The San Francisco call., 1897-03-29

there and Mrs. Forbes took mucn INTEREST
in bringing the hayward ones into the
fold. The ladies who had husbands and
the girls who had sweethearts thought
Mrs. Forbes too zealous; they thought
her--well they didn't like her; they
didn't think she was just the right kind
of person.
Forbes began teaching on October !.
1886. and drew q salary of $50 month
from that time until February l, 1897.
Then he did nothing
His wife left him in December OF last
year to go to her mother in Texarkana,
it was said. She did not go there. how
ever, but is now in Dallas. For awhile
the school teacher essayed to dosh own
housekeeping in the little cottage he had
rented for $5 month. Alter that he
boarded with family in the neigh Dor
hood
At the end of January he found that he
had no pupils. There was feeling"
against the professor, and, as no one
among the school trustees would ven
ture to tell him that he must give up his
position, the parents kept the children at
home and the professors pay stopped.
His last claim for salary in February
was not honored. After that Forbes began
TO formulate plan 10 start business
school. He corresponded with gentle
man Of good standing at Cleburne and the
sors plausible style won the confidence OF
the man who was to be his associate In
the venture.
On the I5 h of March the friends of Pro-
fessor Forbes were at the station at kop-
perl to wish him godspeed. His ticket
had been purchased and his trunks were
checked to Cieburne.
AS he was about to step on the train
strongly built, kind-featured man with a
black beard said. Hold on" Tee pro-
lessor turned round and extended his
hand, thinking friend wished to bid
him good-by.
isn't your name Blanther?" asked the
man, and the handclasp tightened.
Ii ever hope died in guilty m man's heart
to give place to despair, it surely died at
| that moment in Blanther's heart, as he
| realized in flash that that handclasp
| meant d death-that it was the grasp OF
outraged law, and would never relax until
he had paid the penalty of a cold blooded
murder.
There was but little resistance. Homer
Randall, tall, fine-Iooking specimen OF
young Texas manhood, vent to the other
side of Blanther and, as the train pulled
out, the prisoner was formally placed
under arrest as the much-wanted Califor-
MIA murderer.
Blanther's manner after his arrest was
always the same; he was ever polished,
refined and polite.
Those Texan officers were tender
hearted men and, as they told me, they
always felt as though they ought 10 apol-
ogize for the inconvenience they. were
causing their prisoner. They would get
such delicacies at the hotel as they could
obtain tor their involuntary guest. APP
parently Blanther was unconcerned. he
necessarily rolled and smoked cigarettes,
and occasionally wrote.
I found piece of poetrXin his cell; it
was in his own writing. Perhaps i. gave
him comfort. sincerely hope it did.
One day they told B.anther that officers
from California were coming for him.
From that time his equanimity was de-
stroyed; he could not sleep; at every OPP
portunlty he would anxiously ask if the
Californians had come. At one time he
said, II want my witnesses; will not go
without my witnesses"
On Saturday, the 21st, he was told that
the officers were expected from California
the next day. That night at about IL
O'Clock he was seen by fellow prisoner
TO put something from piece Of paper
into his mouth and then take drink of
water. He said to one of them, .'You'Ii
not keep me awake tonight with your
nolse."
At about o'clock in the morning his
heavy, distressed breathing and occasional
mOanS aWOke the Otner prisoners; tDey
called to the ja.lor, and it was discovered
that Blanther was in a comatose cond.-
ton. No sign was there 10 show whence
the poison came. But I have phial
which contained when full enough NOR
phine to kill more than Bianther. Itwas
found among his effects.
The doctor. who came at once to the
Jail, did all he could to save the prisoners s
ii e. 1t became known early in the
hot t.p baA
tak-n poison and was dying in the Jail
yard, and the entire populace crowded
ABOUT and different men took turns at
working to keep the prisoner. by violent
exercise and rough treatment from sink
ing into the lethargy that meant death.
All Sunday nigh: he was watched and
Monday he appeared to be out of danger
until a; about clock in the afternoon
he began to sink and at o clock he was
dead.
know now that he committed the mur-
der which was charged against him.
wish from my soul l could believe other
wise.
/ was the only one who had known him
in his life as josef Blanther, to see him
lowered into the grave where he now
rests, more than 1000 miles from the scene
OF the murder he committed.
Acting on the directions l had received,
l wrote with pencil on the headboard,
JOSEF Z. BLANTHER,
Arthur Forbes,
Died M March -, 1897.