Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-08
.NAG[RS ON 4 MANS LIFE.
Whiskay Drurl and Money By
Around an Ebbing Soul.

Whisksy Drull and Money Bd
Around an Ebbiug Soul.
CHARLES T. WILCOX KILLS WIFE
AND SELF AT HIS EVANSVILLE
HOMlE-WOMAN HAD BEEN DEAD
FOR DAYS WHEN DISCOVERED.
AS HUSBAND IS DYING ENEMIES
CROWD AROUND HIS BEDSIDE
AND HAVE FUN.
GAINESVILLE, Wis, December THE
decomposed body of a woman once
handsome and well liked in JaLesville
society. by her side the writhing body
of her rich but despised husband, his
form twisting and jerking in the agon-
izing throes of death; room filled
with poisonous gases which come from
feculent animal matter added to that
of coal gas, which had been escaping
from Jet wilfully turned on hours
before; parrot half suffocated, but
still with life enough left to talk III
the language of it's wicked master
this was one of the scenes that barred
itself to a crowd of men as they broke
open the door which led to the bed
room of Charles 7. Wilcox, wealthy
citizen of this city, early this morn
ing.
Word soon reached every section OF
the city that Wilcox had killed MINI
self and wife. People fiocked to the
residence Amid the awful smell men
crowded around the bed upon whlch
lay the two figures. Their eyes for
awhile rested upon the stiffness OF the
woman, and then turned as If in glad
ness, to that of the other, half alive.
WAGERS THAT HE WILL LIVE.
.'Oh. no, he will not die" said one.
Kill him? You couldn't do it with
meat ak. He is too mean
"A dollar says that he is dead in an
hour" said another. The bet was
taken.
Five dollars that he will live all
day." said another.
That bet was taken also. The mon
ey was put up. Wagers all the way
from cigars to $40 were made that
Wilcox would pull through. Many OF
the witnesses had seen him In condl-
lions they thought were worse than
the present one, and he had come forth
alive clothed with the same scoWl and
armed with the same venom which mad
made his name one of hate in the COM
munity.
Wilcox die? No, not in a thousand
years" thought most of the crowd.
The men crowded closer around the
bed. The parrot became too noisy
with his excavations, and was taken
on the outside, where it soon went to
sleep. AS the breast of the dying man
n fr.<@ rixrssa X
ing, dying groans, his neighbors laugh
ed
JOKE ABOUT HIS PULSE.
Wilcox die? Not Charlie" spoke
up one. Lets see. How is his pulse?"
and then he felt of the ebbing throbs
from the heart. Wilcox could not move
his hand. He could not see. His
mind was so feeble that he could not
hear, and if hearing cbuld not under
stand what was being Said around and
about him. The man'sl fingers rested
upon the palsied arm for a moment.
The flesh was clammy, but he did not
care.
Pulse? did you ask?'P said he.
why, it is going like street car run
ming down hill. I'll bet tho drinks all
around that Wilcox lives agl winter"
Another man in the crowd\ took him
up. About that time saIoPn- keeper
whose shop is just across thb way en-
tered. He was not in a good humor.
He said that Wilcox had bought some
drinks from him a few nights before
and had not paid for them, He wanted
bis money.
"Well, go and search for it," sug-
gested one. HE is rich and there must
be money to burn around the establish
ment. Who is to hinder you from pick
ing it up? Let's all hunt for the mon
ey." and with that tupboards were
opened, trunks explored and bedcloth-
ing thrown to the floor in the fruitless
search.
WHISKY ENLIvENS THE CROWD.
The saloon-keeper went for bottle
Of whisky. He said the stencil was too
great for him to stand without some
sort OF stimulant. Still, he didn't
want to miss seeing Wilcox die if such
a thing was to happen. Did the crowd
suppose he would have time enough
to go across the street? Why, GER
tainly. the whisky arrived and the
bottle was passed around. Everybody
tasted of it and soon the vessel was
emptied. 1t was refilled and again
emptied.
Finally it was asked if the police had
been notified of the affair. They had
not. A telephone message was sent
and squad of officers arrived.
meantime more bets had been made and
more whiskey drunk. The parrot had
awakened from its sumber and inter-
spersed the conversation with occasional
outbursts of profanity The sun was I'D
In the heavens and was shining beautiful
~. Some of the men walked out in the