West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-28

burned MS fingers once, ne ulu not pro-
coed TO- extreme measures. Some one
spread the report that had been twice
arrested in Liverpool, and I had a
pretty clear idea as TO where the gossip
started from. Lord Dudley, as soon a.
sending for the police, had offered re-
ward of 81 900 for the arrest aud con-
viction of the murderer. had certainly
been the means of his arrest, and be-
tween Mary Williams and myself the
prosecutor had all the evidence neces-
sary to convict. After had been dis
charged from custody his lordship sent
for me. He received me very kindly,
expressed his qualification that 1 had
come out of the case with flying colors
and referred to the matter of the re-
ward. / refused TO accept a penny of it,
to his great establishment, but later on
] could not well refuse the gold watch.
telescope, chronometer and other gifts
he sent me by his chief steward, together
with his best wishes for my future well
fare.
As Ben johnson was held TO the
assizes, the girl and must be detained
as witnesses; so the chief of police could
not have driven me away if he had set
about it. We had to give bonds. and it
was Lord Dudley himself who furnished
them. 1t so happened, however, that
the term was close at hand, and the
case would be disposed of by the time
the Hindu had been overhauled. This
would let me out of a bad scrape, but
nevertheless Captain CLARK felt it his
duty to growl at me:
Nov, Ralph, you see the conse-
quences of u sailor man idliug about on
land, and hope it will be q warning to
you for the rest of your life
But one must see his old mother
now and them" / protested.
AYE, if she be living within stones
throw of the sea, but otherwise she
must not expect it. The land, Ralph,
was created for corn and trees and
hedges and villains, and no true sailor
who fears God and wants to live an
honest life has any business outside of
a seaport. hope shall get no wicked
ness through this trip up here, but 1
feel shaky. / wouldn't have had it hap
pen for n $40 note"
On his trial in the higher court Ben
Johnson was impudent and defiant and
perfectly reckless as to consequences.
He threatened my life in open court,
and he made determined effort to as
sault his old sweetheart with his fists.
Had he been different man, the Jury
would have dealt more leniently with
him, no doubt There were those who
said that he would only have been pun
ished for attempted robbery. AS it was,
he made everybody around him realize
that he was u desperate and revengeful
man who ought to be put away for life,
and that was his sentence--transporta
ton to the penal colony in Australia for
the term of his natural life.
you'll never get me half way
thereP he shouted when the Judge pro-
nounced sentence. Il warn you, judge,
jury, lawyers, witnesses and all, that
for every week I'm prisoner I'll have
lifep'
They had given him the full extent
and could do no moro, and everybody
felt relieved when it was known that
he was handcuffed and shackled and
chained TO the wall of his cell.
Lord Dudley s sister had come to pre-
aide at the castle, and both were per-
fectly willing to have Mary williams
take her old place. The girl would not
go back. however. With all the gossip
OF the country roundabout, and with the
columns Of stuff printed in the newspa-
pers, she felt disgraced for life and was
anxious TO get out of the country. Her
parents felt the same way, and one day
her father came down to Uncle John
Hampton's inn TO make some inquiries
of me regarding Australia. / had made
three voyages to that country and re-
turn and had picked up smart bit of
information. When had told him all
l could, he said:
Mother and me might stay ON and
live it down, but Mary would grieve
herself to death. She was proved as in
nocent as babe, but she knows she'll
be pointed ont for years to come, and
that certain people will always be fling
ing out, and so we'll pull up stakes and
go"
When Lord Dudley heard of this re-
solve, he called upon Farmer Williams
and paid him a fair price for his land
and stock, and it's my belief that no
also paid the passage OF the three out to
Australia besides. They had only de.
eided on going when returned to Liv-
erpOol and thought had seen the last
Of them, though the thought upset me
more than ] dared admit to myself. To
be honest with you, had fallen in love
with Mary Williams Perhaps the thing
would have come about just the same
had met her at church or ON the high
way, but maybe the circumstance Of our
being arrested and tried together and
OF our interests and dangers being the
same pushed matters along at a faster
pace. BE that as it may, realized that
1 loved her. She was under a cloud,
you see, and one cOuldn' Z reasonably ex-
peot her 20 permit Of any advances Her
love for Ben Johnson had turned 10
gall, sure enough, but that was no help
20 me under the circumstances. I realiz-
cd that was foolish 20 entertain Ger.
tain hopes, and yet / could not drive
them out Of my mind.
lro w q, FrfHUED1
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