The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-08
A MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY.
The ShOwman's Murder SCENE Was
Real, and He Was the Victim.

Sylvania, Ca, March 6-Some years
ago Prof. Wilson. mesmerist and ven
triloquist, was accustomed to make an
nual tours through the little towns in
a certain section of Southern Georgia,
and give exhibitions of his wonderful
powers of legerdemain and other accom-
plishments that appertain to the travel
ing Snowman. He had given several per-
formances in the little village of S. at
various times, and the people were al
ways glad when he came. AS ventril-
oquist he was unsurpassed, and his
sleight-of-hand tricks were wonderful and
puzzling.
The professor always had a crowded
house at s., and carried away a good
many silver quarters when he left He
owned his own vehicle, in which he
Travelled through the country and had
partner by the name of Grant who
attended to the outside work and took
care Of the wagon and horses.
The last time Prof. Wilson showed in
s. everybody in the town was out to hear
him. After entertaining them for quite
while with tricks of legerdemain, he
began to display his powers of ventrilo-
quism, to the great delight and amuse-
ment of the audience, who applauded
him again and again. He would go be-
hind the curtain which was stretched
across the school house stage, and talk
in all kinds of tones and all over the
house. He would throw his voice around,
so that a man over in the middle of the
audience would seem to laugh, and then
another in the corner would moan like
he was dying. After a while the pro-
| fessor told them that he would give one
more feat in ventriloquism, at the con-
clusion of which he would have some
mesmeric experiments. He then stepped
back behind the curtain. Knowing this
last effort would be his best, the crowd
waited breathlessly to hear him.
Suddenly from behind the curtain there
came shrieks of help, help" and then a
bood-curdling cry Of murder" followed
| and they rang out so clear and distinct
| that the people almost rose to their feet,
| they were so startled. In another second,
! however, they seemed to realize that it
was part of the play, and admired the
| professors cleverness in foohng them.
| The cries continued, though weaker and
| there seemed to be the sound of struggling
| behind the curtain. The ventrioqust
| was acting ii out well, and murmurs of
appreciation were heard on every hand.
| Then there was the sound of a fall, and
then-everything was quiet. The whole
tragedy had been acted out and 1t was
| done so nicely that some of the more
| weak-hearted still shivered a little when
| they thought of how the professor had
screamed out murder" a few moments
before.
A minute passed, and not a sound was
| heard. Another, and the audience began
| to grow restless. Still another, and yet
the professor did not appear. They be-
| gan to call for him, but he failed to re-
spond Thinking he was making some
preparations. they waited yet longer. Then
a man, who was sitting on the first seat
raised up. and pointed 20 the front Of the
stage. Those who were nearest pressed
| forward to see-and there, slowly tricklng
down the bare planks, they noticed a little
| dark stream that flowed from underneath
the curtain. A shudder ran through the
whole assembly when they saw It. None
dared to speak. They only gazed in hor-
ror at that small stream on the stage,
! fearful of it's meaning, and yet afraid to
| breathe what they thought.
At last a few of the boldest pressed on
to the stage and tore the curtain aside.
| Every one in the house knew what to
expect, and yet they were none the less