Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-07
The Man Who
Was Fixed"
BY ALAN IlINsDALE

When was young man-soon after
the war between the states-l went to
Kentucky. Kentucky had been slave
state, and there were number Of
negroes who had been freed. These
were thrown on their own resources,
and many of them had hard time to
make living.
One day missed some clothing from
my room, and the tanit0r of the build.
ing In which | lodged disappeared at
the same time. The police were set III
motion to find the janitor-Pete Mar
tin. They succeeded, and he was
brought to trial, being his accuser.
He was convicted and sent to state
prison for two years.
Soon after his conviction received a
call from his former master. who said
that it had been reported to him by
Pete's associates that as soon as he got
out of prison he would Fix" me for
having sent him up. The gentleman
also told me that the convict was the
only slave he had ever owned of whom
he was afraid Misery loves company,
and my misery was lightened by being
told that Pete, had threatened to Fix"
the Judge who sentenced him as well
as his accuser. thanked the gentle.
man for his warning and told MIN that
would be on my guard.
Nevertheless when the time Of dan
pnr .u mo I fhrunf ah tho al tor
| had made memorandum of the date
Of expiration Of the convict's term;
but, learning that they all get time of
for. good behavior, l had considered
the memorandum worthless and put 1t
away. forgetting it. 1t happened that
In looking over some old memoranda l
kept in pigeonhole ct my desk hit
upon the date OF Petes release on the
very day This full time expired.
Throwing it into wastebasket, !
put the matter out Of my mind. But
It came back again that night when J
was in bed about to go to sleep. Sup
pose I should awaken in the middle of
the night and see the powerful figure
OF the negro standing oven me. could
not get rid OF this dread and the next
day purchased a revolver, loaded 1t
and placed it under my pillow.
One morning on taking up my paper
saw that Judge Montague, who had
sentenced Pete, had been called to his
door at 10 O'Clock Mt night and shot
through the heart by a man who had
disappeared without having been seen
by any one except his victim. The ac-
count given indicated that not the
slightest clew to the murderer was in
the hands Of the police.
went to the states attorney and
told him my story. He at once in
CURED of the warden of the prison In
which Pete had been confined and
learned that the convict had gained no
tine for good behavior, but had been
released on the expiration Of the term
for which he had been sentenced. 1t
was considered probable by the attor-
ney and by me that Pete was the
Judges murderer and equally probable
| that ne would carry out his threat to
"a" ME as well.
The police-xere instructed TO LOOK
for Pete. but not To- give publicity to
| the fact that he was wanted or that
there was any clew to Judge Monta-
CUES murderer. AS for me, was to
take every possible means to be ready
for Pete should he carry out his threat
concerning me. The chief OF police
! wished to send man to sleep in my
house, but concluded that this would
be more trouble than it was worth J
| got out my revolver. which had dis
carded. saw that it was in order and
loaded and had telephone apparatus
placed on table beside my bed
One night after all In the house were
asleep there came ring at my door
bell. telephoned the police-by pre-
vious arrangement-that | was being
called up late at night, then went to a
/ window and called out that ! would
/ come down as soon as could get OF
some clothes. A few minutes aftel
my telephone message the policeman
near my house was at my door bn,
whoever had rung had disappeared,
4 If my visitor was Pete he did NO
come again. Several months passet
without my being molested, and ! wa:
beginning to think that Pete had con
cluded that it would be wiser for hin
TO forego his revenge upon me whei
one night was awakened by the tiasl
Of dark, lantern in my eyes. De
iieyed there were burglars In tn
house Taking the telephone instru
ment under the cover to deaden thu
!. sound, called Police" giving my
street and number.
4 1 knew that there would be no waste
Of time by the police. and hoped D.
remaining quiet the burglars would g
on doing their work. At the SAM
time, selling my revolver, | slid noise
4 iessly out Of bed Ind, feeling my wa!
TO closet, left the door ajar SO tina
i could see out. had not been Their
long before heard tread In the hail
then footsteps approaching my bed.
saw figure pass window. Whoever
was in the room must have gone to tn
bed, felt for the occupant and. findinl
no one there, retraced his steps. for
beard nothing except footsteps In re
j treat.
t. Fastening to the door, shut ant
locked 1t, then raised the window sasl
as softly as possible.
4 Seeing figures below. who ] surmis
ed were the police, ! called to then
to enter They had surrounded th