The Manitowoc pilot. [volume], March 13, 1902, Image 7

About The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932

Image provided by: Wisconsin Historical Society

                
A SHREWD
woa\an
DURING a trial held in the town of
Merrivale the court was crowded
to its utmost capacity, while an im
patient mass of swaying humanity
awaited the verdict outside. It was
a case of phenomenal interest. Two
young fellows of good family, com
panions since childhood, had set
themselves to earn fame and fortune,
or the latter at least, in their na
tive place; Albert Meyrick as an art
ist, Herbert Carlston as a physician.
Their love for each other was broth
erly; yet love proved the gulf which
separated them. Both had been fas
cinated with the charms of a sunny
haired, brighteyed, laughing beauty.
Her admirers were legion; but her
favors were equuly bestowed be'ween
these two.
One morning people were horrified
with the report of murder. Meyrick
had been shot in his studio. A revol
ver was found on (he table a few
inches from Hie dead body. The bul
let. which, after passing through his
head, had lodged in the wall opposite,
exactly fitting the chamber, and was
precisely similar to the others which
the revolver contained. Both revol
vers and cartridges were proved to
liave been bought by Carlston within
24 hours previous to the crime. *He
was known to have been at the house
at about the time of the crime. All
these things he fully admitted. Only
one fact he denied; byt this was the
evidence that chiefly condemned him.
Edna Dalton, the girl through jeal
ousy of whom he was supposed to
have committed the murder, swore to
seeing him close to the house. In
deed, she had spoken to him; but he
strangely passed her, refusing to
speak. The general evidence against
him was so overwhelming that there
could be no doubt of the issue. The
prisoner had condemned himself by
his own admissions; yet he emphat
icaly asserted his innocence.
The eventful day of the trial came.
Counsel had labored for and against
him. The judge had summed up; Hie
jury retired to consider. The breath
less hush of suspense was oppressive.
Presently a door opened. Twelve men
solemnly took their seats.
“Guilty or not guilty?”
“Guilty!”
A piercing shriek, awful from its
burden of agony, rang through the
court. Edna's unconscious form was
borne out. For the first time the
prisoner quailed. Throughout tjie
trial he had behaved with almost in
different coolness. Tier voice un
manned him. He buried his face in
his hands, groaning aloud and trem
bling violently. With an effort he re
gained his manly bearing.
Asked if he had any reason to state
why sentence should not be passed,
he drew himself up, and in a firm,
clear voice, said:
“To-day my words are an empty
sound; one day they wjil have great
power, though they will come back
from Hie cold depths of (he grave. I
am innocent. No man will believe me.
I speak for the future, because 1 be
lieve an avenging jn-tiee will snreh
bring truth to light. Then I wish you
to remember my words,"
The sentence of death was passed,
the voice of the judge being scarcely
audible amidst the sobs of some of
the women present.
One person alone seemed unaffect
ed. With the quiet demeanor of a
hero, Herbert folded his arms to re
ceive ids doom without a quiver.
To the last momentous words:
‘‘May Hie Lord have mercy on your
soul!” he responded with a firm but
reverent “Amen!”
Mr. Dickinson. Herbert’s lawyer,
was disturbed in lii- office by a young
lady, whom he failed at first to rec
ognize as Edna .Dalton.
What a marvelous change! Her hag
gard face, large eys, looking larger
from their sunken sockets, the fierce,
determined expression of her face,
made the experienced lawyer betray
Li- surprise in spite of himself. Was
this the airy, smiling creature of a
few weeks ago? She had aged years.
He placed a seat for her, and inquired
Hie object of her visit.
“To free Herbert Carlston! lie is in
nocent, and I liave discovered the cul
prit!”
Tlie lawyer looked at her. but did
not speak.
“Perhaps, you think me mad? Well,
I have not been far from it. While
you men have pitied him and won
dered, I, a weak worked.”
“Have you anv evidence of your
statement ?”
“Ample. The murderer lias a foot
two inches longer than Herbert. He
wore a pair of old overshoes with a
cut across the left sole. Herbert
never possessed such things. On that
night he wore a light suit, the sus
pected man wore a dark tweed suit,
■with a red thread—rather a peculiar
kind of material, lighter in weight
and cheaper.”
“How in the name of all that is ra
tional,‘did you learn al this?”
