Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-01-05
How a Desperate
Was Eliminated
By OSCAR cox

DevtTS parlcr was PROBABLY the WorSt
congregation Of toughs. both for men
and women. in that wild and woolfy
west, which may be said to have
passed out with the nineteenth century.
The Devil part of the name came from
the number Of crimes committed In the
place. The parlor was intended to be
ironical.
With the gradual rolling westward
Of civilization even Devils parlor IN
derwent change. Some OF the men
married respectable women who In
time caused the exit OF those who were
not respectable The cabins took on a
more reputable appearance. white cur
tains appearing at the windows and
flowers in the front yard. A court was
established for the trial Of offenders
and there was even talk OF church.
All good citizens were interested In
the reform. and. those who were not
made no counter effort.
This does not mean that all the bad
characters were at once eliminated
from Devils parlor. Nevertheless there
came time when but one man Of the
original devils was left Bill Tomkins
had killed more adversaries than any
other man at the place and he seemed
bent on keeping up his record. The
court that had been established could
not handle his case. for no sheriff
could be found who dare attempt 70 ar
rest him. The men held a meeting and
offered reward to any one who would
eliminate him either by arrest or death.
but no one seemed willing to try for
the prize.
The men having failed to carry out
their design the women took hold.
They were all by this time respectable.
except one Of the old stock called Red
head Kate. and she was as bad for
woman as Bill Tomkins was for man.
Ladies'" said Mrs. Rogers. Its my
opinion that II you want to get rid Of
Bill Tomkins you'd better hire Red
head Kate to do the job. propose
that we offer her the reward subscrib-
ed by our husbands to circumvent Bill
and fix him SOS he can't do no more
damage to this we're community. Red
head Kate isn't bad lookin when she's
well dressed. and bein' about my size
don't keer II | lend her some O my
forgery to set her on" o
The suggestion was approved. Red
head Kate was sounded. and the re-
ward having been raised from $500 to
$500. she agreed TO eliminate Mr.. Tom
kins. She was arrayed In Mrs. Rogers
best dress and hat so magnificent
that 1t would have been envietI by ii
drum major of band. When asked
II she would need a revolver she said
she would not need amy SIGH noisy
thing" IL she wanted to do Bill Tom
kins she'd mix little p'isen In his
liquor"
Redhead Kate was paid $3.50 down.
the balance to be handed her upon her
satisfying the ladies' that Bill Tomkins
would not trouble the town any more.
though by this time Its name had been
changed to .Angelus. Kate waited till
Mr. Tomkins had gone on on an ex-
petition for the purpose OF plumber,
when she also disappeared. Nothing
was heard Of her for two weeks. when
she returned to Angelus. and with her.
looking like lamb led to the slaugh-
ter. was Bill Tomkins. Immediately
on her return she asked for an inter-
view with the ladies o. Aagelus. and
on their coming together thus address
ed them:
''Ledies. there's no need for me to
tell you how managed this case, for
you've doubtless all practiced what
I've done on your husbands. played
soft ON Bill Tomkins, lettin' on he
was the apple O my eye. givin' him
his way about everything till he was
ready to marry me. A jestice o the
peace done the business. and MS soon
as I'd got Bill where the law give me
all the privileges and him none OF 'em
jist came down on him with both
feet. He took 1t hard at fust. then
tried fight met his fight with nag.
and 1t didn't take no time to bring him
under But I'm bound to confess that
! was obliged on var'us occasions to
use sarcumspection. Onct lifted one
Of his eyes from Its socket with my
thumb; onct bit piece or his nose,
and onct made him sick with Diluted
ratsbane. But wishes to say to those
Of you who's lookin' for methods to
manage husbands that found stiddy
talkin' the most wearin' on him Just
talked and talked and talked. The
finality Of It was he said. oh. gimme o
rest and Ill come down
And now ! wants to tell you ledies
that really believes there's the max
in Of man In Bill Tomkins. / done
with him what we have to do with the
bronchos. / got him under. then he
was easy to the bit. I'll pledge my
word that he won't trouble Devil's-I