The May Monitor. (May, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, November 24, 1905 Page: 3 of 8
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THE MISSING MAN
By NARY R. P. HATCH
Author of **Tho Bonk Trogody**
Copyright, UN, by Im h4 lliiptni
CHAPTER XX.
''You Are Honry Ashley.”
He then spoke of the examination,
of when being found of unsound misd
he was sent to an asylum, of his es-
cape and supposed death by drown-
ing. ’‘With the cunning of Insanity it
now appeared that Mr. Hamilton had
Induced a weak-minded vagrant to
exchange clothes with him, and with
the disguise thus afforded succeeded
in getting clear of the town. The
man who resembled Hamilton in gen-
eral appearance wat afterwards
drowned and Identified as a patient
of the asylum chiefly by his clothes,
as the body was unrecognizable from
having been so long in the water.
"It must have been a strange fatal-
ity or blind instinct which led him to
seek employment at his own mill,
and a boarding place at the house of
Mrs. Pry, a woman previously well
known to himself and wife, the recipi-
ent. as she avers, of many favors
from himself and wife.
"He saw his wife and children at
church. His wife was greatly moved
by his resemblance to her husband.
He was, also, much excited by her
looks and those of Perley and Clare.
He knows nothing of all this now,
but I can prove it by the testimony
of Dan Fry and his mother. From
that time he began to watch her
house, his former home, one night
standing in- a pouring rain until he
was drenched and made sick in con-
sequence. Although he knew little of
music previously, he purchased a vio-
lin and became a good performer in a
short time, but now he has returned
to his normal Ignorance and cannot
play at all. I shall call to the stand
an eminent specialist who will ex-
plain to you that this sort of dual
existence is not unknown In science,
although it is so uncommon as to be
remarkable. Mrs. Hamilton shared
in the feelings of her husband, but
could not explain them. She re-
pressed them, therefore, as much as
ly developed, as others have that of
sight, taste, hearing; and Mrs. Hamil-
ton was thus highly endowed, he
said.
Then the plaintiff’s counsel went on
to speak of the shot fired at his client
in the grounds fraudulently held and
occupied by the defendant, which he
attributed .to some person interested
in removing him beyond reach of mak-
ing trouble. “We will suppose,” said
Mr. Morley, “that Ashley had at last
recognized the true claimant in Pri-
mus Edes. and that he realized his
own dangerous position, from which
nothing could extricate him but the
death of this man. We will suppose
that he saw him approaching the
Hamilton house and shoots him from
his window and then rushes upon the
scene flinging the pistol one side, and
was there, as we know he was, be-
fore Mr. Carter could get there. Or,
we will suppose that some other per-
son, Solomon Marks, for instance, got
possession of Dan Fry’s pistol and
followed Edes, shot him, and disap-
peared down the river.
“It is well known in Grovedale. and
can be proved by half a score of wit
nesses, that Solomon Marks was
twice closeted with the defendant,
and that he went to the Fry house,
when it is easy to suppose he found
an opportunity to get possession of
the pistol, to make it appear that
my client committed suicide—for
there is no doubt but that the shot
was fired to kill him. Now, it is per-
fectly clear to me and must be to
you, that the false claimant under-
took, either by his own hand, or an-
other’s, to rid himself of a trouble-
some person—troublesome, because
the true claimant. But did he suc-
ceed? No; the very shot fired to send
Vane Hamilton out of the world re-
stored him to the full possession of
his faculties. Strange, yet true! Can
we doubt, after such a manifestation
in the overruling for good of the
I Divine Providence, which so often
l says to crime, ‘Thus far shalt thou
possible; but when her little boy was
lost and returned through the efforts
of Primus Edes, as he was called,
she allowed her heart to rule her
hands to the extent of showing her
gratitude by gifts for his. personal
•'omfort and convenience at Mrs.
?*ry’».
"Now comes the false claimant, Mr.
