Evening journal., 1905-05-15
A Woman's Ruse
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claim which he worked with a man by
the name Of Clark. One day Clark took
Bixby to a little pocket OF rocks near
the mine and showed him where he had
placed some articles he did not care to
keep on his person. There were some
money, a revolver, a gold pencil case, a
bunch Of keys and a picture Of a wo-
man.
Il want you TO know where these
things are in case anything happens to
me-" Clark said, and, having covered
the pocket with a broad, fiat stone, left
no sign OF the concealed articles.
Some time after this Clark was taken
III and, having no relative to leave any
property to, made a will leaving HIS
interest in their claim TO Bixby, though
there was then no great apparent value
In the hole they were sinking. Clark re.
covered, but the viii was not destroyed.
One day Blxby left the claim for a
day to buy provisions, and when he
came back he found that Clark had
been murdered during his absence.
There was no trace Of the murderer.
and Bixby was much puzzled as TO who
had done the deed. Bixby went on dig
ging and finally struck very valuable
ore Then he filed Clark's WILL
He bad been suspected OF Clark's
murder, and now that It appeared he
had motive he was arrested. He
could not prove that the murder was
committed during his absence, and no
one else was known to have an inter
est in Clark's death. Persons who had
sold him and Clark the claim they had
worked when'it was thought to be OF
little value, hoping that If Bixby was
hanged they might get it back. manu-
factured evidence against him. and
he was convicted. The usual efforts
were made by his lawyers to save his
life, but they were all failures. and
finally they told him he must prepare
for death.
1t was only a few days before the
execution was to take place that a
young man. an effemlnate, apparently
half witted fellow, entered a saloon
at the county seat where Bixby had
been tried and was to be executed.
Going to the bar, he called for a drink
and in payment offered a revolver.
The barkeeper while examining It no
ticed scratched upon the handle "Jar-
had been murdered The barkeeper
took the revolver in payment for the
drink and Immediately sent 1t to the
authorities The young man who had
offered it was arrested, and on his per
son were found two of the other articles
Clark had buried, the gold pencil case
and the picture Of a woman. The
man could give no account Of himself,
ana since Clark had shown the picture
to several persons they were enabled TO
identify it as his property. Bixby was
released and the young man was put
on trial for the murder Of Clark.
Bixby's lawyers advised him to spare
no pains to convict the accused. thus
vindicating himself, but Biyby declar-
ed that his misfortune had shattered
his nerves and he would go east to
be nursed back to health by his wife.
The prosecuting attorney had objected
to his being permitted to depart. Blk
by, however got away before any legal
move could be made to detain him.
He had had plenty OF time to reach
a safe distance when the young man
who was about to be tried sent for the
prosecuting attorney. When that ofii
cial appeared the prisoner said TO him:
'Tm not a man. I'm a woman and
the wife Of the man you hoped to hang
My husband wrote me where Clark had
concealed certain articles. ] came here,
found them and produced the revolver
for the purpose which has been achiev-
ed. had arranged it all with my hus-
band"
The astonished official ordered the
prisoner TO be examined by a woman,
who found her claim TO be true.
"And now" said Mrs. Bixby, Il be-
lieve the picture of the woman Clark
hid with the other articles to have
something to do with the murder. Re
lease me, and l will endeavor to find
out"
Mrs. Bixby was released and set
about the task she had assigned her
self. 1t was not long before she discov-
cred the picture to be that Of a woman
who had left her husband for Clark.
The erring womans husband was ar
rested for the murder, but he was not
brought TO trial. The sympathy Of the
people was in favor Of one who had
simply avenged a wrong i'm way that
they considered legitimate. The pris-
oner confessed that he had long looked
for Clark and when he found him gave
him a fair chance for his life. But,
fearing arrest on charge OF murder, he
had fed as far as possible from the
scene of his revenge.
There was a great deal Of sympathy
for Bixby, who had come so near being
hanged for a murder he had not COM
mitted, and a great deal Of admiration
for the woman who had saved him. he
remained in hiding till his wife had un-
covered the real facts Of the tragedy
l.