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

In 1s- / was first mate of the Monico,
one of the Red Ring line, and then one
of the best going boats in the Atlantic
service.
/ had run across (while the ship was
in dock) from Liverpool to my home
near Doncaster to see my sister Patty,
before her marriage. She was engaged
70 young lieutenant of the name of
Rupert Rowling, the nephew and heir
of old Jonathan Rowling, wealthy,
eccentric country squire in Yorkshire,
and it was not only good match for
her, but Rupert, whom l had known
from childhood-we were at school to-
most genuine fellows you'd find in
days walk.
When l arrived at Doncaster was
surprised to find. things all in an
uproar. Old Rowling had, it seemed,
taken some offense at an inno-
cent but misunderstood remark of
Rupert's, and had flown into terrible
passion, swearing he would disinherit
him. Rupert, who was 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
forbidding him to ever show his face
there again. That was on Thursday, a
fortnight before my visit.
On the evening of the quarrel Rupert
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
~ been shot in the back by some one,
the bullet having penetrated to the
heart and killed him instantly; and
on a 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 taken place many hours before the
body was 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 ascertained Ru
pert's movements, which showed thai
he had called on Patty, as have stated
and that he caught the next express fol
London, the time between his leaving
Patty and the starting of the train Civ
ing him plenty of opportunity to com
NIT the crime had he been so minded
and, moreover, his road from my sis
ter's to the station took him alongside
the plantation in which his uncle's
body was found.
The London detectives were put t.
work, and they ascertained that Ruper
had revolver of the same caliber a!
the shot found in old Rowling's corpse
and the upshot was that he was ar
rested and brought before the magis
trates at Doncaster.
The assizes were just approaching
and, when l arrived on the scene, Ru
pert stood committed for trial on thu
charge of numbering his uncle.
could do nothing to help him, but
went to the assize town and saw him il
prison. He denied all knowledge o
the crime, swearing to me that he wa
absolutely innocent. l believed him
but the evidence was overwhelming
The station master at Doncaster spolx
Of Rupert's rushing into the station i
great furry, and looking very upset
and the revolver, which he admitted h
had used for some days, had one chan
Der empty. Many other things, trivial i
themselves, but awfully black when pu
together, were brought out at the tria
and before left had heard him foun
guilty by the jury and sentenced t
death by the judge. 1t all seemed lils
CHASTITY dream.
l was Que TO return to my ship, til
( Monico. and babe Rupert good.by.