The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-12

"IT WAS HARD % ENDURE"
stony, but would not toll it in court
TWO of the inn officials were also told
his story in confidence, and il was never
made public. According to notes taken
atsThe TING, the man said: Il was born
and bred in Il Christian family. My IA
tlter was preacher, and educated me
himself Twas graduated in law, and
also studied MEDICINE. ! vas not
pleased with either profession, but
Tpptha to become merchant had
NO means With which TO start in bust.
ness, so I hecamc boollkeeper, and
was engaged III That occupation when
ca1he to Washington seeking employ
ment. l came hero to avoid becoming
murderer
THAT may surprise You; but il is q
fact. had three children. little girls.
became convinced that MY home had
been invaded by villain, and that my
wife's affections were alicnatcd from
me. l thoroughly satisfied myself OF
the fact, aud'thcn bought revolver
with which to murder the invader OF
my home, and also TO kill my wife.
When | entered the front dooro my
house, with that weapon in my pocket,
my youngest child three. ycnrold
girl. threw her arms around my mock,
kissed me and said Here tones my
good papa.
II went away lie few minutes, and
threw thet revolver down the sewer on
street corner. l could not do the
deed for that little girl softened my
heart and drove the spirit of crimo
away. I, told my wife what had 90.
CURED; told her had been saved by
the.child, and begged her to reform.
She merely smiled and hummed tuno
indiGerenbly. j then arose and told
her thnt1 was going away, because I
could not remain there and endure hu-
initiation. I told her that would
leave town, because to reuain would
make crina}nal Of nc. As l walked
out ofthe DOOR, she laughed ct me. 1t
was hard to endure; but | kissed my
children, ana told them I was going on
long Journey and never sew them
afterwards thought thut it was bet
ter to leave them, TO give them up, than
foreman and have them bear the StiF-
ma ofhavihg murderer for their IA
Their.
u went TO Philadelphia and New
York and then came here. l sent hAnc
ali of the money l made, over my
meager living expenses. | did it all
for the children. God only knows how
I loved 10y little ones. Ny wife wrote
several SARCASTIC, scolding letters TO me,
but never answered them. ! merely
Enclosed check every week in an en-
v9lope. Einally she came here. She
did not cone as penitent. but as
Nemesis. She demanded al Of my
wages, and threatened TO make unkind
reports OF me TO my employer. told
her knew OF her wicledness, but that
i did not want MY little girls 70 know
that their mother was an unworthy
woman. She followed me about town,
came to my place of business, aad then,
ON that fatal night, she came to my
boarding house, accompanied by that
villain ! saot at him, and he ran.
Then in my frenzy, killed her. That
is,all there is OF my story. l will not
tell it in court Ny children may bea.
the sad memory OF the cruelty of their
father. They shall never hear, if can
prevent it, that their mother was an
unworthy woman"
1t was 4 strange story. Nobody ever
heard of the name Of the other man.
He was never traced. He was never
mentioned during the trinl The jail
officials NJ first believed that the story
was made up by the man; but they
finally believed him, and pitied him.
BY telling his story in court, and prov.
ing it, the prisoner might have success.
fully pleaded temporary insanity. But
he was heart broken before the deed
was coJnmittod. He spoke but the
truth when he told the Judge Chat he
wanted to die. Life was of no value to
him. An effort is now being made to
secure his pardon; but it is not likely
TO prove successful. The convict will
dQnothiNg to aid in the accomplish
ment Of that result.
IR that same cell two years ago
there was confined a prisoner who had
deliberately and raaliciously shot and
killed n man who, he said, had ira
Gneed ehis vita Somehow. by. legal