Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-11-29

parents was deep before, it was now
unbearable. With his father it be-
came Il thirst for vengeance.
To continue this story, suffice is that
autopsy was made and everything
found in order. The brain showed nc
sign OF apoplexy, the heart was sound
AS nut, and really the man, so far as
the doctors could see, had no excuse
for dying, and ought to have been
alive. A chemist, who had to be al
lowed his time, by the wonderful pro-
cesses at his command, detected and
isolated Il quantity of atrOphine, yet
so small he had to give weight to a
doubt. Yet it was enough to show
the cause OF death, and Armitage. ST.,
had vowed that nothing short of the
conviction of the murderer would
satisfy him.
He sent his agent to investigate.
This agent was village doctor, and l
soon bought him over. Yet by no
meens felt secure, for there were the
two assistants, who knew a great deal,
and probably far more than | thought.
Their testimony might place me in an
awkward position. When such OBJ
stacles arise it is best to remove them.
1t is said that spirits of the
dead return, but luckily their evil
dence is not accepted in courts OF law
The first assistant, Gus Howell, l sent
to friend in mountain town,
whom, assured him, would give him
a lucrative place. think he got the
place, for his relatives have been
searching for him ever since, and in
vain. He disappeared, and no one
! can tell how or where.
AS for the other, the more danger
Gus because of the brightness of his
observation, Allen Hartwell, l had
discharged him in anger, and hence
had no personal hold on him. He
was the only support of his mother,
and was shortly to be married to fine
young lady, who had charge of ward
in the asylum.
/ | hesitated, will acknowledge, bu,
| was in such position that he or
must die. AS anyone else would have
done, | concluded to save myself.
Not to dwell on this point, he was
stopped on the street one evening in q
lonely place, thrown down, and after a
desperate struggle had his chest
pressed upon until insensible, but be-
fore the final moment some chloral
was turned into his mouth, to lead
to the conclusion that he died from
an excessive use of that drug, and
such was the certified statement of the
Superintendent.
was at last free from danger, anC
my secret was known only to myself
Mrs. Armitage had returned from hel
unpleasant Eastern journey, and VT
celebrated the event by a long bicycle
jaunt. Now that the way was clear
somehow the prospect ceased to be in
viting. Suspicion had been aroused
and our marriage would be an afilrma
ton Of all the stories silly tongues haC
repeated. We could not marry, anC
our love was deeply tainted with guilt
l was not happy, and she reproved mt
for it in her purring way. l excused
myself by saying | was thinking of the
troubles she had borne and expressed
a wish that her future would be al
bright as a summer day; but our re
turn was silent for lovers who had 81
much in common. Again | fount
that the best plans have flaw some
where, and mine had just this one
that of the two men whom l employe,
to waylay the assistant. One OF then
had what is called conscience ant
loved money. Armitage's father, find
ing himself baffied in the direct pur
suit, cunningly sought a flankinl
movement. He offered q heavy re
ward for the murderers of the assist
ant. His idea was to secure one o
more of these and induce them to con
fess and thereby crminate me.
1t was shrewd plan and worke
} well. | can't blame the old man, fo
the authorities used him shamefully
1t was made political capital, and wit
the incumbent party in power, ther
was no hope of justice. l held tn
whip over the superintendent, for h
had been, to my knowledge, guilty {
criminal practice within the walls {
; the asylum, and l compelled him I
: whitewash the charges against m,
and to withstand dischsrging me b
the threat of exposure.
The reward, or bribe, proved efiect
, i've, for in a months time one of til
: towards wrote that he would tell a
l he knew if he was assured of the r,
ward and light sentence. lie wi
: messed the deed, but did not iniii'
4 death. "All he knew" convicted II
e of the murder, and chain of circun
i stantial evidence led to the certaint
d OF my connection with the death
4 Joe Armitage.
t The horrible anxiety of the trial
r over, and now that it is finished
" breathe freer, and strange to say, a
3 more at rest and content than l ha