Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-02-02
A Strange
Revelation
By ELINOR MARSH

When John Bowling retired from the
police, at a dinner given him he told
the following story:
Most of you win remember the
Charnley murder case. After month
had passed and We had given out ev-
cry day or so that we were on the
track of the murderer and would get
him sure the public began to lose con-
fidence and the papers were full Of
scathing remarks about the police. An
election for city officers was coming
on, and the chief told me one day to
Charnley case, intimating that the ad-
ministration's control depended on my
discovering the murderer.
II did n hard lot of thinking on the
problem. Indeed, began to fear that
if I kept on l would run into monoma-
mania. I walked the floor nights try
ing to put this and that together to
construct a theory of the murder. So
my wife put me in a room by myself
where 1 could prowl without waking
her or the children.
zone night after the usual brain
racket l fell into a slumber. l don't
know how long slept, but l think It
was about an hour. Then l woke up
+ and started at seeing a man standing
by my bed
leone with me- he said, and III
put you on to an explanation OF the
Charnley murder
81 jumped out Of bed, hustled on my
clothes, strapped on my revolver-for
despite my anxiety TO get the informa-
ton he promised l did not forget that
he had come into my house without
being admitted, and | was somewhat
suspicious Of him-and followed him
downstairs. A horse and buggy We're
standing at the door. We climbed into
the vehicle the fellow whipped up the
horse, and off we went.
II was so impatient and curious to
know what was coming that tried to
pump it out of him, but his mouth
was shut like an oyster, and never
word did he speak from the time we
started till we pulled up in front OF
the house In which Charnley's body
had been found the morning after the
murder l knew 1t was that house.
though l didn't know any one of the
family Of the murdered man. 1t had
been shut up since the tragedy, but
now there were lights In every part.
MY companion alighted, led me to
the house and, opening the front door
for me, babe me enter. What became
OF him after that l don't know. l
didn't see him again, unless one of the
persons about whom l am going to tell
you was he.
Hearing voices mingled with sobs
upstairs, / ran up and stood in an
opening on the second floor, looking
into bedroom through an open door.
On a couch lay the figure of man,
but a number of persons were crowd
ing about him SO that l could not see
his face. A young woman was on her
knees beside the couch, Historically
clinging to the body, while another
woman was trying 10 draw her away. |
A man was standing apart, wringing |
his hands. | stepped into the room, |
and the moment he saw me he col !
lapsed. The woman trying to draw |
the girl away from the body turned |
and. seeing me- uttered a shrek. Then !
she dropped on her knees before me. |
and between her sObs said:
Don't take him. He made terrible |
mistake. Oh, why didn't 1 confde in |
him? Let me explain, and when you /
know how we suffer at what has &C.
Cured | am sure you will not add to
our misfortune. This is my intimate
friend pointing to the girl beside the
couch She was married clandestinely
TO the man who lies there. The mar
riage could not be published because
her father would disinharit her. | per
mitted them to meet here. My hus-
band was away and did not know. Hers
was here this evening. and SIZE was OK
pected. My husband came home sud
denly and found him here with me.
waiting for her. Mad with jealousy.
without giving us time TO explain, he
seized a heavy glass ornament and
brought it down on the victims head.
Please go away from here and say
We are the only ones who
know Of the tragedy
Il was thinking what | could say to
the woman to make it easy for her
for felt obliged to report the matter
when the lights went out and left
me in darkness.
81 was awakened IN the morning by
my wife in my own room from heavy
sleep or stupor. l don't know which.
she could only get me up by telling ne
| would be late in reporting. l man
Iged to get into my clothes. swallowed
q cup of coffee and went to headquar
ters
IT thought the matter over that day
and the next told tie chief that had
failed 10 find n clew to the Charnley
murder and advised him TO keep feed
ng the public with stories Of clews tin
ifter election and then let the matter
lrop. Now that | have unburdened
myself | wouldn't mind hearing what