Hamilton, or Ashley, on the scene,
safe, as he supposes, vn his fraudulent
claim, because he thinks his wronged
brother is dead. He is the exact
tiqpge of the cashier, as we all know,
and he waa received by Grovedale
people with open arms. His extra-
ordinary nerve, ingenuity, and fertil-
ity of resource carried him through
various tests and examinations, and
ha was installed in the place of the
true and lawful owner and tenant of
the Hamilton estate. But there was
one, gentlemen, who did not receive
him. It was Mrs. Hamilton. She
could not believe he was her husband
and what testimony is better than
that of a wife who for seven years
lived with him and came to know all
his ways, his movements, his tricks
of manner, everything which goes to
make up personality, which we all
know does not consist entirely of
features, height, voice, complexion.
Personality Is of a more subtle,
elusive nature. It may elude recogni-
tion by ail except the more intimate
friends. In this case it evaded all but
that of the wife, the true, loving wom-
an who. through all would not be
cheated by a false resemblance.”
Then in a low. Impressive voice Mr
Morley broached the matter of pbysl
cal odor which, exhaled from the ma-
terial body, enables a dag to distin
nhh his master from all other per
sons. Lost children, slaves, fugitives
from Jcvtlce. have boen tracked by th!s
phywnd odor, so powerful and unmis-
takable as to cling to articles of
clothing worn by the perron.-. Many
t rsffo have the serse of smell strong-
go, but no farther,’ be recovered to
prosecute his claims to his family and
estate?”
It was then five o'clock, and an ad-
journment was taken until the next
morning.
When the little court house bell be-
gan. to ring next day the streets rap-
idly filled, and soon the small room
was thronged with eager spectators.
The work of the day was entered
upon promptly by the calling of the
witness, George Barnstead, to the
stand.
He gave a straightforward testi-
mony, corresponding to Mr. Morley’s
presentation of It in his opening
argument.
"I sat in Portland depot, near to
the newstand. waiting for Hurd, who
was to go on with me to Bethel. I
saw standing, irresolutely, at a little
distance, a man whom I now know tc
be Vane Hamilton. He was dressed
exactly as described by the advertise-
ment. He looked about him as if he
did not know what to do. Finally, an-
other man entered who stopped to
stare at the first, 'rtien. as if recol-
lecting himself, he went off a little
way. but still looked at him. The
first man was aware of this scrutiny.
It appeared, for at last he walked up
to him and asked:
“ ‘You appear to know me. Who
am I? What Is my name.’
“The other seemed disconcerted a
moment by the Inquiry, but answered
in a second or two.
“ ‘Tour name Is Henry Ashley. I
know you well.’
‘They talked together a few min
ates. but in U lower tone. I did not
hear what they said and shortly after-
ward they wert off together. ‘
"Mr. Barnstead.” cross-questioned
Mr. Ferguson, “you say the first man
looked about him as If he did not
know where he was. What was his
expression? Waa it vague and ua
certain or wideawake?”
Rather vague, sir, as If be dla not
-now whom he waa.”
Was this the other’s expression?”
No. sir; his was the reverse-
watchful, wide-awake.”
"Their expression was totally un-
Ike. and yet their eyes looked alike.”
“Yes, air.”
“When do you usually make your
trips, Mr. Barnstead."
“I have no regular time."
“This time you went on Friday.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What date?”
“The fifteenth of May."
“How do you know?”
“I know by my remembrance of
the day and by my diary.”
Do you note the time of your trips
in your diary?"
Yes, sir.”
Please produce the book If you
have it about you.”
Mr. Barnstead took It from his
pocket and handed it to the defend-
ant’s counsel, who, however, did not
take It.
No, read It yourseir.” Mr. Barn-
stead did so.
“ ‘Starts for Bethel. Waited In
Port'and depot for Hurd. We went
on together.’ ”
“Now, Mr. Barnstead, turn, if you
please, to the following Thursday.
