The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-29
A NARROW MARGIN.

Story Of . Man Who Stood On . slippery
Place and Was Saved.
Were you ever suspected Of muir.
der?" inquired a government official Of
q reporter.
Never" responded the reporter, as
calmly a. If questions of that character
were his daily food
"Weu, 1 was once. and if you have
my feelings at all you need never want
to be-"
Tho reporter nodded for the official
10 proceed and the official proceeded.
when was about 20 or there
abouts," he said, 81 was hard case. I
don't know why, because my family
were decent people and had some mon
ey; but Somehow 1 few the track and be-
fore 1 had attained my majority was
gambler, drunkard, and generally
tough character. though up to the time
Of which l am about to tell I had never
been in the hands of the law. Living
IN my neighborhood was man whom
hadn't much use for. and it WIS
known we were not friends, though we
were on speaking terms and had sorue
business relations. Our town was about
three miles from the railroad station,
and ons November evening just about
sunset, as 1 was coming to town afoot,
met him walking to the station.
HE stopped me, much TO my surprise,
and asked me if had any money, be-
cause If I had he would sell me his
watch for almost nothing, as he was go
ing TO the city unexpectedly and need
ed cash. As it happened had two ten
dollar bills and shree hves, which re-
ceived from tho $tstion agent not an
hour before, and - the mans watch
was good gold one thought I had a
chance to turn an honest penny-sorae-
thing I didn't do very often. So l
opened negotiations. Several persons
We knew passed US as we were decker
ing, and at last went on home with the
watch and be went 10 the station with
e25. including SO bill with the sta
ton agents name on It, il red ink,
which had caused part OF our delay
In the trade, al he didn't want II and
insisted that he take it.
"As IL turned out be had reason for
not wanting it and can't say why I
was 30 anxious for him 10 take il. Well.
next day the mans dead body was
found in the woods quite near the sta
ton. and E mile from where we had met
and made our trade. and 1t was evident
that he had been robbed, fer his pockets
were turned inside out and every thing
taken. NY connection with the matter
did not strike me until the day after,
and / was arrested Oh suspicion was
20 badly ratified By the shock Of an ar
rest on such a charge that / made ny
case worse by talking, and when the
mans watch wes found % me ana II
was known tina. had been treating
the crowd the night Of the murder,
hadn't any show at all.
"Of course I protested my Innocence
and told nv story. but people took II
with little grace, FOR nv character was
known. and after an examining triai
was JAILED without bail. What l SUI
fered nobody except myself can know,
and before q week had passed 1 had
made up nv mind 20 commit snscide
and end the whole thing. ] am sure I
would have done 50. but providence had
something else IL store FOR me- and sert
II BY stranger. This man vas arrested
Is drunk and diSo-deriy ten days after
nv arrest, and when be was searched IN
the station house SO bill was found
CT him bearing the station agents
name.
The Officer who searched hin was .
friend. OF uipe. and as soon IS ae 70;