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Show GIANT NEEDHAMS BY GEORGE T. PARDY A TRUE STORY OF THAT NOTED SLEUTH-JOHN WILSON MURRAY mHK glnnt Noedhams, father fa-ther and son. wore two of tho tho best known and most remarkable men In tho Provlnco of Ontario, Canada. They wero Indians In-dians nnd lived in nn out-of-the-way placo In tho county of Elgin, but roamed all over that part of tho country. Their tro-mondous tro-mondous size, extraordinary extraordin-ary muscular development and Herculean Hercu-lean strength had mado them fnmuus among tho country folk, ns woll as gaining for them n reputation for perfect per-fect fearlessness which wns clenrly established es-tablished and proven. Either ono of them could pick up a 200-pound man nnd toss him over n fenco as If ho wero a bag of buckwheat. Hut for all their physical capabilities thoy woro not of a quarrelsome nature. There aro men bo constituted thnt they will put up with anything short of actual, premeditated Insult rather bo drawn Into' n light, nnd the Need-hams Need-hams belonged In this category. Ono interesting feature of their appearance ap-pearance was that they looked so much alike, that many peoplo mistook them for ono nnother und could not tell them apart. In fact, thoy looked more like twin brothers than like father and son. Tho outdoor life they led and their constant trudging about tho country kept their muscles hard as steel. Uoth wore over six foet in holeht, with massive frames, huge heads and shoulders, copper-colored skin and Jet black hair, and desplto their great weight moved with tho springy, cat-like grace of panthers. Tho father was known the country over as "Doe" Ncedham. Ho was not a regular practitioner, but an Indian herb doctor. A great ninny peoplo believed be-lieved In his mcdiclnos, and there wero tales of marvelous cures ho had wrought. Ono legend was that with three drops of the cssoncc of a certain root ho had restored to llfo a man who wns about to bo burled. However that may havo been, the fact romalned that "Doc" Ncedham had succeeded in establishing himself In the confidence confi-dence of tho country folk, and certain-ly certain-ly did. a great deal more good than he did harm. At tho township fair In Wallaco, county of Elgin, in 1874, tho Need-hams Need-hams wero present with their supply of herbs ,nnd as usual big crowds gathered to see their exhibition and buy their medicines. Among thoso at the fair was Harry Fltzslmmons, a huge fellow, built like a bull, with thick neck, deep chest and heavy head. He claimed to bo a fighter and prided himself on his ability to whip any man In the county. Ho had a boon companion with him named Georgo Llpsey. The latter was something some-thing of a fighter himself, but deferred de-ferred to Llpsoy as tho king of the county whero n question of physical Buperlorjty was Involved. That day Mr. Fltzslmmons was in a trouble-seeking mood, having thrashed a couple of huBky country fellows who had dared to provoko him. Doth of his antagonists an-tagonists had gono under .quickly and Fitz' faith In his own prowess was greatly enhanced thereby. Flushed with IiIb easy victories and a strangor to defeat, ho camo upon tho NcedhaniB, father and son, busy with their medicines. medi-cines. Tho sight of tho famous pair :auscd a scowl to deopen on his brow. Fltz had heard of tho Nccdhams and their feats of strength until he was weary of such stories. Ho dotormlnod that ho would convince tho country-sldo country-sldo thnt ho was the solo and undisputed undis-puted chnwplon. With this laudable object In view ho mado ropcated attempts at-tempts to pick a quarrel with the Nccdhams, but being peaceable, law-abiding law-abiding men thoy ignored htm and refused re-fused to bo tomptcd Into a fight. Fltz nnd his companion grow boisterous bois-terous nnd tho Neodhams movod quietly quiet-ly away, but tho two troublo-mukers followed them, roaring out numerous Insults. Young Ncedham could bo scon speaking earnestly to his father, and entreating him to grant somo request, re-quest, but tho