Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-05-25

story, but would not tell III III courI'
Two of the jail officials were also told
his story In confidence, and it was never
made public. According to notes taken
at the time, the man said: Il was born
and bred in a Christian family. My IA
ther was preacher, and educated me
himself / was graduated in law, and |
also studied medicine. | was not
pleased with either profession, but |
wanted to become n merchant. l had |
no means with which to start in busi-
ness. so l became a boolllleeper, and
was engaged in that occupation when
came to Washington seeking employ
Inent. | came here to avoid becoming
murderer.
THAT may surprise you; but it is
fact. l had three children, little girls.
I became convinced that my home had
been invaded by villain, and that my
wife's affections were alienated from
me. l thoroughly satisfied myself OF
the fact, and then l bought revolver
with which to murder the invader of
nv home, and also to kill my wife.
When entered the front door of my
house, with that weapon in my pocket,
nv Youngest child, a three-year-old
girl. threw her arms around my neck,
kissed me and said: Here tones my
good papa
II went away in few minutes, and
threw that revolver down the sewer on
a street corner. I could not do the
deed, for that little girl softened my
heart and drove the spirit of crime
away l told my wife what had oc-
Cured, told her 1 had been saved by
the child, and begged her to reform.
She merely smiled and hummed a tune
indifferently. L then arose and told
her that ] was going away, because
could not remain there and endure hu-
initiation. l told her that L would
leave town, because to remain would
make criminal of me. AS l walked
out of the door, she laughed at me. 1t
was hard too endure; but L kissed my
children. and told them l was going on
a long Journey; and l never saw them
afterwards | thought that it was bes-
ter to leave them, to give them up than
torcmain and have them bear the stlg-
ma of having u murderer for their IA
ther.
II went to Philadelphia and New
York, and then came here. sent home
all of the money l made, over my
meager living expenses. L did 1t al
for the children. God only knows how
Iloved my little ones. My wife wrote
several sarcastic, scolding letters to me
but never answered them. l merely
inclosed check every week in an en-
velope. Finally she came here. She
did not come as penitent, but as {
Nemesis. She demanded all OF m.
m
reports of me to my employer. l tol'
her knew of her wickedness, but tina
/ did not want my little girls to know
that their mother was an unworth.
woman. She followed me about town
came to my place of business, and then
on that fatal night, she came to m
boarding house, accompanied by tina
villain. shot at him, and he rar
Then, in my frenzy killed her. Tha
Is all there is of my story. L will nc
tell it in court My children may bea
the sad memory of the cruelty of thei
father. They shall never hear, ii l ca
prevent it, that their mother was n
unworthy woman"
1t was strange story. Nobody eve
heard of the name of the other maj
He was never traced He was nev'
mentioned during the trial The ia
officials at frst believed that the stor
was made up by the man; but the
finally believed him, and pitied hir
By telling his story in court, and pro
ing it, the prisoner might have success
fully pleaded temporary insanity. III
he was heart broken before the dee
was committed. He spoke but Il
truth when he told the judge that
wanted to die. Life was of no value
hirn. An effort is now being made
secure his pardon; but 1T is not like
to prove successful. The convict w
do ncthing to aid in the accomplis
ment of that result.
In that same cell two years a
there was confined prisoner who n
deliberately and maliciously shot a.
killed man who, he said, had Il
duced his wife. Somehow, by leg
legerdemain, he was acquitted. He
turned to his business, as bartend
but never prospercd. He was c
ployed last winter by one of our lei
ing hotels, but when the proprie1
learned that he was murderer he q
charged him. He was haggard, Tn
and looked like a hunted animal. WE
he left tho hotel, he said to the P
prietor "Thia is the fourth plac'