Mexico Missouri message., 1900-06-14
AN INDIANA TRAGEDY

SuhuaN aiWaNS set apart the most
comfortable hour of the afternoon for
the reading of my home paper" It
comes Thursday, being printed We'd
ncsday. but | save 1t up for a part OF
my Sunday devotions. My wife says II
Is penance. but then she wasn't born
ana raised in the country. and she
never knew how important little
county seat might be.
Over on the third page, where the
local items" are grouped-no, graded
Il found this little record
James Monahan died at his room
over his tinshop last Monday. aged Ga.
Dr. Hector attended him. and found in
his prayer book. while searching for
the name of some relative this state
ment: i did not shoot Jim Wilkinson.
Mary Brennock shot him.. Our old
subscribers will remember the case,
ana 1t has always been our opinion that
Monahan was innoCently convicted, and
he leaves quite lot OF property to the
heirs Of Mary Brennock. deceased. A
good 'i7en has gone from us. and our
popular hardware man, Mr. Knox, will
purchase the tinshop. See his adver-
tlsement."
But that note in the prayer book was
In woman's handwriting.
There Is a tragedy and love story
and an instance of mans devotion not
often equaled and | will tell you about
It.
The thing happened thirty years ago
and more. Mary Brennock was a wid-
ow. She was the daughter OF a rich
but grabbed old lrishman who never
forgave her for marrying John Bren-
mock, but who died and left her a
farm. The war broke out when Martha
BrennoCk was baby. and John, having
wasted much OF his wife's substance
In his own riotous living, went away
with the soldiers and was reported mis-
sing at Nicksburg He never came
back, but there was no proof OF his
death. james Monahan had loved
Mary long before the ne'er-d we'll
John Brennock came lettering across
the country with his curly hair and his
gold watch and his idle ways; and
when soldiers came marching back
nfter Gettysburg and after Richmond
and finally after AppomattoX James
Monahan urged the woman to let him
take up her hnttlc-hardcr than any
her worthless husband had fought
and carry 1t To conclusion.
But she said Wait" and he waited.
Mary Brennock was saving all the
money she could to pay the interest on
her mortgage. Monahan owned the
farm adjoining, and helped her all he
could without giving gossip a chance.
for he respected her.
II was August. and the watermelons
were /. q. There-Nas a new railroad
building half mile away. and every
night a number of young fellows from
the gangs over there would raid the
farmers watermelon patches. Mary
BrcnnOck suffered more than any uno
else, because her land was nearest the
railroad camp, and because her melons
were finest. She had hoed them her.
. those times.
The next day there was to he "A cir
Gus in Fairfield and James Monahar
had agreed to haul load of water.
melons for Mary Brcnnock to town
since she had no team of her own. Il
wac proved later than this day was tt
be more than gala day for them MARY
had at last consented to accept her
honest ncighbOr, and while all tn,
farmers juhilant in that era of peace
and I. pcrity which came late in III,
| COS. were enjoying the circus, with ii,
clowns and It's red lemonade and it,
side shows and cheap gambling tricks
+ these two were to be married Thc'
% had arranged to meet at the . oclocl
-. train, right while the parade wac on
crossing general attention. ana =,
down to Loransport. where the prios
lived. ard submit To all the ordinance
[ of the hmch James Munahan Wa
. the happtc~t man IN Fairfield county
and have no doubt good Mary Nrcn