Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-11-05


laxness OF any discipline related to
their spiritual and mental develop
ment When we were corrected or |
punished II was fo- conduct which af-
fected his comfort or dignity, never |
for q thing which affected the develop
ment Of our character.
I'VE had abundant money to spend. !
II was a part of our fathers egotism
that we should be young swells, and
we were early In disorderly ways.
Richard had genius for cruelty. A
normal boy Is likely to be thoughtless,
but Richard was inventive In his cru
elites. II was brutal. He liked to
tear things to pieces slowly, fly II It
was all he could catch-a> grasshopper,
a field mouse had n faithful little
dog which Richard staked out In the
ground and killed by vivisection. /
saw the little animal when 1t was
breathing its last with its bowels ex-
posed and its lungs laid bare.
'Richard destroyed birds nests for
pleasure. He liked to cut leg on a
hen and see II stagger about vainly
trying to walk. He MANNED dogs. He
tortured cattle and horses. He killed
a fine carriage horse by driving 1t to
death purposely to see how long 1t
would, live under the treatment he
gave II.
II doubt that was a more lovable
child. but Mt least did not have the
attribute Of cruelty. was not only
younger but was weaker physically.
I was sensitive to a degree which made
me an extraordinary victim to Richard
when he cared to express his fiendish-
ness TO or upon me.
"we were getting into late child
hood should say that I was about
fourteen--when Richard began to use
his lnventIveness In cruelty upon me
directly. As soon as he had a taste
OF the delight which came from tor
menting me l had no further peace.
II remember with a still agonized
vividness my experience In finding a
snake In my bed. He had put 1t there.
He used his superior strength to tor
ture me physically. lie dominated me
spiritually. He made life hell, such
hell as life can be made only for a
child BY mistreatment. when reality
has not starkIy asserted itself. when
proportions are not established and
when Illusions can be kindly Or hide
Gus.
Richard and grew up In this fash
lon. In terror Of him and his malevo-
lence. When was fifteen mother died.
she had been an unassertive mother.
Circumstances and conditions were be-
yond her strength Of mind or body. but
she had been a friend. and missed
her cruelty It was really a terrible
loss at time when much needed
friend.
"As we grew older Richards dia-
bollcal habits became only shrewder,
not less assertive. He contrived the
most ingenious schemes for my tor
ment. He humillated me whenever
possible before other boys and, better
for his purpose. before girls.
my father put US out to school to-
gether. and this suited Richards pur-
pose admirably. How hated this
thing that bore my name and my blood
It became an indomitable hate. 1t
exists to this day. No human being
ever was so Hated by another as my
brother Richard was by me--and is
IS to this moment and win be hated
while breath remains in my body.
rwhen I was eighteen my father
died, and Richard and inherited the
estate under a trusteeship & continue
until / was twenty-one- Richard was
then twenty. In another year he at
tanned his majority. He was profilgate
and wild, a heavy drinker, coarse,
cruel boor, licentlous young ruffian
who had suffered twice In actions
brought by weak and unfortunate
girls.
1T irritated him beyond expression
that he had TO wait the slow process
of my coming Of age before he could
come into his share Of the property
His constant demeanor toward me was
violent. Several times / tried to estnb-
ilsh the reasonable relations which
ought, in convention, to exist between
brothers. 1t was quite hopeless. and
my hate for this boor came to be an
insane passion. 1t remains as a pas
sion now.
Il may not be able e. satisfy anyone
that this was the inevitable conse-
quence Of the treatment given me, but
could If I were to elaborate the de-
talls-or merely state them. However.
my purpose is not so much to indIct
my brother as 10 record my own trl-
umph-to assist the commission of a
crime which has been Of intense salts
faction to me, a crime In which I have
maintained my culpability with Joy
and from which Richard has suffered
md is suffering.
"He is broken old man. He is In
n penltentiary."
Here followed a section Of the man.
uscript from which. as I recognized
the page Dravada had taken was miss
Ing. Then It continued:
'T became n little more assertive Of
my rights and dignity. with the result
that our duarrels were more violent
/ tried to fit myself physically to meet
Richard. but he was very sturdy, and
his profigate habits had not yet un
dermlned his health. When I resisted
him physically he had the better of me
Three times he knocked me uncon
scious. Once was Ill in bed a weel
rs the result Of beating he gave me
Frequently he threatened that h
would, kill me. He said this often ant
openly. with every evidence Of earnest
ness and determination. Later tina
counted against him.
'I was not cowed, and with the grea
hatred firmly rooted I was willing I,
accept the unequal struggle with him
II was Joy to hate him, fight him
even to be beaten by him. l had re
gained enough courage to seek socia
bility. 1t was difficult, because hi
refined sense Of cruelty led him t
search me out, wherever might b
with my friends, and to humiliate me
II possible. before them.
"One night had been at a taver
in the village with some boys Of m
acquaintance when Richard, bein