The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-11-21

n along the waterfront driving
all-nishters for the beiated
seafaring poprlace who navigate
ships during their stay at sea and
endeavor to navigate themselves
during their stay upon the beach.
sometimes losing their bearings
when travelling from por, TO port
or. to be exact. from saloon TO
gambling house He had furtivs
eve. an ingratiating manner. and n
sort OF whimpering whine which.
when the opportunity offered. turned
into a snarl. the snarl of a cowardlv,
brute who. for the time. has nothing
70 fear.
He had drugged sailors. robbed
mates and masters. committed al
most every nasty little meanness his
depraved nature was capable OF. for
he was an outcast. n veritable dog"
as ne was called by the knowing
ones. He nad no mother or father
he could remember. A woman OF
the streets. the dirty streets along
the water front. claimed him when
young. and under her drunken. stat
cernly guidance he mad grown up 10
the miserable wretch b. was when
he took to driving 70. a livery COM
pany who proved upon the unsus-
pectins men OF ths sea.
Flanagan. jim Flanagan. lie called
his name. for he b m nothing OF the
irishmau about him. Te lacked all
sne essentials cave thoss cravings
lor strong drink.
His hidden elevation into promin-
encs was caused by some drunken
vachtsmen. They had come ashore
end had been sa-)Usiny until the
early hours OF the Summer morning.
One u their crowd. 3 wealthy young
nian or excellent family. had been
the bntf OF several practical Jokes.
and 20 nnisp on the night orgies.
they reisDhoned for hearse from a
neighboring undertaking establish
ment flanagan happened to be the
driver that night. for Il was the es-
tablishment who ran the livery he
worked for and he drew up before
che door OF a saloon as directed
The young men. in a spirit OF eccen.
tric glee pulled and dragged their
half-insensible companion out and
dumped him into the CHASTITY vehicle
with direction to 1rive around until
ne awoke. II was supposed that
the effect upon his shaken nerves
when he realized where he was would
work something like fright upon him.
With ieers and laughter they
watched the grim vehicle drive on.
Flanagan being told 70 keep going
until Daylight or until HIS fare awoke
10 realization OF his surroundings.
Flanagan was dunk. ugly, and the
youngsters short in their treatment
81 him He resented the affrouts Of
one. and his mind becoming OF a
more sinister character as he drove
along through the stiffness OF the
carly morning. he suddenly deter
mined 10 turn his fare to good ac-
count.
Remembering medical school
which had sometimes used "stifs"
'corpses) he had dug from the
Potter's Field. he suddenly deter
mined 20 drive his charge there and
sell him lie could get fifteen dol
Jars or more. and with the proceeds
ge, very drunk and forget the woes
OF the world.
The affair at first probably ap-
3eared in the form Of a practical
Joke OF a rather grim sort to his
muddled and villainous mind, but
as he drew near the college he gained
his wits enough 10 remember that the
corpse was alive. very much alive,
and would probably object to being
cut up for dissection. He drew I'D
in front OF the door and rang the
bell II was answered and he told
the porter he wished to see the doctor
in charge. Two young medical men
appeared. and 20 them he connded
the fact he had Just stolen "stin"
and that n they would hurry and
dump II in the pickle tank. he would
sell Il for twenty dollars.
Without further ado tho young
doctors helped him drag the uncon-
scious gentleman into the room
where the vat used Tor such things
lay. filled with many gallons OF
strong pickle. enough 10 cover forty
men. without hesitation they
dropped the young gentleman into
~. not even stopping 10 remove his
clothes. u was remarkable pro-
ceedlnE. and probably would not
have occurred but for the sinister rec
ord 81 Mr.. FNanagan and the knowI-
edge OF his methods By the young
doctors.
The darkness gave no clue az TO
the victims Identity. and Mr.
Charles Thomas Pursell would have
disappeared on the face OF The earth
forever. leaving no trace behind.
bad 10 not been Tor the strength OF
the pickle. Jim Flanagan pocketsd
the twenty dollars and. with upper.
turbed manner. drove on. bis hor-
rible crime apparently making no
No. Haaaa...H..