older man shook his head sternly. Fltz nnd Llpsey persisted per-sisted iu their vocal attacks, and at last Doc Needed nodded to his son. Young Noedham Immediately threw off hla coat nnd walked ovor to within a few foot of his challongors. Fltz, rightly doflnlng this movement ns an acceptance of tho bnttlo gago, rushed upon hlra nt once. Llpsey made ns though to Join In tho nttack, but was gripped by an Iron hand which drew him back. Glancing up ho porcelved thnt It was nouo otlior than Doo Noedham Noed-ham who was guarding his son from unfair Interference, Llpsey's first Impulse Im-pulse wns to Btrugglo with his captor, but on reflection ho remained passive. Tho oldor Neodham had not spoken a word to him, but thnt vlso-llko grip of his arm Bpoko volumos. Llpsey suddenly sud-denly roallzod that ho would bo helpless help-less as a child In this veteran giant's hands should ho attompt to Join Issues Is-sues In combat with him. Plainly discretion dis-cretion was tho hotter part of vnlor, and ho mado no further move indicative indica-tive of a deslr.e to aid tho rodoubtablu Fltz. Tho latter was hurling himself upon bin foo with reckless abandon, his sledge-hammer fists flying wildly In the air as ho dealt, blow after blow in rapid succession nt his opponent. Young Needhnm, on tho contrary, was taking mnttcrs coolly. A mocking sneer dwelt upon his bronze features as ho warded off tho hailstorm of blows that beat around his head. Desplto his huge bulk the younger Ncedham was as light as a cat on his feet nnd ho evaded Fitz's bull-like rushes with wonderful case, slipping nsldo dexterously whllo his opponent camo tearing after him, and planting woll-tlmed hits on tho lattor's face without receiving a single counter In return. Even nt nn enrly stage of tho short, furious encounter It wns evident evi-dent that young Ncedham was merely playing with his enemy as a cat plays with n mouse. Uut a few momonts elapsed ere Fltz began to weaken and betrayed symptoms of distress. Need-ham's Need-ham's quick eye detected the wavering waver-ing of his antagonist's attack. With j an axe-head and some pork, both of which ho had bought in St. Thomas. When ho drove away from tho tavern, Fltz and Llpsey appeared suddenly, sneaked quietly into the back part of tho vohlclo and Jumped on him from behind. Tnkon by surprise, tho older Needham had no chanco to defend himself, nnd whllo ono of his assailants assail-ants held his nrms tho other bent him over tho head with tho bag. Tho Iron nxohend, brought down with territlo forco on tho dcfensoless man's skull, fractured It, killing him Instnntly. It wns his strong resomblanco to his son thnt caused tho father's death, III b assailants having attacked him under the Impression thnt thoy wero boating young Needham. They escaped In tho darkness nnd got out of town, but news of tho murder mur-der enmo swiftly to tho cars of tho authorities, nnd detcctlvo John Wilson Murray was given chnrgo of tho case. Murray, however, went nbout his task In his usual systematic fashion, AWAY FEhb' on we owzxs lightning swiftness ho ducked under Fitz's swinging arms, caught him around the wnlst and hurled htm to tho earth. Then picking htm up ho heaved him upward and tossed him, literally throw him, full fifteen feet ns a mnn would throw a heavy hammer. As ho Btruck tho ground ngaln young Ncedham wns upon him llko a panther, pan-ther, nnd ho dug a holo In tho Wallaco Fair grounds, using the fnco und head of his victim as a spado. When ho had tlnlshed, he picked him up again nnd slammed him down for tho last time, and Fltz lay still, wl'h n deep, zigzag gash on his check. Doo Needham releused Llpsoy, who cared for his beaten crony, fanning his facoresuscltatlng him, and lending htm away. The Nccdhams, amid the plaudits of tho, crowd, resumed their medicine vending. Thoy woro not molested again, but In tho ovcnlng Fltz limped over to their stnnd with Llpsoy and shook his (1st at tho conqueror. con-queror. "Mark my words," ho yelled, "I'll get even with you it It costs mo my llfo. I'll break ovory bono in your