The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-03
COWARD OR HERO
What Caused Lieut.. Richardson to
Desert His Fiance
AT THE HOLY ALTAR?

ga aS
Was Il Craven Hearted On His Part
70 Leave His Sweetheart So That
She Might BE Free to Marry a
Better Man, Or Did 1t Take Ire
meudouS Courage to Do What He
Did DO, Silt Her And Kill Himself.
Is it possible 70 rsuicide to be a
deed of heroisn? Is modern civlllz-
alton justified in accepting suicide"
and "cowardice" as synonymous
terms?
Just now this much-argued theory
gains a most interesting illustration
lone way or the other---in the case
of the late Lieut.. Mack Richardson
u. S. A., who killed himself af1er
being forced out of the army because
he had deserted, almost at the a:tar'
the girl whom he was engaged TO
marry
Since his death some Of his brother
oficers---the same ones who held him
in the greatest contempt for his con-
duct toward his betrothed bride
have declared that he died a brave
man, owing to conditions that no one
but himself knew about until after
he was dead.
The whole story is told here, and
in connection with it are printed the
crucial scenes in Guy de Maupas-
SAINTS tale entitled, GA Coward
probably the best psychological study
of suicide ever written.
Lieutenant Richardson was attach
ed to the Twenty-sixth Infantry
which up to a few months ago was
stationed at Brownsville, Texas. He
was captain of Missouri regiment
that served in the Spanish-American
war, and gave so good an account OF
himself that, wren the war was over,
he was commissioned a hrst lleuten-
ant in the regular army.
He was widoWer, thlrty-seven
wears old. His brothor officers liked
and esteemed him, and society at
Brownsville found him a genuine &C
In Brownsville the family Of Cap
tain William Kelley, president Of the
First National Bank Of that city
we're socially of much Importance
and beautiful Anna Kelley was a re
coenized belle. Lieutenant Richard
son paid her much attention. He wor
her love. About eight months age
their engagement was announced
The date for their wedding was sci
for Tuesday evening, May IA.
This was the date Of the annlver,
sarv of the marriage Of Miss Kelley's
PARENTS, It was planned that the
combined wedding and anniversary
should be d great social event for the
whole of Texas. Lieutenant Rich:
ardson's brother officers rallied
round him, overwhelmed him with
congratulations and were eager tc
she'd military glory upon the mar
riage scene :.
Following the negro regiment dis
turbance at Brownsville Lieutenant
Richardson's regiment was transfer
red to Fort Sam Houston. That made
no difference in the officers enthusi-
ssm over the Forthcoming wedding;
it was known that there would be
distinguished guests from all over
the State. ~,
last November Lieutenant Rich
ardson fell i'll. He recovered, but
his convalescence progressed slowly.
He lacked his old carelessness. There
were times when he did not appear
himself at all. When asked about it,
he replied evasively, or said that ne
had not yet shaken off the effects Of
his illness.
lieutenant Richardson correspond
Cd regularly with his fiancee. 1t was
ARRANGED that he and his brother Of
Scers should arrive in Brownsville on
Nav l3, the day before that set for
the wedding:
Accompanied by several officers,
tha lieutenant went to the station to
take the train to Brownsville. AS the
train rolled in---he had appeared the
gavest member Of the party--he
Suddenly slapped his thigh and said:
:sBy Jove; I've forgotten the ring;
III follow on a later train.
So the other officers boarded the
train one of them checking Lieuten
ant Richardson's trunk on his ticket.
Arriving in Brownsville, the Of
6cers explained the bridegroom could
not arrive till the coming of the next
train The hour for the ceremony
arrived. Still no bridegroom.
Captain Kelley's residence was
beautifully decorated. The bridal
supper was spread. Inc WeQolng
presents were displayed, the house
was filed with guests, including
many Of Lieutenant Richardson's
comrades. Then entered messenger
With this telegram for the bride:
:sAm too sick to come.
She bore up bravely. To the guests
on announcement was made that the
wedding was postponed, and why.
With forced gayety Captain Kelley
and his daughter and wife invited
the guess to remain to supper IN
celebration OF his wedding anniver-
sary. Lieutenant Richardson's broth
er officers were the only guests who
seemed especially disturbed.
On the following day Captain Kel-
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