The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-25
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ried
"A homeless woman. woman with
trains and good looks and education.
married meNfor the position / could give
her, i suppose. They told me afterward
she did IL out OF spite or desperation:
that she was northern girl who had
been employed as a governess in an Old
southern family that was ruined by the
war; that she had a younger sister IN
New York whom she was educating-a
girl who had a magnificent voice and
wanted TO go the stage-and all the
money she could save went 10 her. She
got employment when Ben Butler took
command. for she knew all the southern
families that had money and plate ana
jewels and those that had nothing but
niggers.
'She fell in love. they told rne after
ward, with a swell colonel who came
there on stan duty. for he cut a dash
and made desperate love to her. until
his wife got wind Of IL and came down
there all Of sudden, inst after the
smashup OF the Confederacy. and put
stop TO his fun. That was in May ana i
got there in July. We were married that
winter. ana ! loaded her with the best I
could buy and gave her all she could
spend on her sister until she found out
how my money was made there in cotton
and cards. She thought-and I'd let her
think so-that | mad big property I'm the
north. Ii was another woman gave her
the tip, and then the trouble began. She
swore we must give up the house We
lived in. the horses and carriages and
go to a cheap boarding house. She got
the Jewels to take back thew atch and
the trinkets I'd given her at their own
valuation-about a quarter of what they
cost me. She argued and pleaded and
prayed and swore she'd confess the whole
thing to General Sheridan, who came
there right after riots in 1866 and took
command-and that would have sent me
10 the penitentiary.
There were regular officers In the
deals besides me. and they got wind OF
IL and trier to bribe her, and she'd cry
all night and NOPE all day and swear
shed leave me unless J cut loose from
the whole business and restored what I'd
made. BY God. ] couldn't! Ia spent VI
/ was no worse than three or four others
who had eyes open TO their opportunities
two OF 'em in the regular army now
bang up swells, and at last / couldnt
stand 1t and got TO drinking, and then
lost my card nerve. and the money
went with II. and II made me desperate
crazy. / reckon, for one night when I
came home drunk and she made a scene
suppose I must have struck her, and
then she took sick and got delrious. and
i was horribly afraid, and so were ny
partners, that she'd give up the whole
business; so they got me leave of ap-
sence.
They saw me aboard the steamer for
New York My money was running short
and they gave me enough to place her In
sanitarium on the Hudson and get her
sister with her. and then came back and
bad luck followed. ] was strapped. when
the old man told me I'd have to go out
and join my regiment, for he'd got me
appointed In the regulars. Why. some
nf IAN do sxfxlA
name In the papers. wrote TO stop IL, but
IL was no use. The military committee
In congress couldn't go back on Mr.. Cad
ger, and he daren't go back on my father
But they got me sent out here TO be as
far away as possible. and yes. there
were three deserters from Grams ba ttery
aboard the steamer. so / learned and one
Of them, the man you call Higgins. who
was betrayed to Lieutenant Blake by an
other deserter just as bad as him. was
stalking the other two. for he had money
I'm plenty until after had dopq with him.
What my lifeis been out here you
know well enough-same as IL was In
New Orleans, all luck and plenty at first.
then all n collapse. I'm ruined now
When / had hundreds and thousands, I
helped everybody who wanted IL. There
are men In Yuma and Tucson now whom
set on their pins, and they give me the
cold shoulder. All that offer to the ma
jor was a bluff. They've got all my
money. l haven't a cent anywhere and
SO far as I'm personally concerned don't
care. II there was no one on earth de-
pendent on me. I'd as lief you'd shoot
me tomorrow.
But gentlemen. there's the rub /
own IL now. There's my poor wife and
her sister. I've lied TO them both She
got well at the sanitarium. She's be-
lieved my promises and she's come all
fhN Nxxrax 20 Co ,fa
ing me there when-when the bottom fell
out OF the whole business. She's there
now-she and her sister. They've got
enough to pay their expenses perhaps
month or go. and that's all can make
living. can get along and provide for
her II you'll only give me n chance. "a
know l deserve dismissal. That's all
right. but for Gods sake. gentlemen
don't send me TO Alcatraz. don't put me
in jail. Leave me free to work. There's
men I'm this territory that owe me nearly
$1,000 today. Let me gather that up and
go TO my wlfe-I-she's n good woman
gentlemen"-
And here the tears came starting from
the pleading culprit's eyes. and one or
two sympathetic souls about the rude
tables shifted suspiciously.
1T amt for me to talk Of such things.
Perhaps you won't believe me, but
and he fingered the leaves Of the blue
bound copy Of the regulations that lay
To the left Of the Judge advocates elbow
II love that woman and I want TO
care for her and take good care Of her.
Look here" he continued as with sud-
den. impulsive movement he unbuttoned
his trim fitting. single breasted frock
coat and displayed n snowy shirt bosom.
on which sparkled and elistened a great
diamond set in the style much affected by
the sporting gent Of the day.
Sec, this diamond. IL cost s1i00 in
San Francisco six months ago. and here
this solitary" and he produced from an
inner pocket an unquestionably valuable
ring and. with trembling hands. laid them
upon the table I'm front OF the Judge ad .
vocate. "and here" and he whipped from
the waistband Of his trousers n massive
and beautiful watch.
There are all the valuables I have IN
the world. These I place In tho hands
Of the worthy officer and gentleman who
has only done his duty In representing the
governm~ Mt through this long and pain j.
ful trial These 7 publicly turn over 10
him with the request that he personally
a0.H her 20 o.