Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-12-12

Stimulation of Insanity That Became
Real-A Murderer Meets Fate
Worse Than What He Sought to Es-
cape.
Conducted by the assistant taller,
Hartley climbed the iron stairway ard
walked down the cemented corridor I'M
til he reached the door of the clients
cell. Then, after a look which meant
good afternoon" to the official with
three big keys, he drew up the chair
which had been left for such purposes
in the corridor and spoke to the dark
space of the cells interior A low laugh.
mirthless and dry, came from the far
thermost recess, and after a time a man
shanbled cut into the borrowed, bari
filtered light, which came stingily from
the world beyond the heavy walls
well, Harry said Hartley, i've
come. Did you miss me?'
The man beyond the bars laughed
again and clapped his hands together
like one applauding. The light which
now fell upon his face showed it as
wearing blank look. The eyes were
wide and white, and they roved about
the walls and upper bars of the cell in
vagrant way.
1--WE been away for three weeks"
said Hartley. But I've been at work
on the case all the time. The court is
sued a call for a special panel this
morning, and they'll take it up Monday
by the furthest."
The prisoner laughed again-a cack-
ling laugh that meant neither Joy nor
amusement
Come nearer, Harry" Hartley COM
! manded in a low tone
The man drew near to the bars.
The attorney bent closer.
Harry" he said; you've got to trust
me. Listen to me- There's nobody in
tie corridor and the other two solitar-
les are empty There's nobody within
the sound of my voice or yours. Do
you understand that? All, you're laugh
ing again. Listen to me. Listen, l tell
you. Don't you know that as your at
torney I'm bound by every pledge of
lonor to protect you, however guilty
your secret? Don't you know that you
must-eenfide in me if you expect me to
work hopefully for your acquttal?
Don't laugh, tell you. I want you to
talk to me. l want you to be trustful
for once. | want you to tell me the
truth. I want you to tell me why you
killed him. This appearance of insan-
ity may deceive your jailers and it NAV
later confuse the jury, but you must be
open and frank with me. Tell me the
story. If you don't
The prisoner leaned downward till
their faces were almost level and but
the inch of iron separated them Then
he uttered that low, dry, cherries
laugh.
IF you don't" Hartley said once
more
The hard laugh sprung up again.
I'LL tell it to you
The sound suddenly ceased and
quick look Of intelligence came into
the wild eyes. But in moment the
lustre died out of them and the prisoner
chuckled once more
"I'll tell you the story" Hartley re-
peated. What DO you think I've been
doing during all these three weeks Of
my absence? Go on and glare vacant
ly if you want to, Harry. Perhaps it'll
do no harm: but it'll do no good.
There's nobody here to see you but me.
and nobody to hear your voice Lis
ten! I've been studying day and night
I've been inquiring into the secrets of
the books that tell of insanity. I've
gone into the three great divisions of
ldiocy, 6ementia and mania, and I've
probed to the bottom. And, Harry
Keene, you're no more insane than l
am this minute. Why won't you be
candid with me? Why won't you help
me to make up clear defense? Why.
we may even rely on this theory of
mental disorder and after I have left
the Jail you may proceed with your
manifestations, but while I'm here
want you to be fair with me. You
won't? Well, then. listen to the story
II the murder of Finley Hedges. It's
the story of your assassination of your
friend. It's the story of the most re-
nlarkable, the most mysterious case
that ever came up for hearing in this
dStrict.
know why you determined to kill
- ! know that Tor weeks before