The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-23
IN FIVE ACTS.
The Drama Of Moss' Misforturss Ends
IN "a Tragedy.

The Drama Of Moss' Misfortupss Ends
IN "A Tragedy.
San Jacinto Searchlight: This Ia
queer world, and man is CD animal fear-
fully and wonderfully made. ii you
don't believe it, consider this little
drama that has just been played to ita
tEagioal end in our sister town Of Perris;
Act 1.--Mrs. Rowley was soldief's
widow, fat and comfortable, middle
aged, who dwelt upon her ranch near
Perria in peace and good will toward
men. She was we'll fixed. with regular
pension of SIP per month and q nest egg
of several thousand dollars in bonds
besides. Her daughter had died and
she lived alone. Perhaps her heart
pinned for cOmpanionship. Who kpows
what romantic dreams crossed her mind?
Act "A tramp came to the widow
coy house one day couple of years
ago. He ross upon tho horizon Of the
Perris plain, coming from no one knows
where and going nobody can tell
whittier. He was not handsome tramp,
even es tramps 60. He was over 40
years old, skinny and hsly. and had a
very game leg. But MIRA, Rowley made
allowance for his looks, probably re-
flecting that beauty is only ekin desp.
and to her eyes he seemed to have been
fair. At oil events she took the stranger
in. His name wes Charles J. Moss. and
henceforth they dwelt together. They
drew tho pension regularly and Moss
managed the widows business. The
years rolled on at Ferris and also at
osher plsces.
Act 8 -Last Monday the loving widow
had Noes arrested for embezzlement.
Shs had discovered that in managing
her business he had looked out for
number one, and that he had in some
way got away with several thousand
dollars of her money. The trial was
held at Riverside before Justice Mile,
tho newly elected citizena' candidate.
Judge Grove, the district attorney,
prosecuted Nose Lawyer Adair defend
ed him. The trial was highly sensa-
tional. Noes was bound over for action
to the superior court, with bail fixed at
$4,000.
Act 4.-Moss started for Perris with
Constable Metz to find bond. He was
overtaken at Box springs by Capt. John
/ poA UoPu@JS G~Sys WAO "ss"'tS@ s~AS
team for Mrs. Rowley, They all came
back and Moss made new start for
Perris on the train. Tho widow Htay cd
in Riverside.
Act 5.-Moss had trouble in getting
bond. In fact, he couldn't get any.
| People turned the cold shoulder to him.
| The constable had him in charge. The
penitentisry doomed up before him. The
widow was present in his thoughts. He
wss getting old, He WAS not handsome.
! What had the world in store lor him
Poor, old, swindling. abandoned wretch !
He went home with the constable and
was put TO eleep in room with the win
dow nailed down and the door fastened.
He had bottle OF stychnine and ana
other of chloroform. Perhaps he had
these poisons in readiness for this last act
in his tragedy; perhaps he had intended
to kill the widow when he had her prop.
erty all juggled into his own hands
| Who knows? He wrote two letters,
abusing the widow and bidding the
world good by. He took dose Of
strychuins and soaked the handker-
| chief in chloroform to use in deadening
bis last agonies. He died.
When the widow heard of it she said
she was glad and che went back to take
possession of her ranch.
You may draw your own morals and
do your own thinking about this sffsir
IL is strange story OF human nature
IL is not fiattering to the race, but it il
| true and happened this week.