The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-06

Of / JAIL
Darwin James Meserole, Self
Confessed Murderer
WEEDS KATHERINE MALTBY
Who Reformed Him While In
Jail Awaiting His Trial.

New York, July 5.-The Journal says:
Darwin James Meserole and Mss Rather
inc Maltby were quietly married q week
ago in Waterbury. Conn.,.
Their union recalled one OF the ssddest
and most sensational tragedies Of recent
years.
For Darwin .. Meseroie was the SET
confessed slayer of Theodore Larbig in
the nat Of "Dovie'' Comstock in Brooklyn,
Ras the result of a quarrel over her smiles.
And now, after eight years Of effort to
atone for his wrongdoing. ne has won
happiness by the side of the woman whose
love for him was born in the darkest hour
of his deep disgrace and who has ever
since been his helper and his aid.
THUS out of the tradgedy Of June q, 1891.
famous among the celebrated criminal
cases OF America, has grown this romance
of atonement.
Until eight years ago, no shadow OF a
blot had sullied the 'scutcheOn OF the
NIeseroles. The family was Of the aristoc-
racy, the name an honored one. Gen.
jeremiah ". Meseroie, Pres;dant Of the
great Williamsburg Savings Bank. hon
ored by every one, was credit 10 the
name.
But the General and his gentle wife. VINO
were devout Christlas. tried in vain during
the first twenty years Of their son Oar
wins life to instill into him love OF the
Church, her creed and practices
The boy was affectionate and lovao!e'
but had no bent, apparently, toward what
his father and mother considered the es-
psential things Of life. He was Maynard
and frivolous despite his mothers prayers
and tears.
Darwin was a handsome boy, with a
tan, slight, graceful frame. firmly modelled
face and dark hair and eyes. His love Tor
athletics and all the pleasures OF life was
absorbing, and because OF his father
wealth he was able to enjoy himself
pretty much as he liked. His buoyancy OF
Temperament won him new friends every
day.
When the boy became twenty years old
his father gave him a seat In the Stock
Exchange. He made only occasional use
of 1t, however, and was still dependent
upon the large yearly allowance given him
by his father. Too many distractions pre-
vented him from taking serious interest in
speculation, or any other business
lie made acquaintance, many OF them
Improbable ones. who were outside the
limits OF his own social circle One OF
these acquaintance was Mrs. 'Dovte'
Comstock, wife of Walter ]. Comstock.
In June 1891, while his family was living
out of Brooklyn. Meserole was occupying a
room in the fiat Of Mrs. Comstock. He
was broken down in health, and Mrs. Com
stock nursed him. His relatives and old
friends never saw him. Gossip was loud
to the effect that Darwin had become
pretty much Of a scapegrace. People be
gan TO pity the mother and father Or the
boys wasted life and opportunity.
On the night of June q there happened
at the Comstock fiat, No. S7s Sacketr
street, Brooklyn. a tragedy that affected
many Hives and changed the course OF OAR
! win Meserole's existence. 1t was talked
! OF for weeks and months while Meserole
( sat in the Raymond Street jail, wondering
! IL his life would pay for that Of Theodore
| Lanbig, whom he killed.
! Ilarbig had been lover OF Mrs. Com
stock. He was also the woman's debtor
/ ard there was no good feeling between
| them. He was a married man with a
! family.
! On his visit to the fat on the fatal eve
ming he found Mrs. Comstock sitting alone
4