, and said not a
word. The prisoner continued
.'In tho eye OF the law, the crime
that ] have committed Is black, but
the law Is now old enough and should
have enough sense to explore n mans
motive. IL all came about this way:
The other night several friends and
went to hotel to play mild game Of
poker, and while we were playing a
man named Harvey came in. Some
of my friends were acquainted with
him, and one of them asked him TO sit
in the game. | have made it rule
not to play with strangers, but on this
occasion decided not to object. Well,
he sat in. Before he came | had been
winning; after he came | lost steadily.
And every time | opened II pot he
would raise me. Twice | stood his
raises and he beat me. The play was
perfectly square, but it angered me.
| said nothing, but deep within mo
there seethed something. and knew
that it was murder. Yes, had not
played long until knew that should
have to kill that man.
''He kept on beating me, and my
murderous intention kept on boiling.
Once looked at him as he was raking
in a pot and mu5cd: If you only knew
what do, you would feel more dis
posed to pray than to play poker.
You are bluffiug on the edge of eter-
nifty | think we must have closed
the game at 3 o'clock at morning. 1t
was too late to go home and we de-
cided to sleep at the hotel. And this
man Harvey said that it was too late
for him to go to his room and that he
would also sleep in the hotel
'.There was bed in the yoom in
which we played, and he said that he
would sleep there. Il am not mar
ried man. he added. and | usually
sleep where the game ends | said to
myself, Yes, you will sleep where this
game has ended, and if you play again
it will be in another world. Well, we
went to bed. | secured room just
across the hall. lay down without
taking off my clothes, and listened
heard him move around, heard him
whistle with the merrincss OF win
ner, successful buffer. Gradually
all noices ceased. / got up and went
to his door, 1t was locked. tapped.
A voice asked me what | wanted.
replied that had left something in
his room and should like to get it. He
opened the door and stepped in.
Il looked about, pretended to find
something, and then asked him il |
might sit down and play solitaire,
that could not sleep and that | was
so nervous that dreaded to be alone
He said certainly and then with
brute confidence tumbled back into
bed. | sat there, slowly placing the
cards in front Of me, watching him.
He soon fell asleep. | took out my
knife and opened long, keen blade.
He was lying on his back. ! softly
approached the bed and gently drew
down the cover from his breast. What
broad breast, the breast of buffer.
l stood there looking at him, not
faltering in my design, but holding in
reserve the sweetness of my vengeance.
Suddenly he opened his eyes, and
plunged my knife into his breast.
His blood squirted up into my face
into my eyes, and for a moment
seemed to be gazing into red cloud.
"Well, | stole out. II was now day
light, and walked up and down the
street. After while | returned to
the hotel, and | saw that the murder
had been discovered. Why so soon, l
wondered, and | looked at my watch
and found that the noon hour was
nigh. J. did not wish to deny the
murder, so | gave myself up and this
man brought me here, after keeping
me in Jail"
The justice AMI the officer looked at
each other.
your honor" said the officer. "this
old mans only offensc was trying to
preach in Lincoln park. He was
thrown ont of work some time ago
and has gone crazy"
The old man laughed.
Thrown out OF work? Why,
never did days work in my life. ]
am rich; can buy you oil"
The grief-stricken face OF n woman
appeared at the door. Your honor"
said the old man, looking round, al
should like to present you to my wife,
the noblest woman in tho world"
The justice. launching" q handful
OF papers. said to the officer: flake
him to the proper authorities; and {.
mind yon. be as gentle with him as IL
he were your father"
|
Cne Really Fine statu,
Five new statues have recently been
set up in the parks AMI squares OF New