What did you do that day?"
“ ’Waited in Portland depot for
Hurd a good hour, D--take him
for punctuality,’ ” read Barnstead.
“Now which of these dates was
the one you saw the men meet?’’
"The first."
“Where did you and Hurd go?"
“We went to Mechanic Falls.”
“What did you do then?"
“Took orders for goods."
“Together?"
“Yes. He for his firm, I for mine.”
“Did you stay all night?”
“Yes."
“Did you drink?”
“Yes, sir; a glass or two."
“Did you not drink more than a
glass or two. Did you not drink near-
er a dozen?”
“Perhaps.”
“In short, were you not consider-
ably worse for what you drank, so
much so that you had to stay in bed
a day or two?"
“I did.”
“Wasn’t your head in a confounded
muddle, and didn’t you tell Hurd so?”
“I presume so.
“Could you swear to any event that
took place within a week or two of
that time?
“I can swear I went to Bethel and
Mechanic Falls.
“Yes. that is in your note book. Did
you speak of meeting the two men,
or seeing them meet, to your friend
that week?”
“I don’t recollect,”
“Could you swear it was not Thurs
day you saw them—saw them meet?”
“No, sir, I couldn’t; but I think it
was the Friday before.”
Mr. Barnstead, slightly flushed and
irate, left the witness stand.
Mrs. Hamilton's testimony^ came
next, and was given in a graceful,
though shrinking manner. She re-
lated the various tests to which she
had subjected' the two claimants at
various times, and said that both had
responded readily, but that the de-
fendant invariably hesitated flor a
moment before replying, but that the
plaintiff did not.
The judge at this juncture proposed
that she subject them to some test
in the presence of the jury, if there
was any point which remained unset-
tled in her own mind.
“There is one,” said Mrs. Hamilton.
“Is it of a nature to be conclusive?”
he asked.
“I think it is. It is something that
I do not know myself, but that my
husband does.
“Please state it.”
“I wish to know the whereabouts of
a small diamond button, or stud, that
he gave me. It was his mother's, and
I told him I was afraid I should lose
it if I wore it. He laughed and said
he would take care of It for me, and
he did. I never asked to know where
he kept It, and he never told me.
“One claimant may be taken Into
the next room while the other one
answers.” said the judge. “The plain-
tiff. as the first party, may remain
and answer first.
There was a decided stir In the
court room at the proposition, so out
of the usual course; and as the de-
fendant arose and walked into the
small office adjoining the court room
>et beyond hearing, the audience
hardly breathed, so deep was the
feeling in expectation of something
unusual about to take place.
But the answer was commonplace
enengh.
“I took it to the bank.” said the
plait tiff.
“For what purpose was the button
used
•‘My wife fastened her night-robe
with it.
"In what part of the bank did yon
keep
"In n small drawer of the safe
“Is it there now?"
I don’t know. I had forgotten the
matter entirely till now.”
fTa he cor tinned.)
LESSON NINE—NOVEMBER 28
GOLDEN TEXT.—I-*.t him that thinketh ha atondeth take heed lc*t ne fall.
1 Cor. 10:1".
I. Some Questions That Perplexed
the Conscience of the Early Church.—
In at least four chapters of the epistles
(Rom. 14 and 1 Cor. 8, 9 and 10), there
la a discussion of questions of right
and wrong In regard to some doubtful
mati' rs that troubled the consciences
of the young Jewish Christians, be-
sides an allied question concerning the
relation of the Gentiles to the Jewish
ritual ordained by God (In Acts 15 and
in Gal.).
1. There was the question of the
Sabbath arising from the fact that for
Jewish Christians there were two
sacred days, the Lord’s day, our Sun-
day-Sabbath, and the seventh day, the
Jewish Sabbath from the beginning.
Should Christians observe both, or
only one; and If one, which one; and
how should they treat the other.