“Thereby hangs my tale. I believe
Herbert to he innocent. Common
sense told me. Crime always leaves
a trace for those who have eyes to
see. No one ever sought. They were
satisfied with superficial appearances.
Knowing the landlord. 1 obtained
permission to see ' the house. ]
searched the building without success
I was yielding to despair, and wan
dered into the back garden. Suddenly
Fido capered about me with some
thing in his mouth. It was a hand
kerchief. I took it. A glance made
my heart stop; I beheld bloodstains!
1 examined the handkerchief a a for
lorn miner would inspect gold-dust.
It was ii woman’s, marked ‘ls. 11.. No.
4.’ 1 recognized it, and knew the own
er. I smelt it; a very peculiar odor
it had.
“1 renewed my search with vigor,
-t was evident the criminal had es
caped by the rear. Reviving hope
fired me, and inch by inch 1 scruti
nized doors, walls, windows, every
thing and anything, large and small.
For three days 1 hunted unceasingly.
“My total discoveries were some
threads of cloth torn off while squeez
ing through a small window, blood
stains on the sash arising from a cut
with a rusty nail in the wood, foot
prints on the ground beneath the
window. The ground was soft enough
to reveal an impression. Very close
examination disclosed a peculiar im
print with a cut across. An inspira
tion dawned on me—the overshoes.
From these links, how should I form
a chain? First, the handkerchief, and
I went, to Whit ton’s, the druggist. He
ransacked Ids store, hnt couirl not
find me a scent like it. I shot an ar
row at a venture.
“‘You sold some to Miss Harvey, I
think?'
" ‘Oh. yes; 1 know now. 1 got that
especially for her lam sorry 1 have
none left.’
“I reeled out of the shop 1 was on
the track ‘ls. ll.’ were B-rtha Har
vey's initials; tins was her hflndker
ehief. I went straight to her home.
During my slay I pretended to have
lost my handk< reliief. She lent me
the exact counterpart of the one 1
had found, save it was marked 'No.
7.’ I twitted her that I knew she was
in tlie habit of lending her handker
chiefs to gentlemen. Slip laughed and
blushed, and I bantered her into con
fession She had never lent hut one.
and she told me to whom. I involun
tarily jumped from my chair, but had
enough self-control to recover my
self. pretending I had assumed aston
ishment.
"Now I had almost run down my
game. How should 1 got into his
house? I’rovidence aided me. You are
an elder'.\ man. and have known me
from infa: ey. so 1 can speak freely to
yon. Mr Dickinson Vi one lime he
paid me such attention that I had to
ignore him. 1 knew hi> landlady wt li—
a n gtilar old gossip. My plan was
formed imni: diately: Entice him with
-oftest words and all your resources of
fascination; from him and the old
woman yon will glean the evidence you
seek.
“I succeeded beyond my wildest
hopes. I need not weary you with de
lai’s. 15v dint of coaxing and presents
I induced the old dame to let me do ns
I pleased. Then 1 made her my confi
dante. I wanted to make her boarder
a pair of slippers without his knowl
edge. She off. red me a paW to meas
ure. No; Ikmw he had an old pair of
overshoes somewhere. ' Could I have
them for a day or two? We searched
together. Buried in a corner of the
wardrobe we found a pair. 1 turned
hem up; (here was a ent across the
-o'e of the left foot. 1 trembled so
violently 1 nearly let them fall. I took
them to poor Mr Merrick's house;
thiy fitted the footprints exactly.
“I have traced the suit of clothes,
and can prove the purchaser and the
'ale of purchase. Tint one thing re
mains undone. I swore I saw Herbert
three minutes after the murder close
to the back of the house. As Herbert
is dark, and the culprit is light, ht
must have disguised himself, which
provt s de.-ign. A local hairdresser
-ays he lent the same man some wigs,
whiskers, etc., for private theatricals.
Certainly no private theatricals have
• iken place, while he had them b. fore
and returned them after the date of
the murder, so they were in his pos
session then. Concerning the deed it
self. yon know Herbert swore he left
his rt nilver with Mr, Merrick an hour
before.”
“Von astound me." said the old law
yer. “A girl like you with such astute
ness! It passes my comprehension!’’
“Don’t you think there are good
grounds for arrest?”
“Certainly. Who is he?”
“Mr. Vernon Stanton, a clerk in
Halliwell’s dry goods store!”