body." Young Needhnm sprang forwnrd, the whole savngo In his being aroused, but tho sinewy arms qf tho father closed on his boy and held him as a mother would her child and thoso who wit-nosed. wit-nosed. tin) action beheld for tho llrsL nnd last tlmo which of tho two Nocd-hams Nocd-hams was tho mightier man. "You fellows Jmd better go away, or I'll turn him loose," said Doc Ncedham, Nced-ham, and Fitz and his partner rotirod. Somo, tlmo after tho vanquishing of Fitz,' Doo Neodham and his sou woro in St. Thomas with their own team. On tiiclr return homo thoy stopped at the tavern by Klttlccreek bridge, on tho outskirts of St. Thomas. Young Needham alighted before reaching reach-ing tho tavern und started off to sco ii mna on business whllo the father drovo to tlu Uvorn nnd halted his team. In a bag In his wagon ho had his first stop being to send circulars broadcast all over Canada and tho United States describing Fitz nnd Llpsoy. Llp-soy. Ho knew that tho former had been marked for llfo by young Needhnm Need-hnm during tho fight at tho Wallaco fair, and relied on tho oxlstonco of a cortaln zigzag scar to help htm In tho Identification of tho principal murderer. mur-derer. At last, through a stray" lotter, ho obtained traces of Fltz out near lied Wing, in Minnesota. Ho started for lied Wing at onco, taking with him Gov. John King of tho St. Thomns Jail to Identify the fugitive, fu-gitive, should they bo fortunate enough to como up with him. Fltz had worked for King at ono tlmo, nnd tho governor knew him woll. Tho do-tecttvo do-tecttvo and his companion arrived in lied Wing lato at night and retired to rest in a doublo-beddcd room. And hero tho capricious god of chanco who plays such a prominent part at times In tho disposition of human affairs, saw fit to take a hand In tho gamo. Tho Jail governor was n heavy sloep-or sloep-or and'was in tho habit of snoring with demoniacal strongth and resource. This distressing, fact forced Itself on Murray's nerves In thoroughly convincing con-vincing fashion ero ho had been reposing repos-ing on his bed for many moments. In vuln tho dotectlvo strove to divert his mind from the vlrllo nasal performance perform-ance of his roonwnnto. King's snores woro not of tho klnll that could bo lightly Ignored and banished from tho Imagination of tho sufforllng hearer by moro forco of' will power. Murray tried by every means In his power to find swoet oblivion in slumbor, hut tho vibrant, snoring chant continued to sot at iinusht hlB most earnest endeavors, en-deavors, nnd he spocdlly reslgnod him-solf him-solf to tho Inevitable Slcop wns out of tho question and ho tossed und turned uneasily until tho first fnlnt streaks of dawn mado their appearance appear-ance through the window panes. Then, reallzlnc thnt ho was badly In need of a sluivo, ho resolved to seek dis traction and human companionship in a barber shop, dressed himself and wandered out Into tho street. As ho crossed tho street whllo making mak-ing for his goal, a man of gigantic build camo slouching along and entered en-tered tho shop ahead of him. Murray followed- him into tho placo and sat down to wait whllo tho knight of tho shears and razor attended to tho first comer. Tho big customer was possossed of a luxuriant board and a long, thick head of hnlr. It wnB tho beard which required tho exorcises of tho barber's art, and tho owner thereof sat with closed eyes whllo it was being be-ing trimmed, Murray, looking Into tho mirror facing fac-ing him, studied tho big man's features fea-tures with languid interest. Then suddenly sud-denly ho straightened up in his sent as though ho had received an olectrlo shock. It had flashed upon him that tho customer In the barber's chair bore a startling resemblance to tho description he had been given of tho much-sought-for Fltz. Ho recalled tho zigzag scar on tho cheek, which was expected to provo an Important link in tho Identification of tho fugitive, but ho was at fault, for tho heavy beard on tho customer's faco formed an impenetrable mask to what lay bo-neath. bo-neath. Yet In