The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-06-21
The Woman Who
Talked to Herself
Bv MARTIN B. ERICH

along the street Of the city in which l
lived and heard town clock strike
with its deep tones the hour Of TO-
This is a double anniversary for
me-" said to myself.
What | meant was this: Ten years
before. on the 10th of April, 1861, l
had been with the troops cutting their
way through Baltimore to the relief of
the national capital. threatened by the
secessionists. and on the present 10Th
Of April. 1871. had only an hour be-
fore heard the clock strike been ac-
cepted as the future husband of the
woman who has for forty years been
my wife.
There is third reason why l have
remembered that 10th of April. 1871.
While passing before dwelling wo-
man came out. muttering imprecations
on some one. She was so wrought up
by what she was thinking about that
she did not appear to see me. l walk
ed on behind her and heard her talk
ing to herself l don't remember her
words. but she was heaping maledic-
tons upon the head of her husband.
who had deserted her, leaving her to
support and care for two little chill
dren. These words I remember hear
ing her say:
poor dear little Bob. sick and hun
CRY and nothing to give him to eat but
dry bread when he needs dainties! I'd
IKE to kill"-
She turned into a baker shop and
asked for a loaf Of bread. offering 4
cents instead Of the full price. which
was 3. The baker had evidently
granted similar requests.
When she came out spoke to her.
told her that had overheard her talk
ing to herself and what she had said.
She burst into tears and wrung her
hands. l told her that 1t would give
me pleasure to supply her immediate
wants and handed her bill quite SUI
ncient for that purpose. Not only
were my sympathies enlisted for her.
but l was myself at the moment the
happiest man in the world.
As she thanked me the moon shone
down full on her face. showing it to
me distinctly. 1t was a face not soon
to be forgotten-not beautiful. but sad.
We would like to forget the sad sights
Of life. but we can't. 1t Is much easier
to forget the happy ones.
A few months later the public be-
came interested In the trial of wom-
an accused Of having murdered her
husband. read some accounts Of the
trial. and certain features Of it seemed
familiar to me. Witnesses swore that
they had heard her say that she was
going to kill him If she hanged for 1t.
Where and when had ! heard some
one say Il should like to kill'- Then
It came to me that It was the woman
whom had seen come out of house
talking to herself. who had been de-
serted by her husband. whose sick boy
needed dainty food and for whose i'm
mediate wants l had provided.
A thrill of horror ran through me at
the thought that she had been influ
enced by her wrongs to do what she
had said she would like to do. re-
solved not to speak to any one of my
having met such a woman lest l he
called to testify against her. For
awhile l kept away from the court
rooms. but something uncanny-a
strange curiosity-drew me there. and
on the day of the summing up yield
ed and went to the courtroom.
I had not been mistaken. The pris-
oner's face was the same that l had
last seen on the street in the moonlight.
though the sadness of 1t had given
place to sort Of stupor.
The prosecutor was summing up as
I entered the courtroom. l heard him
say that he had proved that the wo-
man had threatened to kill her hus-
band: that at the hour of 9 at night he
had left a friend to 20 to his home. say
ing that he had received some money
and was going to return with it to his
wife At ten minutes past 10 one in
the adjoining house had heard a cry.
had gone in and found the man MUIR
dered. the money gone Later his wife
had been found at confectioner's with
ten dollar bill buying delicacies
What could be palmer than that she
had in a mad desire for revenge killed
him. taken the money and gone out on
an ordinary errand to avert suspicion:
I sprang from my seat among the
spectators and cried out: THAT woman
is innocent. I know it. can prove
It. Put me on the stand"
There was a hubbub in the court
room, but when l took the witness
stand and had been sworn all was ST.
lence to hear what I would say. told
how 1 had followed her to the bake
shop and had given her a ten dollar
bill. When asked how I remembered
the date and the hour. even almost
the minute. l gave the reasons I have
kiven in the beginning Of this story.
The woman was acquitted What ]
did for her after that is for me and
my family and for no one else.
l was curious to know how the hus
band had met his death. It was very
singular that he should have been IN
his wife's room just long enough to