Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-11
Some sidelights on Tragedy
In His Love Affair With
Nina Fox
HOPES SOON TO BE MARRIED
Confident That He Will Be Released
From Jail and Absolved From the
Charge Of Murder-A Visit to the
Jail and a Meeting Of the Prisoner
J. land His Sweetheart.

eagerly drinking In every scrap OIL evil
dence regarding the conduct of Mrs
Jennie Pratt and Will Persing during
the sickness and death of Josiah Pratt
the woman's husband, Persing, in his
cell in the basement of the building
the man whose name is liked so close
~ with the defendant, waits uncon-
cernedly for the day when he will he
placed on trial for murder.
Probably no person is as little con-
cerned in the outcome Of the present
trial as Persing. He is even less con-
cerned than his little sweetheart, Nina
Fox. a girl II years old, to whom he is
betrothed and to whom he was TO
have been married July 80, is anxious
" waiting for him to fulfill his pledge,
Miss Fox and her father moved here
from Fonda in November and often the
girl has either visited the Jail to see
her lover, or has exchanged letters with
him.
It ts probable also that Nina Fox
will appear as witness for the woman
whom the state considers her rival fer
the affections of Persing.
A few days since Nina visited Per-
sing in company with a representative
Of the press. The girl lives with her
father in little fiat located over an
abandoned storeroom on side street,
about square from the court house.
From her window she can see the iron
barred windows of the Jail wherein her
lover is confined.
She is rather pretty young woman,
but appears older than her years. She
has child 2 years Of age and it is
claimed the father of the little boy
abandoned the girl in her misfortune
leaving her no redress.
Persing became acquainted with her
and although he knows her history he
3 Is content to take her as she is, he says.
In fact SO much in earnest was the
prisoner at one time that he endeavor-
ed to have the marriage take place in
the Jail, request which was denied by
his attorneys, who feared it might be
regarded az a bid for sympathy.
To BE Married When Free.
"Just the minute / get out of this, ~
said Persing, Me an Miny is goin' to
be married. Amt we?' apd he turned
emilingly to the girl who nodded her
4 head slowly and returned the smile.
While Persing is evidently in love
with Nina he is not silly and he talks
very sensibly regarding their future.
1--WE will go away from this country"
he added, IAN go where folks won't
be tallsin' about US all the WHILE"
Not for moment does Persing en-
terrain the thought that he will be
convicted. He believes on the con-
trary, that he will be freed; he even
believes that it will not be possible to
convict Mrs. Pratt although he profess
ses little concern on that point.
Miss Fox wears steel trimmed glasses
and is near sighted. Her hands
red and rough from hard work, are
unshapely, but her face is not income
ly. Her eyes are blue and her hair
, brown and soft. She dresses it in a
neat braid coiled upon the back OF d
shapely head and fastened with a
brown bow. The features were some
what irregular. When her face is
lighted with smile, as was frequent
ly the case while in the presence OF
{ her lover, 1t is positively attractive.
Her voice is low and not unmusica1
4 du0 dllOSCluCl GIG ~ - gill WIN up
pears fairly intelligent.
Glad e See Visitors.
"How de DO" was Persing's greeting
as he held out broad hand. Hello
Minv," he added as he turned to his
sweetheart.
Il heered We wanted to see me-" adj
ded Persing, well, here I be an I'm
ready to talk little, though my law
yers say they don't want me to say
much about my case. The fact Is they
seem to think the closer 1 keep my
mouth shet, jist now, the better for me.
But I'm burned If see any use Of that.
I amt. got nothin' to keep back an
don't keer what they do next, 'cept
wish they'd get around to my case as
soon as possible, SOS kin git out and
git married and go to work some
where"
Persing brought two chairs and
placed them for the visitors. Then he
stood leaning against she cold stone
wall Of the corridor while he talked.
Presently Nina arose and, stepping in
to the cell, brought chair for her low
err He took 1t with muttered thank
We" and sat down.
Persing talked Of his life at the
Pratt farm, how he took care Of the
sick man and how he always liked
Isl"
1.-THE neigflbors didn't come in an
help much until near the windup,"
said Persing, IAN so I had lot Of
work to do day times and had to sit
up nights with 81. And this is all the
thanks git fer 1t now. A long time
An faf1 and fnaybe a trial"
Not in Love With jenny.
mo, don't think fer mint Jennie
GMrs. PratD wuz in love with me-" and
he threw back his head and laughed a
jolly, rollicking laugh. 'sMe in love
with her? Huh, well guess not. No.
sir. not me. Think I'd he in love with
a woman ten years older n l be. An
besides, how about Miny? I wuz ar
ranging to marry her and would have
done So if I hats't been locked up on
s'picion."
"Do you suppose Will was in love
with Mrs. Pratt?" Nina was asked.
mo, don't" she replied enphati-
cally.
How about Mrs Pratt, do you sup
pose she was in love with VIII? ?"
well, she might have been" said
the girl slowly, whereat Persing shook
his red head in merriment and his
laugh rang out loudly. 1t was evident
that Nina regards her lover as COM
potent to rouse the affection Of any
woman.
A Kaiser Kink TO Mustads1e.
DArosnnr hoe JCrrrvy,1 h{er G11nrk nY rod