Mr. Dickinson fairly leaped from his
chair with an irreverent expression of
surprise. It took him some little thru
to subside into his usual calm.
Then he sent for the captain of po
lice. pnlling all details into hi- posses
sion. Two hours after the officer re
turned to Mr. Dickinson's office with a
somewhat gloomy face.
“li is ail over, Mr. Dickinson.”
“What! has he confessed?”
“Yes. in words and action. I was go
ing up to Mr. Stanton’s rooms, when T
saw him coming. He was in a great
hurry, carrying n traveling bag. This,
with his face, made me think be knew
we were after him. Miss Dalton was
very smart; but she should have con
sulted us before she took those over
shoes. Women arc so impulsive. Well,
I followed him. As] expected, he went
to the railroad station. I touched him.
and advised him not to buy a ticket,
as he would waste his money. He
turned paler than Hamlet’s ghost.
“ ‘Heaven help me. I was mad! It
was all for her.’ he said, in a quavering
voice. ‘Please do not handcuff me,’ he
implored.
“‘Very well, Mr. Stanton.’l replied.
“Just then the shriek of an express
whistle made me start. He dropped his
bag and rushed across the platform.
He won the race—l hist a prison* r. He
jumped clean onto the buffers, which
hurled him off like a football, over and
over. His body is lying at the police
station now.”
Every cloud has Its silver lining.
The sunshine of this story is sen in
two faces which reflect the joy of love
united, so nearly destroyed by shame
and death.- N. Y. Weekly.
The W ii) to He n favorite.
If you would remain a favorite never
ask a favor. —Chicago Daily News.
LASTDRINK
'iv I2dS
WK
Mjj
WHEN James .1 Hill, then presi
dent ot Hie Manitoba system
of rails and locomotives, began the
work of establishing town sites in
the far nm I Invest--future feeders of
Ins transcontinental Hue —one of the
first to in- laid out was Blue Duck
lillo Hu; eonminiiity flourished for
(wo or more years changes in the
wheat territory and shifting of the
eat He ranges destroyed 1 1 s trading
area and finally effaced it from the
map But there must be a great
many' men still living who passed
through the portals of Blue Dock in
its best hours, knew its joy and sor
rows, its hot passions and wasted
hopes, and will rival! the day and Hie
afternoon that Carter called for fits
last drink.
When Carter first came to Blue
(luck there were in the town a future
governor of a state, a future United
Stales minister abroad, a coining ail
riser of presidents, an embryo rail
way president and an ex-theological
student who later was to control for
some time all (he faro layouts of New
York city. Mixed in with these
geniuses were cowboys of southwest
origin. Norwegians and Swedes fresh
from Europe, half-breed Sioux and a
few negroes k the town lay Hat, bare,
naked on the plain. There was not
a beautiful thing in it. about it, or
near it, but Carter's wife, and she
was as ui.approachable as Arctunis,
Carter was a gradtiaio of the Uni
versity of lowa, a descendant of an
cient New Englander governors and
lawmakers, a Puritan bred and a
scoundrel by heart. He appeared in
Blue Duck as a surveyor for the
branch line of the Manitoba road,
which was then in course of con
struction His wife did not come un
til several months after he had es
tablished the reputation of being (he
hardest drinker, foulest-mouthed
gambler and most indecent p-rson
between the Missouri and I lie Bed
river.
For all ills failings, in his best mo
ments he was smooth-tongued, well
educated and an artificial gentleman.
It will be remembered that lie en
gaged one afternoon in a discussion
with “Gentleman" Ed. the proprietor
of all Hu; gambling games of the
region, on the Greek interpretation
of the Biblical verse:
“Whosoever cometh anything near
unto Hie tabernacle of the Lord shall
die; shall we be consumed with
dying?''
The verse is found in Numbers, and
it has been said by learned men that
between the Greek version, Hie He
braic phrasing and the Latin inter
pretation a twist lias been given to
this verse not intended by the orig
inal compiler, whoever he may have
been.,
It was a delight to all who under
stood at all, and even to the many
who did not. to lisUn to these two
versatile sinjpers discuss Phoenician
characters. Hebraic writing and Hie
values of their letters, neither will
ing to finally accept the dictum of
the other, each revealing a better day
in lives now well misspent.