2. There was the question as to
whether Gentiles must become Jews,
and whether Jews could eat with their
Gentile brethren, and how they should
treat them socially. See Peter’s case
in Gal. 2:11-14.
3. But the most generally perplexing
question for both Jewish and Gentile
Christians living in foreign cities
among the heathen was that which
concerned the eating of meat offered
to Idols.
As at the Jewish feasts the sacrifices
were partly burned upon the altar and
partly eaten by those who offered
them, and by the priests, in festival
worship to Jehovah, so it was with
the heathen sacrifices. The meat was
eaten by the worshipers, or sold by the
poor in open market. Thus Christians
might unconsciously buy such meat In
the market, or eat it at the house of a
friend.
The question would continually and
persistently arise—what ought the
Gentile converts to do under such cir-
cumstances? Shall they eat meat
offered to idols and seem to some to
favor idolatry? Shall they refuse and
seem to hinder the progress of the
Gospel? Injury would follow which-
ever course was taken, and so would
good.
On the one hand, they should re-
fuse to partake of such meats, be-
cause (1) such meats were forbidden
by the decree of the council at Jeru-
salem seven years before (Acts 15:29).
(2) Because the act was peculiarly of-
fensive to their Jewish brethren. (3)
To use the fish which had once been
offered to a heathen divinity, "even in
‘ordinary circumstances, would be an
encouragement of the practice of sac-
rifice, much more to partake of the
banquets which took place in the pre-
cinets of the temple Itself, and on the
scene of those licentious orgies with
which the heathen* worship was so
often accompanied.”—Dean Stanley.
(See 1 Cor. 8:9-13.)
On the other hand, it was right to
partake. (1) Because the decree at
Jerusalem against It referred to cases
like the one mentioned In v. 28, and
to times when there were many Jew-
ish Christians and few Gentile Chris-
tians. It was local and temporary and
did not refer to such cases as those
in Corinth, where there were many
Gentiles in proportion to Jews. (2)
There was no essential wrong in eat-
ing such meat. ‘‘An idol la nothing
In the world,” so that mere fact that
the meat had been offered to an idol
in no way changed its nature. (3)
The prohibition interfered with true
Christian liberty and such liberty is
of the utmost importance to all. (4)
The prohibition would cause a great
difficulty in obtaining meats for food.
(5) Any unnecessary burdens on dis-
ciples hindered others from becoming
Christians. (6) It compelled the dis-
ciples to keep awsy from almost all
social and civil assembles and pre-
vented them from influencing their
heathen neighbors toward the Gospel.
(7) Such emphasis on matters not
wrong in themselves would call atten-
tion away from real sins and climes.
It Is always dangerous to lay as much
emphasis on incidental things as on
the great truths and principles.
II. The principles by which the ques-
tions must be decided.
First.—One must keep absolutely
clear from tbe taint of idolatry, Va.
19-21.
Second —It Is a duty to recognise
one’s personal liberty, "the glorious
liberty of the children of God.” (Rom.
8:21.)
23. ”A11 things are lawful for me.”
Not sins, and wrongs, but tbe enjoy-
ments and freedom of living, eating,
drinking, rest. art. marrying, social
life, eating meat though offered to
idols. It is our characters, our morti
rendition, onr love, not some formal
act of eating or fasting for which God
r*res.
Third. -But love, the highest charac-
ter. true heroism, bids us to voluntar-
ily give tp our rich's for the sake of
other*. We hart libeify, hut we
•hoi,Id use that l,bdy a. the com-
ma ml of love. It does not take away
our liberty, If we choose to give up
what we have a right to do for the
sake of helping others. We have lib-
erty not to do, aB well as to do.
“AH things are not expedient," not
profitable for the work he has at heart,
do not “speed” the cause. ‘“All things
edify not,” do not build up souls, nor
the kingdom of heaven.
