the twin hells(两个地狱)-第26节
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ages men； and particularly those engaged in the literary field of thought；
have discanted on the baseness of the passion of jealousy。 There is no
sense in being jealous。 You are either loved or you are not； and hence the
absolute foolishness of indulging the passion。
William Hurst； whose history we now relate； is a man of rough
personal appearance； Irish descent； and his age is now about fifty…five。
Coming to Kansas at an early day； he settled in Doniphan County； and
there courted and subsequently married one of Doniphan County's pretty
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girls。 Time went along as usual； and in a few years there were several little
cherubs that blessed the household of Hurst。 But； as sometimes happens；
the husband began to drink； love grew colder； the necessities of the family
hourly grew greater； poverty in all its hideousness came to curse the home
once so happy。 The poor； distracted wife and mother did all she could； by
taking in washing and ironing； to prevent the starvation of her little ones。
The husband through his bleared eyes imagined he could see that other
men were too friendly to his wife。 He charged her with unfaithfulness to
the marriage vows。 She denied the charge。 Only incensed by this he would
beat and mistreat her out of all reason。 For protection she had him arrested；
intending to bind him over to keep the peace； but on the advice of officers；
who are so full of it； she withdrew the charge and he was set at liberty。 For
a few days he was quiet； but soon the red liquor poured down his throat；
and like a mountain devil stirred all the dark passions of his lost and
ruined nature。 He attempted to debauch his own daughter； and was only
prevented by the physical force of the ever…watchful mother。 The father
（great God！ is such a human being entitled to the endearing term？） turned
upon her； and again； as had often happened； abused； kicked and mistreated
her in a most shameful manner。 She had him arrested a second time with
the intention of binding him over to keep the peace。 He pretended； while
in charge of the officer； that he must see his wife； and together they started
toward the hovel where they lived。 They met the wife and mother at the
outskirts of the little village； had some words； and before the officer could
prevent it； Hurst sprang upon the woman and cut her throat from ear to ear
jumped away； and made good his escape to the woods； the officer；
meanwhile； deeming it more important to aid the woman； not knowing； for
a moment； that the cutting was fatal。 That fact was very soon apparent。
Others were called who took charge of the body； and the officer struck out
in hot pursuit of the murderer。 He was followed to the woods a few miles
from White Cloud； in Doniphan County； there overtaken and conducted to
the county seat； tried； convicted of murder in the first degree； sentenced to
be hung； sent to the penitentiary to await the final execution； which； in our
State； never comes。 He remained in there about twenty months when he
became insane； and was sent to the asylum； was there about three and a
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half years； when he was pronounced cured and returned to the penitentiary。
He is now insane a second time。 You have all in your younger…days read
the story of the maniac that paced his cell； repeating 〃once one is two；〃
and now comes the queerest part of this narrative。 Hurst seems anxious to
talk to every one that calls； and especially anxious to shake hands； but if
you say anything to him； or ask any question； his only answer is 〃skilled
labor；〃 and keeps on repeating these words as he walks up and down his
place of confinement。
Who knows but the infinite God has destroyed reason to prevent the
power of darkness over this poor； unfortunate being。 Or who knows but
the demands of justice are met in the terrible conscience blows which have
staggered and shattered that which originally was in the image of God。
LIFE INSURANCE AND MURDER
McNutt and Winner。These are two of the most noted criminals in the
penitentiary； rendered so because of the dastardly crime committed by
them； and the high social relations of the latter。 They came from Wichita；
and have been in prison almost fifteen years。 McNutt is a fine artist and
painter。 He had his paint shop in Wichita； and was doing a very successful
business。 Winner was his associate； and the two plotted and carried into
execution the following horrible crime： McNutt got his life insured for
5；000； his wife being his beneficiary。 It was a dark； stormy night when
McNutt and Winner enticed into this paint shop an unsuspecting mutual
friend。 Here they murdered him in cold blood。 They then set fire to the
paint shop and took to flight。 After the fire was put out； the charred
remains of the murdered man were found； and supposed to be those of
McNutt； the owner of the building。 The wife； cognizant of the awful deed
which her husband had committed； followed the remains of the murdered
man to the grave； dressed in her garb of mourning。
Shortly after this she applied for the insurance money on her husband's
life。 Some doubts were raised as to the identity of the body。 Detectives
were employed to make an investigation of the case。 They made use of a
deception； and thus got the woman to confess。 They told her that they had
found an accomplice who had confessed the crime； and was in jail。 They
promised the wife that if she would tell the truth they would not prosecute
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her。 She consented。 She narrated the sickening events as they had been
plotted in her presence and under her roof。 Officers were now despatched
to find the murderers。 McNutt was found in Missouri plowing corn。
Winner was found near Wichita。 They were brought to trial； convicted； and
sent to prison for life。 Winner was unmarried at the time of his conviction。
His father and only brother are very wealthy； and living in Kansas City。 I
have been told they offer 20；000 for Winner's pardon。 McNutt is a very
useful man in the prison。 He has charge of the painting department。 He has
done some fine work on the walls of the prison chapel； covering them with
paintings of the Grecian goddesses。 Both of these prisoners hope to
receive pardons。 Whether they will regain their liberty is a question which
the future alone can answer。
THE HOG…THIEF
In the coal mines； as before stated； the convicts are permitted to
converse with each other。 I improved this opportunity of acquiring the
histories of the five hundred criminals with whom I daily worked； eight
hundred feet below the surface。 I would talk with a fellow prisoner； and
get the details of his crime as we sat together in the darkness。
Understanding 〃short…hand；〃 I would go to my cell in the evening and jot
down what I had learned during the day。 I had no fears of any one reading
my notes； as I was the only short…hand writer about the institution。 Day
after day I kept this up； until I had material sufficient of this nature to fill a
book of more than two thousand pages。 My readers should also know； that
a convict will tell a fellow…prisoner the details of his crime； when he
would not think of saying a word about it to others。 As a rule they deny
their crimes to those who are not； like themselves； criminals； pleading
innocence。 It is not difficult for a prisoner to get the confidence of a
fellow… prisoner。 In fact； criminals love to unburden their minds to those
who possess their confidence。 The truth is； convicts have related their
crimes so often to me that it became tiresome。 They say it relieves them to
communicate their troubles。 Pinkerton； of Chicago； the prince of
detectives stated at one time that a criminal could not keep his secret。 It is
true。 I know it to be a fact。 It has been demonstrated a hundred times in my
association with the
