Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-05-28
WHEN VIRTUE LOST.
4 S1oRYTo PROVE THAT RIGHT DOES
NOT ALWAYS COME UPPERMosT.


A Remarkable Tale Of Love and Tragedy
In n Southern Town-The Fatal Work
of Two Bullets Fired by Enraged Rivals.
The End of Foolish Girl.
A Star reporter was one Of group in
a hotel lobby the other evening and a
New York drummer had just finished
story on the old line of virtue triumph
ing and the villain Of the plot getting
his just dues this side of the hot place,
when Kentucky congressman took the
floor.
"That sort Of thing" he said, sis
we'll enough in books and on the stage
and am willing to agree that it hap
pens in actual life, but not always. Let
me cite an instance to the contrary"
There being no objection to the cita-
tion, the Kentuckian, after casting his
eye over the company, proceeded:
"Years ago, in southern town." he
said, "there lived a pretty girl with
lot of money-a combination no man can
deny the power of-and she had sweet.
hearts galore, but two Of her devotees,
one quite reputable man and the other
quite as disreputable, and after her more
for her money than herself, led all the
rest, and both of them were nervy men
and quick on the trigger. Any sensible
person would have thought that the girl
would have decided very early as be-
tween the good and the bad, but every
one knows that women don't do that
way in matters Of the heart.
II will say for her, though, that her
preferences were for the decent man and
he stood the best chance Of winning
among all Of the contestants. His dis
reputable rival, however, received more
or less encouragement and he was max
ing hot fight-so hot, in fact, that on
to blows and once, at least, pistols had
been drawn. The girl was foolish, as
other women have been under like cir
cumstances. and rather enjoyed the po.
sition she occupied. and felt flattered by
the dangerous rivalry for her hand and
heart. One day, though, it eliminated
tragically, and the girl didn't regret it,
that anybody ever heard her mention. 1t
was In the afternoon and a pleasant day
and the two rivals met unexpectedly,
Just across the street from her house,
and each on his way to call on her.
1.-THE girl lived on corner and they
were approaching from different streets
and almost butted into each other at the
crossing. That was hardly the place to
have it out, but they were hot blooded
aud young and on the instant two men
jumped back from each other few feet,
two pistols few from two hip pockets,
two sharp reports rang out upon the
air, and one man fell to the sidewalk,
dead. And it wasn't the bad man,
either. On the contrary, it was the repu-
table one, and there was bullet hole
straight through his forehead. The bad
mans shot had preceded the other just
enough, and the decent mans pistol
went off as he threw up his hands. Five
minutes later the whole street was in ar
uproar, and the bad man was in custody.
The other man was carried over to the
girls house, for it was not known ther
that he was dead, and physician was
called. Half an hour later the dead body
was removed to an undertaker's, and
that part Of the tragedy was over.
During all the excitement, the gir
had not made her appearance, and a!
soon as the air quieted little searcl
was made for her, because it was know
that she had been in the house shortly
before the shooting. Her mother wen
directly to her room, and when sht
opened the door, she saw her daughte
sitting at the window, or rather leaning
upon flower shelf on the window sill
and her first thought was that the gir
had seen the shooting and had tainted
She ran to her and lifted her up and a
she did SO she found her face bloody ant
the girls body almost stiff. She ran
screaming, out, and when the docto
came he found dead girl with bullet
hole in her head.
Further examination showed hol
in the glass of the window, and tn
whole story was told. The girl had beer
sitting there, and had no doubt seen tn
meeting Of the two men, and the bulle
from the killed man s pistol had reached
her there and ended her life at the sam
time the life of the man she would hav
married went out. Of course it was sci
defense in the case Of the man VIII
escaped his rivals bullet, and it wa
the rivals bullet which killed the girl
and the rival was beyond any earthl.
jurisdiction. The affair ended there
with nothing good in triumph, except
public sentiment which compelled tn
killer TO stay away from the town fo
y five or six years. -
! Didn't he even meet violent deaf
or something like that?" inquired til
drummer, thirsting for some trace G
the usual in the tale"
'No," replied the Kentuckian, enc
even that His uncle died and left hir
fine farm, and he found a very mic
girl who was willing to marry him"
Tne drummer signed and didn't one
to cap the Kentuckian's story with
better one. Washington Star.