Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-05

ike v cHllu. DuOuluu uhse Icit IL 30
if could have done anything, even to
try and help him, but was perfectly
powerless.
My sister, of course, was in a terrible
way, and hardly liked leaving her, but
my whole future depended on my keep
ing my position in the Red Ring line,
SO l wrenched myself away and was
on board the Monico the next morning.
We sailed the following day, which
was Wednesday, and the last thing
l heard before leaving Liverpool was
that poor Rupert's execution had been
fixed for Thursday in the next week.
We had a heavy cargo of goods and
a lot of passengers; but, tell you, my
heart seemed heavier when we started
passengers and all.
The Monico was considered fast YES
sci at that time. She generally took
just over seven days to do the passage,
and we were due in New York on the
Wednesday evening before Rupert's
execution.
Everything went well till the Monday
passengers, man of the name of
Charles Cappermole, fell down hatch
way, breaking his back and receiving
internal injuries, from which the doc
tor said he was bound to die within
four or five hours. 1t was very sad, of
course, but couldn't be helped, and
although anything of the sort puts a
gloom over the ship, l was too much
engrossed in my own trouble to think
much of it. But just after one bell
(6:30 o'clock the captain came to me.
"Sparton," he said, you were telling
me about the trouble your sisters
fiance had got into. It's a most ex-
traordinary thing, but this man, Cap
permole, has been telling the doctor
a tale about his having shot his fathers
landlord in Yorkshire, and that he be-
lieves this accident is judgment on
him. / have seen him, and he says the
nams of the man he murdered was
Rowling, which is the name you men
toned, think, and if you will come
with me to the hospital, where the poor
wretch is lying, you can hear his yarn
for yourself"
l was thunder-struck. l got the
third officer to take my place for short
time, aud hurried Off to the side of the
injured man.
His statement was somewhat ram
bling, but with the help of clergyman,
who was passenger, we reduced it to
writing in a tangible shape, and it
was about something like this:
II, Charles Cappermole, lately resid-
ing at Martens Hole, near Doncaster,
Yorkshire, but now a passenger on
board the steamship Monico Capt.
Marner) in mid-Atlantic, having met
with an accident by falling down
hatchway, and being, as well know,
within short time of death, do make
this solemn statement and declare the
same to be true, so help me God.
Il am farm laborer, and until re-
Gently was living with my father and
mother at Martens Hole, where my
father rented small farm under Mr..
Jonathan Rowling. The same farm has
been in the possession of my father
all his life, and of his father before him,
and it waoour whole living.
"Mr. Jonathan Rowling had disagree
ment with my father last year but one,
just before Michaelmas, about some
hedges which he insisted my father
should renew, but which had always
been replanted before that time at the
expense of the landlord. My father re-
fused to replant them at his own eX"
pense, and Mr.. Rowling gave him notice
to quit, which expired at Michaelmas
last, and he subsequently turned my
parents and myself out of the farm
in the middle of winter.
"My mother was in a very feeble and
delicate state of health, and the evic-
ton caused her death, and my father,
| being broken-hearted and ruined, was
compelled to go into the workhouse,
II determined to emigrate to Amer.
| lea, end, with the assistance of a benev-
| olent society, obtained my passage
| money and outfit and enough cash III
my pocket to prevent my being turned
back as pauper on landing in the
United States. booked my passage Oh
the steamship Monico, but before start
ing on the voyage saw my father in
the worllhouse. His misfortunes had
SO shattered him that he was dying
and, exasperated and filled with indig.
nation, determined to be avenged on
Mr.. Rowling, who had been the cause
of my mothers and my fathers deaths
and my ruin and emigration.
81 had bought q revolver to take with
me, and, tramping to Doncaster, laid
in wait for Mr.. Rowling on the evening
of Thursday, the Gath of May last.
knew that it was his habit to wall
through the plantation, which adjoin'
a lane called Dank's lane, every nigh
between eight and nine o'clock-hi!
purpose being to see if any rabbit
snares had been laid by poachers-ant
| hid myself behind some bushes in
this plantation, close to the path.
presently heard footsteps, and directly
afterward / saw Mr.. Rowling wall
along close beside where / was hiding
AS soon as he got past me ! stood vi
and, aiming the revolver at him, ! shot
him in the back. He lifted up his arm.
and, with a great cry, fell face forward
dead.