evory othor detail tho description matched exactly, If it wero only posslblo to obtain n look under tho meshes of thnt exasperating beard I Snip, snip, snip, wont tho barber's shears, and tho regular sounds Bcemcd' to lncrcaso tho customer's sense of drowsiness. He had tho Jaded look of a man who had been up all night, and presently his limbs relaxed and a deep snoro announced that he had fallen fast asleop. Tho barber kept on with his work, but paused suddenly as a volco in tho street called "Joe! Jool" In impatient accents. As ho listened, tho call was ropeatcd and with a glanco at his sloeplng customer, tho barber laid ,down his shears and stopped out. Murray, left alone with the slumbering slumber-ing suspect, still wrestled In his mind with tho unsolved problem of tho zigzag zig-zag scar, and hungered for a view of tho sleeper's cheek. Tho dotectlvo rose, walked on tiptoo to tho door nnd glanced out. Tho barber was talking busily to a man In a, wagon, with his back toward tho shop. Murray stole carefully back to where the sleoper snored In tho clmlr. with his head tilted tilt-ed to ono side. Tho scissors wero within easy reach and Murray seized them, placed tho sharp edges closo to tho big man's benrd and brought them together with a click. Part of tho board, shorn away, foil on the ownor's shoulder, but ho continued to sloop, undisturbed by tho action of tho dotectlvo. do-tectlvo. Murray laid down tho scissors scis-sors and quickly resumed his-seat for an Instnnt. Tho experiment had boon satisfactory, for whero tho concealing hair had been cut away thero run tho bluo outline of a zigzag scar! As tho barber ro-ontcred tho shop Murray roso to go. "I'll bo back In a fur moments," ho said, In rcsponco to tho proprietor's look of Inquiry, nnd strolled Into the street. Ills object was simply to ascertain the exuet location lo-cation of tho Jail, and having dono so ho returned to tho shop. Tho big customer cus-tomer wns Just getting out of tho chair, and swearing llercoly nt tho harbor for slashing his benrd so closo on the cheeks. Murray sympathized with htm, denounced tho barber for his carelessness, and ended by leaving tho place In tho company of tho offended customer. ,4You did right not to lot him shavu you," Bald tho big wan dtsjustedly. BHBJ j mi i is appj I "That follow co .vo a-plK tor B mo( ho.doesn't ku3vi business.." - (j BBB "What might your name bo, friend ? BB nsked Murray. BBB "Church," replied tho big man, "b , BBJ I'm bound down tho' river right awajr." , BB Murray reflected rapidly, He felt . BBB suro that tho man wns Fltz, butthars x BBB was n chanco that ho might bo nto- " BBB taken, and there did not seem to b , BBl any way of holding him for King to BBl mnko tho identification Btire. Mors- jBBl over tho glnnt was determined to get iflflB out of town In n hurry, nnd retaM BBB his companion's invitation to drink mt BBl breakfast. BBj Thero was nothing for it but to rt- 1 BBl sort to n bluff nnd Murray acted with ABB promptitude BBl "Church," ho said suddenly, "I'm , sorry, but I'll havo to arrest you." BB "Arrest mo?" roared the big man In- , BBB dlgnantly. "What for?" "You stolo n canoo and a coll of cBBI ropo down tho river last night," a- BBB sorted Murrny. BBB "You'ro an infernal liar!" retorted BBJ tha giant angrily. - jflBB "It's not what I Bay, it's what a BBB follow over here Bays," returned Mur- IflBfl ray. BBJ "Over whero?" growled the giant. BBJ "Show him to me." BBB "Como on," said Murray uncourag- .