It may be here said that the only
reason Carter was not shot for all
bis Had qualities was not due to his
learning, but to the fact that he was
(lie best man with a single-action
gun on the range, barring “Gentle
man" Ed, and these two had not
come together yet. •
Mrs. Carter arrived in Blue Duck.
We knew she was coming, for one
day Carter ceased boarding at the
Oriental, and threw up a shack on
the south border of the town. A- it
had ttvo rooms and a kitchen it was
quite evident he expected the arrival
of a woman. When he announced
that hi- wife was on the way every
body felt interested except "Gentle
man” Ed. He told the solitary news
paper man of Blue Duels;
“We’ve got along six months with
out a woman, except those crazy
half-breeds that come here trading,
and I believe we have a great future
before us if we can keep women out.
They make trouble.”
Still Ed was in front of the Oriental
when the stage brought Mrs. Carter,
and she stepped from the box to the
ground and her husband. Blue Duck
gasped after it had given her one
look. Mrs. Carter’s attire was quite
simple—-a gray traveling skirt, a
waist and jacket of darker hue, a
dark, soft crush hat with n tantaliz
ing feather in the band, gauntlet
gloves, and heavy walking shoes. Lit
tle of that Blue Duck saw then.
What Blue Duck took in with
amazement was that she was not
over 21 (Carter was 40) and straight
ns an arrow. Every line of her form
was molded ns if n Canova had gone
over her when nature finished its
work. Her hair was heavy and wavy
brown, her eyes deep brown, her skin
as white as marble, except where
alight flushes of pink revealed the
touch of the range wind. For all this
she might have been marble so far ns
expression oi*life of manner was con
cerned.
She gave Carter one glance when
she greeted him. and that glance
said to Blue Duck;
“This man is my husband. The
law, society and everything else
holds me to him. There is nothing
in common between us, but my duty
is clear. 1 wish no help. Only let
me alone and do not show pity "
Blue Duck understood Blue Duck
made no comments If there was one
thing that Blue Duck prided itself on
it was the fact that it never knocked,
tattled, gossiped. Blue Duck was at
the service of Mrs. Carter from the
Instant it set eyes upon her, but
Blue Duck had nothing to say of ei
ther her or her husband. Only quiet
ly. telepathic-ally. Blue Duck knew
before Mrs. Carter was a day in town
that if shf ever needed help "Gen
iU-mau" Ed would take the initiative
for the honor of the community. He
| had said nothing publicly, but the
night she came when he was turning
into bed he remarked to the man
with him;
“That woman’s being crucified.”
And the other laconically an
; ;we red;
' “Well?”
I After this both slept,
i As for Carter, he became meaner,
more vicious, more brutal, after tin
arrival of his wife. Blue Duck soon
learned Hint he struck her, that lie
.finished his debauches in her pres
ence, that sometimes she was penni
i less, that she never came into town
from the shack if sin- could avoid it,
ill she often played the guitar
vvlie- alone, that she was fond of
I
i [/ u
?J x?
“I'M DOIN' TO TANK MV LAST
DRINK."
hooks and music, but Bine Duel, held
its peace. It was .waiting for Carter
to do some public wrong in eoni.ee
tion with her.
That wrong came. One affernooi
Carter stumbled into tin One Dollar
caravansary, reeled to the bar and
\\ itb a gulp an minced:
“I’m going to lake my last drink.
I’m goi: ' to take ii an' then clean out
the town. You hear me? I’m tired
of everythin’ hero, an’ I'm goiu' to
drop the liquor, make my mark on
I you, an' move on."
1 He had both hi- pistols out by this
1 time, and Bln* Duck was politely Ms
! tening. He straightened up and went
! on;
j “I’m goin' up an* get that woman
1 f mine, an' she’s goi: ' to take nu
I last drink with me. Non wait.”
j He gave his guns a quick flourish
I and moved off toward his shack.
I “Gentleman” Ed was at the post of
; lice when he learned what was about
to happen. He took in the men about
him with a comprehensive roll of his
eye.
a“She's a woman, boys, and a lady,”
lie said.
Figuratively. Blue Duck instantly
placed itself behind him. What lie
j was going to do met it- approval.
| He walked down (In dusty street to
ward the One Dollar. From the oth
j er end of the street came Carter, his
i wife walking ahead of him, one of
I his guns covering her, the other
I sweeping the street. He literally
| drove the woman, whose face was
j whiter than snow, into the One Dol
i lar. and shouted to the bartender;
“Two glasses and the liquor.”
