The Van Buren press., 1895-12-21
A RACE I0R A LIFE.

In IS Twas first mateof the Monico,
one of the Eed Ring line. and then one
of the best going boats in the Atlantic
service.
| had run across twhile the ship was
in doeb) from Liverpool to my home
near Doncaster to see my sister Patty,
before her marriage. She was engaged
to a young lieutenant of the name of
Rupert Rowling, the nephew and heir
OF old Jonathan Rowling. wealthy,
ecentric country squire in Yorkshire,
and it Vas not only good match for
her. but Rupert. whom | had known
from ehildhood-we were al school to-
gether-was one of the heartiest and
most genuine fellows you'd find in a
days walk
When | arrived at Doneaster | was
surprised to find things all in an
uproar. Old Rowling had, il seemed,
taken some offense at an inno-
cent but misunderstood remark OF
Rupert's. aud had flown into terrible
passion, swearing he would disinherit
him. Rupert, who was a high-spirited
young chap. gave the old man bit of
his mind, and they had violent quar-
rel, which ended in Mr., Rowling turn
ing his nephew out of the house and
forbdding him to ever show his face
there again. That was on Thursday, u
fortnight before my visit.
I'm tha aVapincr af tho ,,,,a,ral D,,,o,t
called on my sister and told her of what
had taken place, and they agreed to
postpone the wedding for the present.
he then left, as he stated, for London,
Where he was due to join his regiment
on the following Saturday.
The next morning (Friday) every
body was startled at hearing that old
Jonathan Rowling had been found dead
in plantation on his estate. He was
lying face downward, and had evident
ly been shot in the back by some one
the bullet having penetrated to the
heart and killed him instantly; and,
on medical examination, it was ascer-
tanned that the murder-for such il
doubtless was-must have been COM
mitted on the previous night, for death
had saken place many hours before the
body i@as found.
The fact of the quarrel between the
deceased and his nephew was already
public property, and suspicion at once
pointed to Rupert as the probable cui-
prit. The police soon aseertained Ru-
pcrt's movements, which showed that
he had called on Patty, us have stated.
and that he caught the next express for
London, the time between his leaving
Patty and the starting of the train Civ
ing him plenty of opportunity TO com
init the crime had he been so minded
and. moreover, his road from my Sis
ter's 10 the station took him alongside
the plantation in which his uncle 5
body Was found.
The London detectives were put tc
work. and they ascertained that Rupert
had u revolver of the same caiiber as
the shot found in old Row ling's corpse
and the upshot was that he was ar.
rested and brought before the magis-
tIates at Doncaster.
The assizes were just approaching
md, when | arrived ON the scene, Ru.
pert stood committed for trial on the
charge of numbering his uncle.
! could de nothing TO help him. but /
went to the assize town and saw him in
prison. He denied all knowledge OF
the crime. swearing to me that he was
absolutely innocent. | believed him.
but the evidence was Overwhelming.
The station master at Doneaster spoke
of Rupert's rushing into the station in
great furry, and looking very upset /;
and the revolver, which he admitted he
had used for some days, had one cham
Der empty. Many other things. trivial in
themselves. but awfully black when nut
together, were brought out at the trial.
and before 1 left had heard him found
guilty by the jury and sentenced TO
death by the judge. 1t all seemed like
u CHASTITY dream.
was due to return to nv shin. the
Monieo, and l bade Rupert good-by. |
don't mind telling you that sobbed
like child. I shouldn't have felt it so
il could have done anything, even to
try aud help him, bat was perfectly
powerless.
My sister, OF coarse, was in a terrible
way, and l hardly liked leaving her, but
my whole future depended on my keep
ing my position in the Red Ring line.
so | wrenched myself away aud was
on board the Monieo the next morning.
We sailed the following day. which
was Wednesday. and the last thing
j heard before leaving Liverpool was
that poor Rupert's execution had been
liked for Thursday in the next week.