Evening journal., 1895-08-20
A MYSTERY AT BABYLON
Justice Nicoll Fired, and a Voice
Cried Out In the Darkness.
EEIGHBoRs HEARD A WOMAN TOO.
Finding a ladder Against His House. the
Long Island Justice Armed Himself and
Waited-IIo Declares lie Doesn't Know
Just what he Did shoot.


waited-He Declares lie Doesn't Know
Just What He Did Shoot.
BABYLON, N. Y, Aug. so-william &.
Nicoll shot man after midnight and
when the bullet found its mark the
wounded person cried out that he had
boon struck He cried loud enough to
be heard in the house. There was anoth-
er cry, toO--a wOman's-uttercd in SYM
pathy.
Probably Mr.. Nicoll knows from whom
the cries came. Possibly not. He firmly
refuses to discuss the matter, and what
adds to the mystery Of the affair is that a
determined nttompt TO keep it quiet has
been made in all directions.
Mr.. Niooll IS a lawyer Of ability, one of
the town supervisors and a justice Of the
peace. He is a man of unblemished repu-
tation. Some persons believe that an at
tempt was made to rob his house, while
others even 90 so far as TO declare the
man who visited the Nicoll cottage con-
tomplated murder. If Justice Nicoll has
any enemies so bitter as to desire his
death, he has kept the fact secret from his
most intimate friends.
Justice Nicoll lives with his family in a
pretty cottage in CARL avenue, which is a
quiet and comparatively unfrequented
street after nightfall. He was very busy
in his Office with some important matters
last night. Shortly after II o'clock he
laid aside his pen, and carefully putting
up his papers locked the Office and started
on his way home. ,
The walk was not long, and in n few
minutes no was at his gate. As no opened
it something unusual attracted his atton-
tion, and he stood still for few seconds
watching it. A driveway runs along the
side Of the house, and part Of the building
projects over 1t. Justice Nicoll cautious
ly approached this driveway and found a
ladder resting against a window in hall
way on the second floor.
The ladder was one in use about the
place. He looked sharply about him and
made a circuit Of the house, but he saw no
ono.
Secured Revolver.
Justice Nicoll stood in deep thought for
a moment, and then he entered the house.
The members Of the household denied any
knowledge Of the location of the ladder
Then the Justices mind was made up. He
went TO his room, and securing his re-
volver saw that il was in good working
order. Going into the hallway, he took a
seat near the window, revolver in hand,
and waited.
He commanded a good view Of the yard
on that side Of the house. He had worked
very hard at his Office, the night was sui
try, and the quiet of his vigil was favora-
bic to sleep. Two or three times he al
most dozed, but quickly awoke, imagin-
ing he could SEQ figures in the yard, but
he was mistaken. Finally he put his re-
yolver aside within easy reach and sat
back moro comfortably in his chair
He was a light sleeper, and he felt that
he would be awakcnd the instant any one
attempted to ascend the ladder no matter
how stoalthy the intruder was. And SO it
proved. He fell asleep, and It was well
into the morning when he awoie. Tho lad
der family croaked against tho window
SILL There was. somo one on it, slowly
and carefully coming up.
The Justice reached for his revolver and
looked out There was one man in tho
yard watching q second on the ladder
The second man had just begun TO como
up when Mr.. Nicoll saw him. He placed
one foot on a rung and then stealthily
raised himself up and listened, then the
other foot and the same caution
A Womnns Cry of sympathy.
The justice raised his revolver. Ono
INHE AlNAt AAiI AlAtAn ANAnlu AAAAlrNAAf NilIN
another, until he stood midway up the
ladder.
As he raised himself the last time the
justice's revolver came deliberately down
20 a level. A flash lit up the darkness,
and the report woke up the dwellers of
the neighborhood. The man fell from the
ladder, and close upon the report was
heard his cry:
"Oh, I'm shotl I'm shot in the stom-
achr'
Then the strangest thing happened. Out
OF the darkness came woman's voice,
full of agony and pity, exclaiming:
Oh, Pm SO sorry you're shotW
The wounded mans companion had
disappeared, and he crawlod over the fence
into an adjoining yard and escaped So
far as can be learned there was no show
of % pursuit. Justice Nicon won't admit
it, but his noighbors declare that the voice
of the woman came from his house. They
also heard the shot, the cry of the wound
cd man and the sound of his retreat.
Who was Justice Nicoll's early morning
visitorg Who was the woman who SYM
pathizod so keenly with himg These arc
questions that are being asked in the viii
lage. Mr. Nicoll, if he knows, will not say.
HoSimply admits having fired a shot; that
is all.
Fast Time of Steamer.
ar~...,r. 80.