The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-08
Select Storp.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
From the London Tit Bits.

In lS- I was first mate OF the Monoco,
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 to
young lieutenant named 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 |
had known from childhood-we were at
school together-was one of the hcartlest
and most genuine fellows you d find in a
day walk.
When I arrived at Doncaster, | was
surprised to find things all in an uproar
Old Rowling had, it seemed, taken some
offense at an innocent but misunderstood
remark of Rupert and had flown into
terrible passion, swearing he would disin-
herit him. Rupert, who was high spir-
tied young chap, gave the old man bit
of his mind, and they had a violent quar-
rel. which ended in Mr. Rowling turning
his nephew out of the house and forbid
ding him ever to show his face there again.
That was on Thursday, fortnight be-
fore 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 post
pone 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) everybody
was startled at hearing that old Jonathan
Rowling had been found dead in planta
ton on his estate. He was lying face
downward and had evidently been shot in
the back by some one, the bullet having
penetrated to the heart and killed him in
stantly. and on a medical examination it
was ascertained that the murder, for such
it 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 pub
lie property and suspicion at once pointed
to Rupert as the probable culprit. The
police soon ascertained Rupert's move
ments. which showed that he had called
on Patty. as | have stated, and that he
caught the next express to London, the
time between his leaving Patty and the
starting of the train giving him plenty OF
opportunity to commit the crime had he
been so minded, and, moreover, his road
from my sisters to the station took him
alongside the plantation in which his un-
cles body was found.
The London detectives were put to work,
and they ascertained that Rupert had
revolver of the same caliber as the shot
found in old Rowling's corpse, and the
upshot was that he was arrested andbrought
before the magistrates at Doncaster.
The assizes were just approaching, and
when | arrived on the scene Rupert stood
committed for trial on the charge of muir
dering his uncle.
could do nothing to help him, but |
went to the assize town and saw him in
prison. He denied all knowledge of the
crime, swearing to me that he was abso-
lutely innocent. | believed him, but the
evidence was overwhelming. The station
master at Doncaster spoke of Rupert $
rushing into the station in great furry
and looking very upset, and the revolver,
which he admitted he had not used for
some days, had one chamber empty.
Many other things, trivial in themselves,
but awfully black when put together, were
brought out at the trial, and before | left
| had heard him found guilty by the jury
and sentenced to death by the judge. 1t
all seemed like ghastly dream.
l was due to return to my ship, the
Moxico, aud bade Rupert good-by. l
don t mind telling you that sobbed like
child. | shouldn't have felt it so if |
could have done anything even to try to
help him, but | was perfectly powerless
My sister of course was in a terrible
way, and l hardly liked leaving her, but
my whole future depended on keeping my
position in the Red Ring line, so wrenehed
myself away and was on board the Mouico
the next morning
We sailed the following day, which was
| Wednesday, and the last thing | heard