The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-23

Gave Him Away-his Story.
Can you tell me where can find
| building in this city, that was formerl
known as the 'Iron-Clad?' was the quef
| ton which was asked nackman at tn
Santa Fe depot yesterday morning, b
| a man whose once raven locks weg
streaked with gray.
The man had been walking up an
down the platform for some minutes be
fore he ventured TO ask any questions
1t was noticed that his walk was con
fined to a short distance, about fifteel
feet in length, and that he invariabl,
turned on his heel when this distanc'
was reached. That peculiar step tolC
a tale palmer than words. 1t was evi
dent that the man had spent some tim,
in confinement, and the length of nj
step, marked what had been the length
of his cell. He had no thought of thost
about him, but was apparently lost IL
deep study. Who is the man and wha
can be preying upon his mind? was tht
thought that passed through the minC
of the hack drivers, as they waited
ABOUT the depot to see if they could no
pick up a stray passenger, and thus
end their all-night work with fresf
passenger before turning in" 1t is said
that next to woman a hack driver i:
the most inquisitive biped that pre-.
ambulates the streets.
The man stopped suddenly in his walk
and with a tell-tale blush on his face
stepped up TO Doc Root and PROFOUND
ed the question given above. OF course
Doc knew. He had spent his childhood
days here and was able TO point out al
the old points of interest, including the
exact spot where the old Texas hotel
dance halls. Ida Mays where Winner
and McNutt had killed Silver, and last
but not least, where the old 'Iron-Clad'
stood in all its glory, in the days when
Wichita had more places of resort than
she had churches and school houses like
she has today.
Get in the hack, and I will take you
TO the place" said Doc, at the same time
declaring there was some thing about
the man that looked familiar. Doc
mounted the cab box, and took a man.
mountb chew Of tobacco. Doc was a
little sleepy, but he had determined to
He drove down Douglas
avenue and turned north on Water
street and stopped on the east side in
the first block.
When he stopped and opened the door
OF his cab he informed the passenger
that this was the place. The passen-
ger got out. drew forth his pocket-book
and handed the hack driver his fare, re-
him TO wait, as he only wanted
TO stop a minute. For five minutes the
man looked at the building, as one lost
in a dream.
THAT was a case of poor dog Tray. 1
was the dog, and have paid the penal
ty. II ever l can give a boy advice it
will be short and simply this Keep
out of bad company
Doc had intended to turn in" but
from the yew words dropped by the
stranger. and also from the impression
that he knew the man, and also that the
short, quick walk of the man on the
platform had convinced him that there
was an interesting story and he could
not sleep until he had unraveled the
mystery. The story Of the man ran as
"On May 3, 1882, George r. Behn, a
Mexican. was shot and killed in that
house. 1t was at an early hour in the
and soon the house was sur
and all occupants of the build
ing taken into custody. The girl said
a man had come to her door and asked
where the d-n Mexican was, and when
the Mexican jumped to his feet and
reached for his gun the man shot him
iS1u. was 1O ABOUT
the man being killed. He was dead as
4 door nail. Who had killed him. was
the question before the coroner's jury.
When the evidence was given it was
shown that the Mexican and myself
had had words in saloon which stood
IN the corner of Main street and Doug
as avenue, and that l had threatened
70 Kill him. Added to this my revolver
vas minus one load. L had not shot
he man. In fact, did not even know
hat the fellow was in Wichita
Il was arrested and thrown in jaIl
Ind in November that year l was tried
before Judge Torrance. l was defend
ID by Attorneys Baldwin and Fisher.
who worked hard for me. / knew the
awyers believed my story, but if 1 was
where was the criminal? The
,ase went TO the jury and verdict was
against me and twenty years
n the penitentiary was the sentence.
Think of man who had left his
lome in Pennsylvania. but two years
previous full of hope and ambition.
irifted with the tide to Texas, and soon
ell in with the custom of the country.
At first could not think of drinking or
to say nothing of visiting
houses or i'll repute. BY associat ton /
Don grew careless of these whimsical
lotions, as the boys called them. | at
lrst made money, and in fact when 1
vas arrested / was getting into good
Before / had left home
had given my love 10 the daughter of
. neishbor OF my family. and that affec-
ion was still there. / expected to re-
urn home that very fall and get the
ady TO whom l had pledged my faith.
les, there was home already partly
aid for at El Paso, Tex, and / looked
Onward TO the happy time when / would
e the head Of household.
All might have been we'll had I not
ommenced drinking that night. When
was sober / never visited such places.
ut when craZed with liquor / was led
stray. Unfortunately the Mexican
nd myself had met and had words in
ublic place and were both arrested
nd fined. The trouble originated be-
ween US in reference. 70 cattle. and
hen ne was drinking he was especially |
nensiVe TO me-
When was found guilty by the jury |
Judge Terrence on motion OF my at
'rneys reduced my sentence to fifteen /
ears and by credit marks for good be- |
avtor l was released Sunday morning.
had little money left outside Of the /
-reck outside OF what the trial had cost. \
) hen in jail I met and old friend who I
wore that he would guard my interest |
nd inform my family and friends that /
had been killed by the accidental dis
lsrg OF gun Also that il would be /
npossible for my body 10 be shipped
nus during all the time / was c1nfin-
in jail al Wichita | was dead 20 nv |
Imily and have remained 50 ever since I
here was one thing in my favor. and
lat was / had not been tried by my |
ght name. and my family could never
arm my condition. The name / was
led under was Orin Thrope
From that one nights visit and the
lreless habits. had lost all and every
ing. ] am dead 20 all but a few tried
I'd trusted friends al FL Paso. Tex.
I'd 1 viii SO there and probably begin |
e anew. viii leave Wichita tonight
ii while have nothing hard against