The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-04
THE MURDER OF A WIFE
Aursarr b

One night. just as II was growing dusk
ana the iengthening shadows brought weird
memories to me. was disturbed by the
rsttiiag OF a cab which stopped at the
door with loud 'whoa," !reri the driver
and pull thar broisht the horse OH It's
launches.
A man sprang out OF tho cab. ami hastily
running up the steps pulled frantlcaily at
tho door bell. Although 1t was nearl.
dark had time to distinguish the teat-
ilres OF the leading LAWYER OF the CITY.
As my servant showed him into the front
parior by whosA window was sitting,
he came forward. and grasping me by both
hands said: "Mr. Martinez. we need no
Introduction: we both know each other
professionally SO we'll that a personal ac-
araintance is unnecessary"
motioned him to chair Il will be
seated" said he. but only long enough
for you to got ready TO 80 with me. I
want to 20 to the tonibs My client,
in whose behalf have called to see YOU,
is there. Ha is In the shadow % the gall
lows. The moose is around his neck
1t Is no unusual thing for me to be called
NY u DlUltSSlOHsti uul
gave no thought to the case as we were
rafting through the streets. put the i'm
patience OF the lawyer was such that he
would not allow the cabman to slacisen.
even upon the slippery pavemeHt5.
We were nearly there before he mem
toned the case. He seemed unable TO talk
from nervousness When the shadow OF
tha tonbs fell upon the cab he turned to
me and said.
al can tell you only one thing about the
case; my client is innocent That is abso-
lutte. In his confession to me he could ex-
pain nothing; he only knows that he Is
innocent"
With this brief prelude l followed my
guide up the stairs leading to the tombs
and into the sombre gallery that runs
along murderers row In the last eel
surrounded ny not more than ten square
feet OF space, sat my man He Occupied
n wooden chair, and When the turnkey
unlocked the door he gave no sign ex-
Dept TO bury his head deeDer In h4s
hands and groan.
AT glance saw that he was a gem
tlemsp He was a man In the prime OF
lfe, not over 40, We'll dressed, clean
shaven aud handsome. This / saw IN
spite OF the dark gloom aipcn his coun-
tenance. for never in my life hal seen
such abjsct despair shown in the face
o. a human being.
Al the SOUND Of the LAWYERS voice he
lifted up his head, and at the mention
OF my name ray OF hops seemed to
come across his counteuance. Hsi rose,
shook hands wish us both, AMI beekonei
MS to seats on his rude cot.
Nov" said the lawyer, leaning back
and leaving us, face 10 face together
tell Mr.. Martinez everything that hap
pened that might ana coAccal nothing
from him. Tell him lust rs you have
told me-
THE MURDERERS STORY.
Looking me- straight in ths eye and
beginning at the very beginning Frank
lin Jcrvis told me this story:
Il am "a manufacturer Of dress goods.
said he. My business oarr.ss me down
into Barclay street ana the lower quar-
teIs Of tie town. and on chat account l
rise early every morning. For many
years my wife has not brealsfassSd With
me.
1--WE were married fiftecn years ago
and our story Is an old one. We mar
ried in poverty and were happy. We
grew TO wealth and vera indifferent.
When fortune began TO smile upon US
my wife became ambitious and longed
to shine in the society set OF which We
had read only u little and in gilded
paragraphs.
II opposed her and we qunrrelled,
sometimes gently. but more often bitterly.
Our words al times rose high. and when,
as on a recent occasion, she showed great
ctravagance In her attempts 10 got into
high circles, l would lsave the house and
not return for week at a time. Thus II
grew steadily on for the last five years.
getting worse and worse.
II will tell YOU noM' said he. hest
tatingly and half apolcgsticllly, that for
tho last five years since our trouble
began l have been employing my spare