One glass was set before Mrs. Car
ter and one before her husband.
Then through the back door came
“Gentleman” Ed, and his hands were
working like chain lightning. His
first shot broke Mrs. Carter's glass.
Ins second broke Carter’s, and his
third killed him. As for Ed himself,
he was shot twice through the shoul
der before Carter went down, but
the wounds were slight.
A week later it was “Gentleman”
; Ed that escorted Mrs. Carter to the
south-bound stage, and in (tie name
of Blue Duck said to her:
. “Our work is here; your’s back in
your old home. If you ever need a
1 friend, and any of us here," indicat
ing the crowd of bareheaded men,
“are on earth, send for us. Good
by."
In that way Blue Duck not only be
friended an unhappy woman, but
aided Carter in taking his last drink.
—H. I. Cleveland, in Chicago Record-
Herald.
Vaccinate!;
Notice to the Public.
Owing t 0 the prevalence of Smallpox in
the city and surrounding county the Board
of Health of the City of Manitowoc desires
to call the attention of all persons to the
necessity of vaccination.
With the object in view of securing the
best possible protection against this dis
ease, we have decided to provide
FREE VACCINATION
to all persons who wish to avail them
selves of this opportunity.
The city physicians Drs. Meany and
Jacobs will perform the work on request.
We further request all school boards, principals of
schools, persons in charge of or at the head of schools,
factories or public places to urge upon all persons un=
der their care or supervision to proceed at once to se
cure the protection.
E. n. JACOBS,
Health Officer.
THE MOTIVES Or MISERS.
Fear of I’iimllilp I'overly I In* One
Til 111 linn' Often Makes
IlHelf Manifest,
The ease of a mail who died from
personal privations with 2,00(1 hoard*
eil pounds within reach of his skele
ton lingers inspires a moralizing'
mood concerning the motives of
misers, says the London (I lobe. The
one that strikes us as reaching the
nearest to the truth is the hypothesis
of fear fear of extreme poverty, to
avoid which at some indefinite future
time the miser faces ,ali its conse
quences in (lie present The gibe of
the old laborer, who said to his
master: “I be a braver man than you
be, for I durst spend my last farden,
and you dursent," is ({noted as af
fording I lie best hint of the real
truth. When once the mind conceives
the idea of possible poverty there is
scarcely anything it will not do to
avert (lie horrible contingency. Men
in battle, ns our contemporary re
minds ns, have been known to shoot
themselves in the dread fear of being
shot by the advancing enemy. Tear
in money matters, ns in all other,
paralyzes the judgment and shakes
tlie reason. Misers are probably in
all other respects the purest and
most moral of men; they are at any
rate as rigorous in their asceticism
as monk and friar. Hut such is the
force of this vice that it destroys by
its own strong arm all the higher
emotions and aspirations of human
ity. leaving its victim a miserable
and negative creature, beneath the
contempt of his weaker brethren,
An Olil Southern Town.
Charleston, whose midwinter ex
position has been opened, has a pop
ulation of 55,000. It is one of the
oldest cities in the United States, the
first settlement having been made
200 years ago by English colonists.
One Hundred years ago Charleston’ll
population was 18,000, exceeded only
by Philadelphia, New York, Baltl
more and Boston.
( nrry Oir Malls Free.
Cuban railroads are compelled by
their charters to casry mails free.
FRANK PFEFFEP.
Dealer in all kinds of
Furniture, Coffins, Caskets, Etc.
Kellneraviile, Wisconsin
Special attention s^iven to undertaking and embalming. A good hearse at
the dispocal of the public.
Here are my prices on a few articles: Arm Rockers |1.75, Nurse’s Rockei>
♦ I. ro. ( uk cane seat Chair 75c. Swell Front Dresser $lO, Center Tables $3 to |lO.
Extension Dining Tables £1 to sl2. Bureaus of all kinds at all prices.
Most certainly we can let you have anything in
the Fuel and Masonry supply line.
The J. Q. Johnson Cos.
Fuel, Masonry Supplies and Ice Dealers.
921 Commercial St., - - /Manitowoc, Wis*
DR. N. T. ZIGLINSKI,
DENTIST,
911 South Eighth Street, Opposite Sc huette’s Store.