The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-09
is MORE THAN SORRY
WILLIAM OLSON WRITES A SENTI-
MENTAL LETTER TO MISS
CLARA RICK
CUISINES AND. CUISINES AGAIN
His Being Thrills at. the Thought of
a Noble Woman Who Sheds Her
Influence Upon the Heart of Man
as Perfumed Rose Watts It's
Fragrance Upon the Summer Air
-William'a EpistIe.

William Olson, who is at the county
Jail, under sentence to the reformatory
for assaulting Miss Clara Rick, at
Arundel street and Laurel avenue, sew
eral weeks ago, addressed the follow
Ing letter yesterday to the victim Of
his wrath
Miss Clara Rick-My Dear Madam l have
no doubt you will be somewhat surprised to
receive a letter from one whom you have
every reason to- believe would be the last
one from whom eyou might expect it. 1t is,
nevertheless, a fact that i take a secret
pleasure In allowing myself the indulgence
to write you these few lines anc endeayor
to explain to you. If possible, nv conduct
upon that lamentabe occasion when in
hicted upon you so much unnecessary pain.
My reasons for waiting this long, after
sentence, before writing, are that did not
wish you to believe that ] was in any way
trying to influence your feelings to my adj
vantage. But now that sentence has been
passed upon me, think you will plainly see
that there can be no possible motive for my
writing to you, other than to inform you Of
my feelings Of pity for your painful condition.
You may think me Incapable of experiencing
the slightest ripple of emotion. And, yet,
Gear madam. there are none who grieve
more than l do. that you should feel one
the Divine Healer will grant YOU speed y
recovery and restore you to your former con-
diton
Your statements to the various officials re-
. lating TO my conduct upon the night of my
arrest were correct, with but sene exception,
and that was of such slight Importance that
j attribute 1t to the confused and nervous
state of your mind, rather than any intention
al Misrepresentation on your part
l believe you to, be an honest girl. and as
such ] honor and respect YOU. / am not
1nsensib]e Indifferent to the many good
and noble qualities of your charming sex.
I have sisters and mother of my own. But
my dear madam. like yourself, they represent
a high standard of womanhood. My being
thrills at the thought IF good and noble
woman; woman who stands in the sunlight
of purity and On whose brow truth is crowned
with diadem studded with stars Such a
woman sheds her influence upon the heart
Of man as a perfumed rose watts its frag-
rance upon the summer air.
I could, dear. madam, present to your view
above. But I will not allow myself to be-
lieve that, 1t would be at all agreeable to
you. The Transformation of a beautiful and
innocent woman possessed of many amiable
qualities.7into an adv turess and a traitore;s
would I believe be far from entertaining
to a girl of your excellent character, and yet
such is the character of the woman for whom
II intended that Ei-directed blow which caus-
ed you so much suffering and which will make
me grieve to the last moment Of my life. II,
as the Good Book says, God tempers the wind
to the shorn4 lamb, cannot understand why
He did not paralyze the uplifted hand that
was about to strike an innocent woman. Had
He done So how much mental and physical
suffering it would have spared US both.
The mind Of man may be likened to a
great stage, capable Of producing many
curious representations. First, boasting
reason strides forth with a firm step and
open brow confident in the superiority OF
its own merits. Then comes judgment seat
ed upon a conspicuous elevation. passing It's
opinion upon the follies and bed,am passions
of human nature. and forces them into sub
mission by the very power OF its superiority.
But once let fretful anger and .uring resent,
ment take the seat of sober Judgment, ard
whitening jealousy force boasting reason he
hind the scene, and then 1t is that he mind
of man displays the nature of a brute rather
than the rational consistency OF a human be.
fury upon the guilty 1t might be something
to their favor But they do not Unreason-
ing folly like Judas Iscariot betrays the in
noeent more often than 1t Furnishes the guilty.
You and l. my dear medam, never met but
once, and then exhibited the actions of
to ever have US meet again hope to allow
myself the pleasure Of acting the character
of a man In ell other regards l submit ny
conduct to the charitable disposition of a
lady whom L shall never cease to honor end
esteem.
l hope you will respect my request in ask
ing you to treat this letter as strictly per-
sonal few lines stating that you have
received this letter will place me under added
obligations And If you should ever arrive
at that period of time when you can truth
fully say II forgive you 1t would make me
my wretched condition. am my dear
madam with kind assurances and q heart
filled with sentiment Of the highest regards
your sincere weli-wlsher.
William Olson.
Ramsey County jail, St. Paul, Feb. 9, 1899.