The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-04-29
A SINGULAR
DUEL
By GEORGE ArwATER

knife throwing. ban Weatberill threw
the knives at board against which
his wife stood, sending a knife about
two inches from her body till they
marked her outline. The performers
were young couple. and Mrs. Wealth.
erill was very pretty.
Such performances were not to my
taste. and instead of watching this
one I looked elsewhere. Weathertll
had pinned his wife In with knives a.
most completely when what was sup
posed to be an accident occurred. But
1t had definite cause which l. looking
up at stage bog directly opposite the
knife thrower. witnessed. ] saw a
man partly concealed by a curtain take
something from his pocket that at frst
| supposed to be a pistol. He turned
1t in the direction of Weatherill. but
not taking sight as with weapon. |
saw dash of light from one end Of
the thing In the fellows hand. which
now saw was cylinder. and almost
instantly there followed a cry from the
audience. Turning my eyes upon
Weatherill I saw him give momentary
glance up at the box where had seen
the light then run forward to his wife.
noticed that one knife sticking in the
board near his wife's side was out of
line. She smiled at him to show him
that she was unhurt.
l think was the only person In the
audience who was cognizant Of the
cause OF the knife being thrown amiss.
for every eye except mine was at the
time OF the fash fixed intently on what
was going on on the stage. To me all
was at once plain. The man In the
box had flashed an electric light in
Weatherill's eyes Mt the moment he
was throwing q knife with intent to
cause him to injure his wife. The
curtain was lowered. and when 1t was
raised again the next piece on the pro-
gram was produced.
After the show asked where
Weatherill was stopping and found
him In the lobby Of his hotel. told
him that had witnessed the attempt
OF the man In the box and asked II he
would give me the reason for the
mans inhuman act He said that It
was the old story Of man turned
down by girl and marrying bis rival.
At the same time Weatherill apollo
gized for his wife's ever having been
mixed up with such man By saying
that It was all the mans doings. he
having forced himself upon the woman
asked Weatherill II I could b Of
service to him as witness, and after
considerable thought be said that very
likely could.
The next evening curiosity led me
to attend the show again. wondered
II the Weatherills would have the
hardihood to repeat their perform.
ance and II the man who had flashed
the light would be there. Both Of
these occurred. though the light dash
er this time occupied box facing the
wife instead of the husband. I did
not see him till the knife throwing
commenced. and then he drew aside
the curtains only sufficiently to show
his face.
Weatherill had about half pinned In
his wife and was about to throw the
next knife when suddenly he turned
and sent the knife at the boz where
his enemy sat. OF course there was q
commotion In the audience.
Thought will sometimes act with
, lightning rapidity. II was 90 at this
time for me- | saw that Weatherill
would be tried for murder and could
, only get free by producing evidence
. that his enemy had tiled to destroy
his aim the night before with view
to cause him to kill his wife. sprang
to the box and, pushing my way
through others to the injured man.
searched him and found in bis pocket
an electric lamp. The audience and I
had witnessed duel. fought In two
. successive evenings
? A. soon an policeman came In I
gave him the lamp. and ! noted the
, names and addresses Of those who had
seen me remove 1t from the wounded
mans pocket. He was carried to his
hotel. but died on the way.
, Weatherill. leaving the theater. walk.
cd to police station and gave himself
up. He was taken to jail. and went
to see him to inform him that had
, taken an electric lamp from bis enc.
! my's pocket and had the names OF sew.
eral who had seen me do 90. He grasp.
cd my hand with fervent pressure
realizing the favor had done him. for
my having seen the dash the night
before which caused his knife to ~
amiss and the fact that his enemy had
! the lamp ready for uss when be was
| titled would be sufficient evidence foI
an acQuittal by any unbiased court
The man who had been KILLED was q
! leader Of rough element who threat
ened to take Weatherill ont and lynch
him. but the sheriff prepared for them
, and. feeling aure Of a copvtction Of ths
, prisoner. they hnally concluded to lsl
the law take Its course Hut they did
, not know Of the testimony was q
gtve Indeed. II had not happened II
be looking away from the stage and n
. | 4 eoPt0tO A1pQCfion an o1Hn nvnulnn thS