Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-04-10
A Mysterious
Disappearance
A Story Of the Workings Of
Lynch Law
K By JOHN TURNLEE \
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One evening when the stagecoach
stopped at the tavern at b., town In
New Mexico, melancholy looking
man alighted, with no baggage but
gripsack In his hand, and, being re-
ceived by the landlord, the two went
inside together.
Landlord" said the stranger, 81
have come out here from the east to
settle and try to make u living. l
have been recommended to this town,
among others, as one likely to grow,
and I've concluded to put in my stake
here, but haven't cent. It's better
to tell you this In the beginning than
to stay with you awhile and then have
you turn me out for nonpayment of
board. I'm an educated physician and
hope to gather practice If you'll
board me while I'm getting patients
I'll pay as L get in fees"
That's just the kind of man we
want out here" replied the landlord.
81 like the frank way you put the
case. 1t shall not be said that Jim
Henderson refused to help any man
coming into New Mexico to try to
make a living. Most Of our people
who have come here from the east
have come strapped. If they hadn't
been strapped they wouldn't have
come. But l don't remember any Of
them that have been as frank about 1t
as you have. Enter your name on the
register; supper Is ready, and after
you've filed up I'll show you to q
ROOM"
The newcomer thanked the landlord
for his kindness and entered his name
as "Dr. George Atwater, City"
II see you don't give the point you
hail FROM" said the landlord.
whats the usep I'm citizen OF
this town"
$50 you are-so you are. Nobody
here cares where anybody comes from
or what he's done elsewhere so long
as he behaves himself after he gets
here"
DR.. Atwater was recommended by
Henderson, the landlord, and occasion
ally got case In some one of the
guests Of the tavern, He became pOpu-
lar In the town and would have sue
ceeded had there been more people or
greater proportion of lnvalids there
But b. did not grow as fast as had
been expected and was very health
full place. Atwater managed to pay his
board by turning over n fee when he
got one, but after he had been ut the
tavern about n year there came an In
terval when not person In the town
was Ill, and, there being no fees, there
was no money to pay board.
In new countries where there Is no
law the punishment for crime Is usual
ly assumed by vigilance committee.
There may be conditions of society
where a vigilance committee is better
than no law or even poorly admins
tered law, but after all Judge Lynch is
but return TO barbarOus methods
There were at this time more or less
shooting going on among the citizens
OF New Mexico and considerable horse
stealing, There was no objection to
the shooting so long as each man had
fair chance, but the horse stealing
was bitterly condemned A vigilance
committee was organized to punish
murderers and especially horse thieves.
Since shooting them was not con
sidered murder the principal business
Of the committee was catching and
furnishing horse thieves.
One day Bill Evans, one OF the com
mittee, entered the bnrroom and Of
fee combined OF the tavern. Hender-
son was sitting by the stove with his
back to the door, while DR.. Atwater
was leaning against the bar. Evans
came In just in time to hear Hender-
son say to the doctor
"You haven't paid any board In four
months"
That was all the conversation Evans
heard, for Henderson, hearing n step,
turned, and the doctor left the room.
The remark made no further impress.
sion on Evans than to acqualnt him
with the fact that Atwater was In debt
for his board.
One day DR. Atwater received n let.
ter that seemed TO produce marked
effect upon him. After reading II he
put It back In its envelope without re
mark but Henderson, who was with
him at the time, noticed that he had
received some unwelcome news. The
landlord, however, was not n man to
pry into other peoples affairs and made
no mention of the matter 10 the doctor.
II was not long after this that
summons came In the middle Of the
night for DR.. Atwater 10 attend an in
valid. He went on his errand and did
not return. When week elapsed and
nothing was seen or heard Of him
people began to talk about the case
Curiosity was the chief incentive TO
debate the matter, and all speculated
upon reason for the mysterious dis.
appearance. No possible clew 10 the
cause Of his going away was sug-
gested until Bill Evans told Of the re.
mark he had overheard when he had
suddenly entered the tavern and
found Henderson and Atwater to
gether. He told It simply as II has
been told here, but when II was re-
peated It was given as follows:
"Bill Evans come on 'em all Of a
suddint an hearn Henderson abusin'
the doctor cause he wouldn't pay no
board"
The next version was that Evans
had reported quarrel between the
two men, In which Henderson was
For Sale In R0elEv1Ile