24. Therefore ‘‘let no man seek his
own” good, make that first regardless
of others, “but every man another’s
wealth,” well-being. We not only have
liberty to eat, we have also liberty to
abstain from eating. Self-denial for
the good of others Is one of the noblest
of all virtues; and refraining from
permitted things for this reason In-
creases the virtue of the world, while
to refrain because compelled by law
Is unworthy and often demoralizing.
It is this spirit that builds up tbe soul
into God’s spiritual temple.
Two applications to different cir-
cumstances follow. 25. “Whatsoever is
sold In the shambles,” the meat mar-
ket, “eat, asking no question,” not be-
ing over-scrupulous to find out the
source whence the meat comes, since
it makes no difference to you, for
(v. 26) "the earth Is the Lord’s," your
Lord’s “who has given you all things
richly to enjoy.” And since In this
case there is no question of influenc-
ing others, use your liberty freely. In
the same way, at a heathen feast (v.
27), “whatsoever Is set before you,
eat, asking no question for conscience
sake,” not your conscience, but the
conscience of others; for you do not
eat the meat as an offering to Idols,
and no one is led astray by your ex-
ample.
28. "But if any man say unto you.
This is (hath been) offered In sacrifice
unto idols,” then the case Is different.
You are no longer merely eating food,
but you are setting an example of eat-
ing food offered to idols, which is con-
trary to the conscience of some of the
guests, or might be interpreted by
the heathen themselves as implying
that idols were not so very bad after
all.
Fourth Principle.—Vs. 29, 30. Those
who differ must not condemn those
who honestly believe another course is
better. Condemning as unchristian
others who honestly differ from us,
may be quite as great a sin as the one
condemned. ,
III. The Conclusion.—Vs. 31-33. 1.
Do what Is beBt for the glory of God,
for the coming of His kingdom and
the good of men, His children. It Is
not a question of our own pleasure in'
eating or drinking, or our own profit,
but of the “profit of the many, that
they may be saved.” '
2. It is contrary to the very essence
of the Gospel to put a stumbling block
in the way of any, and especially of
the weak and tempted. Therefore
give "no occasion of stumbling either
to Jews or to Greeks, or to the church
of God” (v. 32. R. V.).
IV. The Application of These Prin-
ciples to the Use of Intoxicating
Liquors.—These principles are among
the chief foundation stones of the total
abstinence movement.
Strong drilk is bringing incalculable
evils upon the nation and the world.
No one who begins the course of
drinking knows where it will end in
his own case.
All drunkards began their course 1*
the moderate drinking of lighter Intox-
icants, and almost always in youth.
The only safe way Is don’t begin.
Every older person Is responsible
for bis influence, by word and by ex-
ample. over the children and youth of
to-day.
How can you expect your boys, I*
your home, or In your class, to be
more heroic, more self-denying, more
victorious over temptation, than yon
yourself are willing to be. It Is well
for the older as well as the younger
to consider some facts lately brought
together, showing how much of the
hope of success of the youth in this
life, as well as of preparation for eter-
nal life, depends on their total absti-
nence from all that can intoxicate.
“I asked an experienced New York
merchant as to his views. He said:
‘Several of our leading banks and mar-
cantile booses are making an absolute
rule of engaging no clerk who smokes,
whether pipes, cigars or cigarettes. Wa
End that the young fellow who takes
to smoking takes to blundering and
Idleness and wasting his time, besides
very often going to questionable places
of amuse meat out of office hours. Wu
simply will not take a young man who
may be efficient lu every other way.
but who smokes. If ha woet give ap
tobacco, we give him up. Young men
and youths have no need of opiate*.
A busy, overtaxed merchant or banker
may perhaps benefit from a cigar after
lunch or at tbe end of the day’s work;
but young fellows have no right ta
drag their energies with tobacco."
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Deem, Charles F. The May Monitor. (May, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, November 24, 1905, newspaper, November 24, 1905; May, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc941929/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.