The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-02-27

" Mrs. Phipps was pretty
little woman, apparently
very fond of her husband.
But fate decreed that the serpent of
jealousy should creep into this Eden
of domestic bliss. Mrs. Phipps, with
out the knowledge of her husband, had
been in the habit of making secret
trips across the river to Windsor, and
it CHANGED that Luke Phipps received
information of this fact. Passionately
devoted to his wife, this discovery fill
ed him with madness He watched
""r carefully and shadowed her move.
.ents. One fateful night she left her
nome and boarded the ferry boat for
Windsor. Close on her heels followed
the infuriated husband, armed, and
under the influence of strong liquor
in which he had been indulging freely
since he had been informed of his
wife's supposed unfaithfulness.
Not until the boat was well out in
the river and approaching the Can.
, madam shore did Phipps reveal him
self to the woman. Angry words
passed between them, the husband
dCCuSluS tu0 vile VI ". MIS-
Phipps replied harshly and the words
had scarcely left her lips when the
man drew revolver and fired point
blank at her. The bullet sped true
to the mark and Mrs. Phipps fell to the
deck dead. The murder was witnessed
by score of passengers and Phipps
was instantly seized. He made no
resistance but meekly gave up the
weapon with which the deed was COM
mitted, and when the boat landed at
Windsor was taken in charge by the
Canadian authorities. He was taken
at once to Sandwich jail, three miles
from Windsor. and committed for trial
Into this illomened place of con-
finement came Phipps sobered by the
realization of the awful tragedy of
which he had been the author The
future looked black indeed, for Cana
dian justice frowns grimly upon the
destroyer of human life no matter
what her or his provocation may have
been, and the gloomy shadow Of the
gallows loomed threateningly before
him. Among the inmates of Sandwich
Jail was one "Bucky' Greenfield. a
professional thief, who like Phipps
was awaiting trial. but on far less
serious charge. To this man Phipps
was assigned as cell-mate; and glad
to find someone in whom ne could con-
fide, the wife-slayer told him the story.
AS result of this conference mys
\ terious female shortly afterwards paid
Il visit to Greenfield and for ten days
Following her call Bucky kept close In
his cell. During this interval Luke
Phipps became seized with mania
for music. He whistled and sang con-
tinually in loud voice for hours at
time. None of the warders offered
any objection. Life in Sandwich jail
was a monotonous existence at the
best, and If a prisoner found comfort
in the sound If his own voice they
saw no particular reason for silencing
him.
The truth of the matter was that
Phipps had resorted to the perform
ance Of these nocturnal concerts for
the purpose Of sitting the sounds OF
Greenfield's labors in the cell.
At last the persistent gnawing Of the
file conquered the stubborn resist
ance of the steel bars. They were cut
through and the way OF escape lay
open before the prisoners. In the
dead Of night the two men slipped out
into the darkness. Greenfield got
through the narrow opening with little
difficulty, but Phipps when half way
through stuck fast. His comrade tar
ried for few moments making des-
perate efforts to extricate him, but
Phipps remained immovable. as
though gripped In vice. Self preser'
walton being the first law Of nature,
Bucky Greenfield resolved to obey its
dictates, and seized with sudden panic
lied swiftly into the night.
Despair seized the heart Of Phipps
in its icy clutch when his comrade
deserted him A few seconds passed.
and he still lay in the narrow open
Ing painting from his exertions. Then