Connecticut western news., 1910-06-02
THE PASSING
 OF MURDOCH By AINSWORTH RHODES Copyright. 1910. by American Press
 Association.

shot down men in a 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 Murdock, desperado. Murdock 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 1t may, he was physically a splendid specimen of a man, and l always thought that his distaste for the life he lived, to say nothing Of his conscience, made him choose at last a speedy death in pref erence to prison walls. But the true cause he gave himself
 After a train robbery in Texas by a 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 Gilson 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 gold chain. I felt sure from these finds that the robber after leaving the train had passed over this ground and that could track him.
 I started with Gilson. each of us being armed with 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 It 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. Gilson 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 it should be necessary in our defense. We travelled about six miles when we suddenly came upon man with his back to us sorting out valuables. It 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 I, drawing bead on him with my Winchester shouted:
 Hands up!"
 The man turned. rose and stood erect before us He did not throw up his hands. but folded his arms. While 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- portioned. He looked me in the eye and said:
 "I don't wish to add murder to my other crimes. They are many enough and black enough without my increas- ing them. They began by my being mistaken for another man. and they are to end on account of letter re- gently received from my mother, who doesn't know what kind of a life I have been leading If die now she may never know. If am jailed for q term of years she will likely know, and if kill one of you men 1t will do me no good. I am not to be taken alive; therefore I would prefer that you should shoot me down here as I stand. Only ask you to finish me with one shot. am known as John Murdock. That's not my name, but my real name no man in the state knows. I'm ready. Fire at either my heart or my fore head and aim true"
 As I stood there looking at this splen- did specimen of man calling on me to shoot him that his mother might not know what he was I realized more fully than ever before that man is a superior animal only in heredity and influence. This man who had been contemptfble enough to rob de- fenseless men and women could stand up to be killed that he might save his mother the distress of knowing that the child she had borne and reared was q robber. Whatever of influence for good he had received as n child was telling now fin trumpet tones. Had luck not been against him doubt less this influence would have been sufficient to make a fine man of him.
 "You had better surrender" I said to him. At any rate. l wish you would I'm a sheriff, but don't like the role of executioner."
 "No. l have made my peace. Sev- eral times since I was wrongfully made a felon l have exposed myself that my career would be finished by a bullet. I have no desire to live. can't undo the past. l can't live a re- spectable life. I can't be q comfort to those who have loved me. You will be doing me a favor to kill me. But don't let your sympathies cause you to bungle. You know how to shoot straight. Put your bullet where it will do the job at once."
 wished I could turn the work over to Gilson. But 1t was my duty, not his. 1t must be done. and in mercy to the man I was to kill it should be done at once. He was nerved to meet his fate, and he would not wish to be unnerved by delay. Then I summoned