Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-10-26

gbEAA $3.50
up for all It was worth. All the
features of a f1rst-class sensation were
present. The victim, Robert Under
wood, was we'll known in society and
a prominent art %connoisseur. The
place where the crime was committed
was one of the most fashionable Of
New York's hostelries. The presumed
assassin was a college man and the
son Of one of the most wealthy and
influential OF New York's citizens.
True, this Howard Jeffries, the son,
was a black sheep. He had been
mixed up in all kinds Of scandals be-
fore. His own father had turned him
out of doors, and he was married to a
woman whose father died in prison.
Could a better combination of cir
cumstances for a newspaper be con
ceived? The crime was discovered
too late for the morning papers to
make mention of 1t, but the afternoon
papers fred a broadside that shook
the town. All the evening papers had
big scare heads stretching across the
entire front page, with pictures of the
principals involved and long inter-
views with the coroner and Capt.
Clinton. There seemed to be no doubt
that the police had arrested the right
man, and in all quarters Of the city
there was universal sympathy for Mr..
Howard ,Jeffries, Sr. 1t was terrible
to think that this splendid, upright
man, whose whole career was without
a single stain, who had served his
country CALAMITY through the civil
war, should have such disgrace
brought upon him in his old age.
Everything pointed to a speedy tria'
and quick conviction. Public indigna
, ton was aroused almost to a frenzy
and a loud clamor went up against
the laws delay. Too many crimei
Of this nature, screamed the yellow
press, had been allowed to sully tn
good name of the city. A fearful ex
ample must be made, nc matter wha
the standing and influence of the pris
oner's family. Thus goaded on, thu
courts acted with promptness. Takel
before a magistrate, Howard was a
once committed to the Tombs to avail
trial, and the district attorney set t
work impaneling a jury, Justice, h
promised, would be swiftly done. On
newspaper stated positively that tn
family would not interfere, but woul
abandon the scapegrace son to hi
richly deserved fate. Judge Brewster
the famous lawyer, 1t was said, had a
ready been approached by the prison
er's wife, but had declined to TAX
the case. Banker Jeffries- also wa
quoted as saying that the man undo
arrest was no longer a o. of his.
AS one paper pointed out, 1t SCENE
a farce and a waste Of money to haV
n trial at all. The assassin had NJ
only been caught red-handed, but ha
actually confessed. Why waste tin
over a trial? True, n paper timidl
suggested that 1t might have been
case Of suicide. Robert Underwood
, financial affairs, 1t went on to sa
were In a critical condition, and Il
theory Of suicide was borne out
some extent by an interview with Q
t Bernstein, professor of psychology
| one Of the universities, who state
l that he was by no means convinced
J.. the prisoners guilt, and limited tn
q the alleged confession might ha'
been forced from him by the polio
while in a hypnotic state. This th
\ ory, belittling as 1t did their pet Sc
= sation, did not suit the policy Of Il
! yellow press, so the learned prof'
sor at once became the target for 9,
-. torial attack.
. The sensation grew in importan
as the day for the trial a%pproache
= All New York was agog with excl
ment. The handsome Jeffries ms
sion on Riverside drive was besieg
by callers. The guides on the sig
seeing coaches shouted through tn,
- megaphones:
~; That's the house where the m
derer of Robert Underwood live,
q The immediate vicinity Of the hot
the day that the crime was made pl
lie was thronged with curious p
pie. The blinds Of the house WI
drawn down as If to shield the
:. mates from observation, but thu
~ were several cabs In front Of the mi
entrance and passers by stopped
'e the sidewalk, pointing at the house
80 number OF newspaper men stood II
70 group, gathering fresh material
w the next edition. A reporter
It. preached rapidly from Broadway
H. Joined his colleagues
III well, boys" he said cheerlly, "a
thing doing? Say, my paper is go
to have a bully story tomorrow! G.
I'd plete account by Underwood's va
He tells how he caught the murde
Just as he was escaping from
apartment. Well have pictures
everything. It's fine. Anything
n ing here?" he demanded.
VI "Naw," grunted the others in
10 gruntled tones.
I'VE saw the butler" said n
porter, "and tried to get a story fl
him, but he fatty refused to talk.
80 he would say was that Howard
fries was nothing to the family, I
~ his father didn't Care a straw "
became Of him."
'te That's pretty fought" exclail
another reporter. Hes his son.
nv oIIo