The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-08-15
0. Henry Tale
Borne Out by
Hound Murder
ny RUTH FINNEy


SACRAMENTO. Aug. iB.--''The
Theory and the Hound" is tho name
OF a story o. Henry wrote once upon
a time.
This II the way tho story Fo~n!
Plunkett. sheriff. from kentucky.
went TO "A far off island In the South
Seas 10 arrest Wade williams. want.
ed for the murder Of his wife.
He had positive knowledge that
Williams was ON the island There
were only two Americans there. And
neither OF them would admit that he
waa the man wanted.
Tho sheriff was up a stump for
a while. hut this ~ what he finally
did.
seated AZ dinner with tire two men.
he saw a hound walk into tho room.
riunkett rose. kicked and cursed tho
dog. one OF the two men instantly
resented Il. grew purple. threatened
the sheriff.
Whereupon piunkctt turned. leap.
ed and clamped tho handouts around
tho mans wrist.
''iiound.loycr and woman. Killer
he cried.
And he had gotten tho right
mani
This n his theory.
II never yet saw n man who was
overload OF horses and dogs but what
was cruel 10 women" lie said.
We carried ~ further.
when hs found woman overload
OF horses and dogs he kept an eye on
her--for hs dlatrusted her attitude
toward men.
Mrs. Mabel Beiardi. IN the saern.
mento county sail. has ono ruling
passion In her life.
That II her love OF animals.
When she was a child. abe COLLECT.
"a stray cats and dogs. and cared for
them
She would have nothing 10 do with
her brothers and sisters. She re.
fused 10 play with girls.
She left her comfortable home and
her parents. Erominen, Sacramento
folks. She went instead 90 tho dis
reputable scowH anchored along the
edge OF tho river and 20 lonely
shacka. Hho drifted from place 20
place
Hut wherever sir went. che had
her dogs with her.
Il would give my life for my
dogs" Mabel Belardi told officers
when they questioned her about the
death OF A. Bise. rancher. who lived
cloge 10 the Bella rdla. and who was
found murdered in his cabin three
days ago.
II think moro Of my dogs than I
DO Of my husband or my brother"
she said
My dog Cause~ay saved my life
once. would give my life for him
before ! would giye u for my hus.
hand"
She told officers that her dogs
jumped on Hiss ana killed him be.
cause he had struck her.
"My dogs must be protected" she
said Il would have told about 81 be.
fore. but was afraid you would do
something 10 my dogs"
The animals were wild. They
would approach no ono hut Mattel
BeiArdi. They snapped and snarled
at everyone rise when anyone ap.
preached tho Briardi shack they
cireied them like beasts % prey. clos.
lng In gradually. and then jumping
When ,ivy saw Mrs. Belnrvii they
rolled AZ her feet She kept them
In the house with her.
The dogs have all been shot.
Mabel BeiardI VIII never again zee
the creatures dearest 20 her on earth.
a, the request OF the officers. she
called them into her cabin and locked
the door. She didn't know what was
70 BE- done with them.
The woman was taken back 10 the
jail. Then All the dogs were massa.
cred.
The woman has not been told.
They were afraid to tell her.
II IL n strange theory Of PUNK.
ctt's. As he himself said. The world
isn't ripe for IL yet"
And yct-he claimed he had proved
Il.
Overload OF dogs--brutal toward
humans.
Officers here have been watching
Mabel Beiardi and her dogs. And
they are sure that Biae was muir.
dercd By human hand.
o. Hcnry's sheriff would have