The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-06
ByNINH " RO8ERZ-S'

resident of Birmingham, loved
 a girl, lost her to an un- scrupulous drummer, murdered the drummer, returned, married the girl, and eventually died in Washington without having stood trial for his grievous offense, is a rather strange and complex story.
 Although there are in Birmingham today a number of the older citizens who recall Richard Hogue, and who remember that his father was proprie- tor of haberdasHery back in the '9o's, the complete story which is about to be unfolded is unknown save by the lawyer to whom the offender against the law made an open confession, and sought advice. Inasmuch as the law yer, because he told the young man to pack his household goods and move into the west, might be considered by certain Thigh -brows" of the profession of technical strategists, non-ethical, his name will not appear. However, he still resides in Birmingham, and has no regret for the advice he gave, for while he does not necessarily sub scribe to the doctrine of Gan eye for an eye and tooth for tooth," he does hold that the grievance of Hogue was past mortal endurance-although the diabolical revenge sought and ob- eained is not entirely in accord with the scruples of his conscience.
 q, myself,' he said yesterday, would have killed the scoundrel, but do not believe would have had the barbarous courage to have meted out the horrible death which, in most devilish fashion. was inflicted"
 The story begins with the love af- fair of the man and the girl.
 The lawyer recalls that it was "se- cret" of common knowledge, that ev- erybody knew that the sweethearts from infancy would eventually be welded, and that when the announce ment of the approaching nupitals was o-actually recorded, no surprise was ex- pressed.
 But the wedding, at the appointed hour, did not occur. For there had appeared on the scene drummer. This individual, the mould of fashion, with honeyed words, with an ease and grace and bouyant air in doing things, succeeded in tearing down in one month all that which by persistent ef- fort, poor Hogue in lifetime had constructed.
 It is very probable that the loser suffered "a broken heart" but if this was true, the world, with an insolent tongue shaped for gossip, did not know. For Hogue was built of sterner stuff. But the lawyer, who is the real historian, remembers that when the drummer received the congratu- lations of the man he had supplanted, he also received warning.
 "Take her," said Hogue, "and re- member this--if you ever do her wrong, l will trail you to the end of the world and take your life.'
 "I will do her no wrong" Billy Steel-for that was his name--replied and he then knew, if the truth is told, that he had already committed a crime, and was planning still another.
 He disappeared.
 Three years later, however, it be- same known that he was in Louis ville, Ky. Hogue, who, through eH the weary years, had said nothing, but on whose face certain lines had grown more rigid and more pronounced each day, packed his suit case. It is perhaps true that he con- suited with the lawyer. Perhaps the lawyer knew in which direction the man was preparing to go. Perhaps
 
 he knew that the trail would end in