The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-01-11

VIII demand a thousand dollars ir
surance on his life She SAYS the ir
surance is in her name.
Port Huron. Mich.
Mr.. Way,
County Sheriff.
write this letter to tell somethins
IN connection with the CHAMBERLAIN,
church tragedy. | am guilty only be
cause am a coward. This man hac
such hypnotic influence over me tina
| felt something must be done. fell
greatly ashamed that man could be
SO short minded. He was able tt
compel ME to yield to his will.
At first he said it was all right
Don't be afraid Then he began tc
talk about how we two could get rich
,Ihree times he CAME to the rear OF
my bsrn and talked to me through the
manure hole. Once when was going
to Columbus, he was on the pike near
the big school house. He asked me
to ride which | could not refuse. Ask.
ed me ifgl had ever driven up the
pike to Port Huron, to which | an
swered no. Then he said, lets drive
up He got out while / went to the
barn with the rig. He gave me a "
dollar and said he wanted me to buy
a small Ratchet for his boy. I began
to tell him to do his own buying.
Then he set his eyes upon me. He
had queer look in his eyes. some
thing like a snakes eyes. All the while
felt his influence, so went in in
tending to go into the store and out
the back way and get the horse
and rush home. When l turned to
close the door he stood looking upon
me through the window and I bought
the Ratchet and came out again. But
by that time he had disappeared. oS
| went to the barn, got my rig and
started for home. Then as l made a
turn out Military street, he was at the
corner to get in. He rode as far as
the south parq where he got out to
take the car He took the Ratchet
with him and said nothing, nor did
think anything at the time about the
change.
Once at the depot at Adair he came
out of the house in his shirt sleeves
and exercised me and compelled me
to walk the rails. All the while / felt
as small as bantam chicken. When
he arraigned with me about the we'd
ding ne said he would go to Port Hur-
on to get the license and met re
on the road between that place and
the church. | thought he really meant
to get married and use my service, but
when we were on the road and alone,
/ began to feel uneasy. But he said it
was all right. the others would come in
a carriage and we went into the
church.
l wanted to light a lamp TO which he
said No" No light unless they
should come. Then he said we
had better have little fire
and then put in what l
thought would be enough wood.
The moon was shining on the front
door and he told me some one might
see me come in that way. Just come
in the window, he said.
l brought few. sticks, piled them
across each other, from the top of
which he helped me into the building.
let the window down and watched
to see the others come down the state
road. Presently he took big hearty
laugh and said. there's no use looking,
there amt going to be no wedding.
He was sitting where the light fell
on his face and his eyes were brilliant
and | was thrilled through and through
with a queer sort of feeling.
When | asked hmm what he was
here for, he said:
Well, elder, l just want to have a
little fun. You consider yourself an
educated man and look down upon
Door, ignorant fellow like me and /
bought | would show you what l can
10. l know if | can handle you,
IAN handle other men and make a
zig thing out of it. Now if | say, |
aise your hand up, up she goes
hats no cream, and | felt my hand |
'aising without effort. Then he made |
ne let down my hand. BBy this time ,
was so alarmed that | was in cold I
weat. ! then leaned over to see if
nyone might be on the road when he
'egan to laugh again and | saw him
olding weapon up his sleeve,
made a grab for it and grabbed the
atchet from him.
The Murder.
The letter then describes the muir
er, stating that the man came at him
18th knife and that they backed
cross the church. The minister struck