Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-01-20
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! am not d9A"-NN'
81 had still some little money left,
and resolved to take her away from
nor intolerable life. / do not wish to
ebelter myself behind a woman; but
have always told the people of New
York the exact truth, and | am do
ing it now. We had planned to leave
the camp on a certain night and ride
sontb TO the Union Pacific. That
rigbt was the night of the great biz
,ard of 1882 which is still remem-
bered in the west 1t was very late
vhen | reached her cabin with the
horses. The woman was ready for
me waiting eagerly in fact. Her hus-
hand had recently won a small sum OF
money by gambling. That money she
took with her.
I'VE had turned to the door to go
out although it was almost certain
death to be abroad in such a storm,
when her husband entered the room.
How he knew, or whether he knew,
what we were going to do, l cannot
saw At any rate, he was there. He
covered me with a gun; was entire
" helpless. He declared his inten-
ton of shooting me, and delayed only
that he might enjoy what he con-
ceived my fear Of death, possibly my
pleading for life.
q worked in a desperate hurry, and
at last got my hand on the butt of
nv pistol. ! saw from the look of his
eye that | would have little time to
draw il. realized that unless l could
| was a doomed man. At that in
slant there was a flash and report
in the room. Immediately after the
man pulled the trigger of his own
pistol, but the bullet went wild. He
sank down on his knees, and fell back
dying. l dropped my own weapon and
bent over him. There was hole in
his breast through which the blood
was oozing"
Who shot him." growled the chief.
who had been listening with the great
est absorption to the narrative.
THE woman shot him." answered
Gormly. But you need not put that
in, Chaloner. Let 1t go as l have
dictated IT," He resumed to his Ste
nographer:
There was nothing that could do
for the man. 1t was more than ever
necessary that we get away. In pity
for the woman, l tore a blank leaf
from a book and wrote upon it that
had shot this man. We left that note
on The body and plunged into the
storm Words cannot convey the
frightful nature of the tempest. We
became separated in the storm
through no fault Of mine"
why the woman told me she threw
you down herself after you gave her
Don't put that down, Chaloner
That's not necessary. Now" said
Gormly quietly, 'tust add this:
after frightful experience I sue
ceeded in reaching the station.
came to Chicago, drifted about there
for awhile, and thereafter came to
New York determined to retrieve the
past Whether l have done SO or not
it Is for you. my fellow citizens, to
Judge. Whether this story which I re-
late to you now, because l am COM
PEELED to do so-naturally not from
choice-destroys your confidence in
me and makes you believe that I am
unworthy of your SURFACES and there
by unfit to I'LL the office to which I
aspire for your service, 1t Is for you
TO decide. At any rate, I declare to
you, what is now quite evident, that
SO far as | am concerned-conscious
mat however you may regard this
solitary episode in my life, which |
confess to my sorrow am now as
confident OF my competence and my
integrity to do what l said l would
90 If you elect me as | was before
the disclosure was made.
l have informed the chief of DO
lice in closing that this statement is
to be sent to every paper in the city.
lie and those associated with him
who authorized this Matchmaking
proposltton-and l point out that the
TACT that they made it is evidence of
thelr quality-may do whatever they
please in the premises. 1t only re
mains to add that in the west for some
Ooyish whim l went under the name
VI George Fordyce. The last is my
middle name, and l sign this state
ment therefore
GEORGE FoRDYCE GORMLY."
:. why, you Internal fool!" roared
~. ,ue chief, you're not going to give
cue whole thing away like that?"
MI Connel, that statement goes
ou' and by the hands of somes, to
ety paper in New York as quickly
% II can be typewriter. Mr.. Chal-
I neI' VIII you please make the very
' 'o speed possible to you?"
Yes, sir"
ta. II won't serve your purpose" blus-
.ed the officer. In the first place
W. W. Geny my part of it-I do deny it!
ro Su near me, you shorthand man, be-
NJ wv you go, and you, you English
ZIP say it's a damned lie! l
Ill.,. made any such proposition to
fITu3