The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-21
UPS AND DOWNS IN LIFE.

Up In Siskiyou there is a man named
George Decker, whose recent experience
has been marked by viclssitudes almost
without parallel in our times A few
weeks ago he was a well-tO-do rancher.
with good farm and probably a little
money laid away in bank against a rainy
day. Two weeks ago he was prisoner
in Jail under suspicion of being whole
sale murderer, aud the people of his neigh
bOrh0od chafed at the red tape which
prevented their lynching the monster then
and there. Now he is at large, cleared of
all imputatioDs on his character.
The man appears to have failed to
win the sympathy of his neighbors.
He was of retiring nature and
uncOmmunicative. He had lived
long time in SiSkiyou, hut it ap-
pears he had not made any intimate
friends. and was not fond of talking about
his early lie. No one knew much about
his antecedents. Some rural ass, cogItat-
ing over village gossip. got it into his head
that there were pages in Decker's life which
called for explanation. Communicating
his suspicious 10 another ass of his own
breed. the pair concluded that Decker
might have committed one murder. and
they went on till they were sure he had
committed many murders. He had killed
a couple of wives and so many children
that it is wonder he had not depopulated
SiskiyOu. The famous GILES de ReIz was a
fool TO him.
All this idle and mischievous chatter
would have subsidized as it arose but for
the accident that an enterprising city
newspaper saw in the story material for a
sensation and had it written up in lurid
style by its most ford reporters. The
articles travelled to Siskiyon and set the
nfamed minds Of the people of that quiet
county in a blaze. Decker was laid by the
heels forthwith. 1t is a mercy he was not
lynched. The SiskiyOuan pOpulace took
credit TO themselves that they were willing
to allow the law to take its course. But
there must be no delay, no faltering. The
modern Herod must swing. Honest men
could not lay their heads on their pillows
so long as such q fend breathed Gods
blessed air.
Meanwhile some of the residents OF the
county who had not quite lost their heads
began to investigate. There were weak
spots in the case for the prosecution. The
chief witness to the first murders was a
haif-witted girl, who might have obtained
admission TO an asylum for the feeble
minded. One of the women whom Decker
was said to have put to death by slow
poison was shown to have lived two
months after she had ceased to have any
communication with Decker; doctors de-
clared that they knew OF no poison which
would kill after so long an interval. At
tentiOn being aroused. inquiry spread
broadcast, and the result was that the
murdered people were found either to be
alive and hearty or to have died under
circumstances which precluded the theory
of murder The whole story was a fake,
devised by stupid rusIics and quickened
into lite by the enterprise of a seusation-
loving newspaper. Mr. Decker's prison
door flew open and the suspected mur-
derer was set free with many apologies.
What comfort he will take out of his
escape remains TO be seen. 1t is not pleas
ant 10 lie in jail for a couple of weeks
under charge of murder. Such charge
leaves stain which can never be thor
ougnly wiped out. There will always be
people in whose minds embers of sus-
picion will smolder. The story Of Decker.
the murderer. has been scattered all over
the country; it has been meat and drink
for the sensational press, but /: ends with
bad taste in the mouth.