The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-08-19
THE PASSING
ia OF MURDOCH
BY AINswORTH RHODES.
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

Il have taken my life in my hands"
said the western sheriff. when there
was every chance against me. | have
shot down men in fight or when |
had them on the run. but the hardest
| job | ever had to do. the job against
which my sensibilities most revolted. |
was in the killing of John Murdoch. |
desperado. Murdoch was far superior
to the general run of outlaws. | don't |
know what made him such. but al |
ways fancied he got started in by some
unfortunate circumstance, such as kill |
| ing some enemy illegally or being
wrongfully accused. Be this as it may.
he was physically ii splendid specimen
of man. and | always thought that
his distaste for the life he lived. to say
nothing Of his conscience. made him
choose at last speedy death in pref
erence to prison walls. But the true
cause he gave himself.
After a train robbery in Texas by
single masked man it was my duty to
follow indications that he had left be-
hind him and go in search of him. A
man named ellison told me that In
passing through the chaparrals he had
picked up articles to indicate that the
robber had dropped them. There were
pieces Of torn letters and a gold chain.
felt sure from these finds that the
robber after leaving the train had
passed over this ground and that
could track him.
| ,%o <o1 nf
being armed with a pair of revolvers
and Winchester. He took me to the
place where he had picked up the
chain and bits of letters. and we fol-
lowed the trail. 1t consisted of bent
grass through open ground and an oc.
casional bit of paper dropped by the
way. 1t seemed to me then and 1t
seems strange now that the man should
have been so careless. ellison seemed
to know instinctively the direction
taken by the man we were following
and led the way. He simply agreed to
pilot me and forewarned me that he
would do no shooting to kill unless 1t
should be necessary in our defense.
We travelled about six miles when we
suddenly came upon a man with his
back to us sorting out valuables. 1t
was evident he was the man we were
after. We had proceeded so silently
that we had made no sound to indicate
our approach. We got within easy
shooting distance of him when we
stopped, and l. drawing a bead on him
D with my Winchester, shouted:
: "Hands up!"
The man turned. rose and stood erect
i | did his
; hands. but folded his arms. While
n turning he had seized a revolver in
: each hand. and they were now pointed
+ in opposite directions. sidewise. He
was six feet high and admirably pro
l. portioned He looked me in the eye
e and said:
e 81 don't wish to add murder to my
/ other crimes. They are many enough
It and black enough without my increas
}. ing them. They began by my being
mistaken for another man. and they
e are to end on account of letter re
e Gently received from my mother. wht
a doesn't know what kind Of life
A. have been leading If l die now sh'
n may never know. If l am Jailed for ;
n term of years she will likely know ant
II If l kill one of you men it will do M
e. no good. l am not to be taken alive
1T therefore l would prefer that yol
~ should shoot me down here as stand
to Only ask you to finish me with on
shot. I am known as John Murdock
e. That's not my name. but my real nam
I'd no man in the state knows. I'm ready
We Fire at either my heart or my fore
in head and aim true"
to AS stood there looking at this splen
to did specimen of a man calling on m
is to shoot him that his mother nigh
to not know what he was ! realize
more fully than ever before that maj
is superior animal only in heredit
and influence. This man who ha
"a been contemplate enough to rob dc
to fenseless men and women could stan
or up to be killed that he might save hi
ot mother the distress of knowing tina
,t- the child she had borne and reare
ce was a robber. Whatever of infuenc
of for good he had received as chill
nj was telling now in trumpet tone.
Had luck not been against him doub
less this influence would have bee
sufficient to make fine man of him.
You had better surrender" | sal
,o to him. AT any rate wish yo
would. I'm sheriff. but l don't lik
the role of executioner."
:" mo. l have made my peace Sc,
eral times since l was wrongful
~ made felon l have exposed myse
ht that my career would be finished b
a bullet. have no desire to live.
We can't undo the past. l can't live a r
90 spectacle life. can't be IL comfort I
those who have loved me. You wi
an be doing me a favor to kill me. B,
wv don't let your sympathies cause you
bungle. You know how to shot
an straight. Put your bullet where
is will do the job at once"
l wished l could turn the work ou.