Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-03-19

dlcted 10 the use OF liquor, and on the
night O. the murder he left home, prom
Using u return early, AT Schweigck-
bordts saloon he met a congenial
crowd. There he imbibed freely and
discussed the events Of the day, and,
incidentally, "hoss" flesh. Finally ID
struck him that he had promised to 30
home early and, like Rip Van Wrinkle,
not counting this one, he steered for
home
AT the northwest corner Of the square,
near the Mount Pulaski house, he met
three men, who, so the story goes-a
travelling man accidentally overhear-
ing them--oifered to sell him horse,
He did not want a horse. lie had
enough horses. But they wanted him
to look at 1t, anyway. He protested he
was going home. They insisted on his
going to look at the horse. lie went,
and that Is the last that Is known in
thie life Of Colonel Whitaker,
The next morning his body was dis
covered in the south part of town,
where the electric light plant is now
situated, There were finger marks on
his throat, cut on his head and the
ground showed evidences of struggle
His pockets were turned wrong side out
His valuables and money, Of which he
was always supposed to carry good
deal were gone, with the exception Of
a single $40 gold piece in his inside vest
pocket, which the thieves had over
looked.
Justice was not very swift in those
days in Logan county despite the fact
that some of the greatest lawyers the
world has ever known practiced before
her courts. Arrests were made, but no
one was convicted. Eventually the
murder was forgotten, save by his fam
lily
On Friday evening of last week a
young man suggested to II. f. Lush
baugh that he had heard that the old
Whitaker house was haunted, and
agreed If Mr.. Lushbaugh would ac-
company him to the old house he would
enter 1t.
The merchant assented, and while
his young friend went to supper he Sc
cured the assistance Of Otto Christmann
and his son, Murray Lushbaugh, He
directed them to retire to the old house
and when he and his companion came
to raise great din.
Murray Lushbaugh, who is somewhat
Of genius, painted canvas with
black background and a white skeleton
upon it. Mr. Lushbaugh, as superin-
tendent Of ghosts, and Mr.. Christmann,
as chief of calcium, flashed wierd lights
behind the canvas in front Of the dark
windows They combined their eff
forts with clubs to make the most UNI
earthly noises. In the meantime Muir
ray Lushbaugh mingled with the crowd,
apparently as much interested as the
most superstitious
While these men were doing their
ghost dance and mystifying the people
who collected about the house, a grim
figure suddenly passed through the
crowd, rushed straight up the pathway
and seemingly passed through the
blood-red walls of the house.
The calcium lights went out, weird
blue flashes appeared running around
the castings of the windows and ter
rife report was heard. 1t reminded the
people of thunder, but the skies were
clear and the moon seemed to be laugh
ing at the discontinue of the iolers.
From out the house with flying feet
and horizontal coattails rushed the
conspirators. They bore swiftly down
upon the audience" but mingled not,
for the audience had melted even as the
snow gives way to the eager sun. AS
the last man departed he saw the stall
wart figure of Colonel Whitaker in the
open window. Blue lights illuminated