(BP lngly. "Fnco him, and muko him take- BB It back." BB Whatever the big man might hmim HB boon guilty of in his career, this was ' BBJ surely ono occasion on which ho waa BB wrongfully nccused, nnd his spirit i BBJ yearned to bo rovenged upon his ac- BBJ cuscr. He caught at Murray's sug- BBl geBtion engerly and accompanied the BBJ dotectlvo to tho Jail. Whllo he waited BBl Murray sought out tho shorlff and laid BBB tho case before him. Tho sheriff, "BBB whoso name was Chandler, on hear- BBJ lng Murray's Btory agreed to help Bin BBl hold tho suspected murderer until Be rBBJ could bo Identified. Chandler called BBB Church In, told him to step into the BBB next room, nnd when ho did bo locked ' 'BBB him in. HB Murrny hastened back to the hotel ..BB and awakened his room-mate. Cot. bVJ King dressed himself quickly, and on BBJ tho way to tho jail Murray told him BB how innttors BtooiV, He reminded (BBJ King that in case tho suspect was not BBJ Fitz, it was only necessary to say BBJ that tho lattor was not tho man who - BBJ stolo tho canoo and rope. If It waa 'BBJ Fltz, King wns to talk to him about BBJ tho folks at home, toll him how tas BB peoplo folt, and persuado him to ac- ..BJ company them home, as legally -they BBJ had no right to take him back, with- -jBB1 out a good deal of trouble, unless fee -"1 waB willing to go. BBJ As thoy approached the Jail they .BBJ heard a thunderous roaring the vole BBJ of tho wrongfully accused Church bel- , BB lowing' in rage ovor being locked la. BBB 'When Murray and his compaaloa BBB entered tho room Church's yelkt BBJ ceased abruptly and he stared at KIbe BB as though fascinated. BBJ "Hello, Harry," said Gov. King. N BBJ "Hello, governor," responded Fits BBJ meekly, 'BB Thoy shook hands, and after talk- BBB ing nbout an hour, the fugitive con- BBB sonted to return to Canada, and the .BBJ three men started that night. BBB In tho morning a follow passenger -"BPB on tho train informed Murray that BBB a lawyer from Milwaukee bad heard BB of tho tnattor and would try to make. BBJ troublo. for him with his prisoner. Mar- Bfl ray turned to IiIb charge: BBJ "Harry," Bold he, "a shyster Is eaas- BBB ing in hero soon to mako trouble for BJ you. Give him a short answer." BBJ Presently tho Milwaukee lawyer ea- BB tercd tho car, wearing a high hat and. BBJ lofty air. BBJ "Whero is this prisoner charged U with murder, whom they aro going to BB tako to Canada?" bo demanded loudlj BBJ Thero was no reply, and he glanced U around until his eye fell upon Fits. JBBJ "My man," ho said importantly, "doa't 'BBJ you know you have certain rights la BBJ this country, und only tho president . BB can have you taken out? What aro yon BBJ charged with?" BBB "That's my business and nono of BB yours. Ain't you glad you found out?" BBJ retorted tho prisoner, with Inflnlto rel- """BBl i BBJ Tho lawyer turned a vivid scarlet. BJ "You dosorvo to bo hanged!" he snort- BBJ cd, nnd mado his exit, pursued by BJ penis of ironical laughter. BBJ Murray reached homo safely with aBfl his prisoner and handed blm ovor to "BBl tho authorities. Fltzslmmons was tried BBJ convicted of manslaughter and sea- BBJ tenced to ten years in tho pcnltea- BBB tlary. B The hand of Futo rested heavily BBJ on tho four men who were parllci- BBB pants In tho fight at Wallaco fair, for BBJ all of them camo to tragic ends. Doe BBJ Ncedham was murdered, Fltzslmmons BBJ died In tho ponltontlary: Llpsey waa BBJ killed In a circus row In a western BBJ state and lntor young Ncedham waa BBJ killed near Spring Dank, not far frost BBB London, Ontario. BBJ Spring Dank was a plcnla place cloe BBJ to tho Indian reserve at Muncictown. BBJ Young Needhnm, no longor young, was BBJ thero with numerous Indians on a BBJ holiday, In August, 1902, A quarrel BBJ aroso botwoen him and a fellow knows. BBJ as Dig McCarter of London, which ter- BBJ mlnated in a llsttc combat. The two ABB men wero fighting when NcedbaiB, i'flBrJ who hud not received a blow, sudden- BBJ ly collapsed and fell llko a tag. HI. BBJ opponent kicked htm savagely' as he '' BBJ lay prostrato, and whon Neodham was BBJ picked up ho waa beyond uelp. MM McCnrtor was arrested, but tho au- BBB topsy on tho victim showed that while BBJ several of Noedham's ribs lmd been BBB j kicked In, tho direct causa of death' U was henrt disease. McCnrtor was, ' BBJ tried and acquitted ou-tho strength BBJ tho surgeon's testimony t tj&mnotty, . BBB which also suved young NwdUam'sVA. , 41 ' BBJ lighting record, nnd sent liIm'I'e'fc'Aj .n BBB gruvo undefeated, - &3Si'' '; s ' BBJ (Copyright. I9W, by W". 0. Clmpnma.)., . 1 11 ,. BBJ (Copyright In, Qroat Britain.) " !'BBB BBJ |