Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-20
A MYSTERY AT BABYLON
Justice Nicoll Fired, and a Voice
 Cried Out In the Darkness.
EBIGHBoRs HEARD A WOMAN TOO.

Finding a Ladder Against His House. the Long Islnnd Justice Armed Himself and Waited-He Declares He Doesn't Know Juat What He Did Shoot.
 BABYLON, N. Y. Aug. 2o.-William G. Eicoll shot a man after midnight, and when the bullet found its mark the wounded person cried out that he had ocen struck. He cried loud enough to oe heard in the house. There was anoth- 1T cry, too-a woman 's-uttercd ill sym 2athy.
 Probably Mir. Nicoll knows from whom ihe cries came. Possibly not. He firmly :efuses to discuss tho matter, and what dds to tho mystery of tho affair is that determined attempt to keep it quiet has been made in all directions.
 Mir. Nicoll is n lawyer of ability, ono of he town supervisors and q justice of tho ,eace He is a man of unblcmishcd rcpu- ation. Some persons believe that an at empt was made to rob his house, while others even go so far as to declare the nan who visited the Nicoll cottage con cmplatcd murder. If Justice Nicoll has my enemies so bitter as to desire his lcath, he has kcpt the fact secret from his noSt intimate friends.
 Justice Nicoll lives with his family in a pretty cottage in Carll avenue, which is n luiet and comparatively unfrequcntCd Itreet after nightfall. Ho was very busy Il his office with somo important matters ast night. Shortly after II o'clock he aid aside his pen, and carefully putting ID his papers locked the office and started ,n his way home.
 The walk was not long, and in a few minutes he was at his gate. As he opened something unusual attracted his attcn- ion, and he stood still for few seconds watching it. A driveway runs along the tide of the house, and part of the building projects over it. Justice Nicoll cautious approached this driveway and found q adder resting against n window in hall way on the second floor.
 The ladder was ono in usc about tho place. Ho looked sharply about him and nadc circuit of tho house, but he saw no pno
 Secured Revolver. Justice Nicoll stood in deep thought for | | moment, and then he entered tho house. | The members of tho household denied any lnowlcdge of the location of tho ladder. | Then the justices mind was made up. Ho vent to his room, and securing his TO- | iOlvCr saw that it was in good working >rdCr. Going into tho hallway, he took a l eat near the window, revolver in hand, md waited.
 | He commanded a good view of the yard ,n that side of the house. He had worked Tcry hard at his office, the night was sul- ry, and the quiet of his vigil was favora- >lC to sleep. Two or three times he all most dnzcd, but quickly awokc imagin, | ng he could see figures in tho yard, but lo was mistaken. Finally ho put his TO | fOlvCr aSidc within easy reach and sat l Il. ,,I,l ,1,,;
 He WINS light sleeper, and he felt that lc would be aw:krnd the instant any on" attempted to ascend the ladder, no matter low stralthy tho intruder was. And SD it proved. He fell asleep, and it was well 1 nt0 the morning when he awolic The lad | Ter fnintly crCakrd against the window | ill. There was some ono on it, slowly md carefully coming up. l The justice reached for his revolver and ookrd out. There was one man in the ard watching second on. the ladder. The Srroud ma' had just hcgun to come ID when Nr \':ul3 saw him. He placed 'nc foot on Il ruGE ard then stralthily nisrd himself up and listened. then the ,thcr foot and the same caution | A Womnn's Cry of sympathy.
 The justice raised his revolver One 'ung more the man rniscd himself, then | lnOlucT, ulllll nt SltNu illiuNHh up lI( | adder.
 As he raised himself the last time the uSticr'S revolver came deliberately down | a a level. A flash lit up the darkness, md the report woke up the dwcllrrS of ] he nrirhborhund. The man fell from the adder, and close upon the report was lrard his cry:
 "Oh, I'm shot I'm shot in the Stom- lch!"
 Then the Strangcst thing happened. Out >f tho darkness camc a woman'S voice, ull of a-;ony and pity, rXclaiming:
 "Oh, I'm so sorry you rr shot!
 The wounded mans companion had l!>appvarrd. and he crawlcd over the fence ntn an adjoining yard and escaped. St ar as can be learned thrrc was no show ,f a pursuit Justice Nirnll won't admit l. but his nrighhors declare that tho voice If the woman came from his house. They Ilso heard the shot, the cry of tho wound d man and the sound of his retreat.
 Who Was Justice Nicull'S early morning 'isjtur: Who was the woman who sym ,athized so krrnly with him: These ar, questions that are being asked in the vii age Mir. NiColl, if he knows, will not say Ic simply admits having fired a shot; tha
 S all.
 Fast Time of n Steamer. | EALTINOEE Ausr 20 "A tahlrurom m