“Yeah, I guess you’re right, Josh. Guess we’ll have to deal with them here. Well, I’m just going to have to get them to talk, what are they hiding? Did you find any clues in her handbag?”
“It looks like a note there. I don’t know, Gus.”
Gus looked down at the floor. “Well, what do we have here?” He reached down and picked up a piece of paper that had fallen out of Nellie Belle’s handbag.
“What’s this?” He unfolded the piece of paper. There was an address written on it. “What’s this address here?” He demanded, looking at Nellie Belle. “You tell me what I need to know about this address or I’ll start breakin’ some bones, starting with your wrist and then your neck!”
He grabbed Nellie Belle again and started to twist her wrist. She cried out in pain.
“Please, stop! I’ll tell you what you want to know. Please stop!”
Nellie Belle winced in pain as he twisted her arm behind her back. “Tell me whose address this is!”
“Okay, I’ll talk. Please, let go of my arm! You’re hurting me!”
“Alright, then, are you going to tell us what we need to know?”
He let go of her arm. “Talk!”
“It’s the address of the boarding house where Flynt was staying…”
Gus pushed her against the wall. “So, this is the address where Flynt was staying. This boarding house on Tenth Street…and that’s where the money is. We’ll go there and break in the door and take it.”
“What are we going to do with them?” Josh asked with a puzzled look.
“We shoot ‘em.”
Gus raised his gun and pointed it at Nellie Belle. She cringed in fear.
Josh looked concerned. “The shots would be heard a block away. We’d be caught for sure.”
Gus thought a moment. “We could dump them in the river, but that might be too risky, too.”
“Yeah, and we can’t do that in broad daylight anyway,” Josh replied. “Maybe we could throw them down that old well by the foundry. They’d never get out of there.”
“We’d have to wait until after dark to do that for sure,” Gus added. “No, once we get that money I want to get out of here before noon. Let’s just tie ‘em up and get on over to that boarding house.”
“We don’t have any rope, Gus!”
“Well, tear up the bed sheets into strips. We can tie ‘em with that…”
Josh tried to rip up the bed sheets, but the sheets wouldn’t tear.
“Use your knife, you idiot,” Gus yelled.
Suddenly there was a loud knock at the door. Josh glanced at Gus. “Don’t say anything!” He whispered hoarsely.
“Open the door! This is the police! Open up, we have a report of a disturbance in this room! Open this door now!”
“Out the window! Quick!” Josh said.
Gus slid the window open and both men jumped down to the ground. Gus ran off to get the money, but Josh hurt his leg and limped away towards a wooded area nearby.
The police kicked in the door and burst into the room, guns drawn. They looked at us; we were bruised, bleeding and in desperate need of immediate help.
One of the officers laughed. “Oh, just what I thought. Just a couple of soiled ladies that got smacked around by some of their clients. Should we arrest them, sarge?”
“Yeah, let them spend a little time in the jail house. It’ll set “em straight and learn them a lesson.”
“We are not prostitutes!” I cried.
“Yeah, sure ya’ aint!” Laughed the sarge. “We get them here all the time…”
Nellie Belle and I were handcuffed and taken to the town jail. We did not have the strength to resist.
It was a filthy jail cell and smelled of urine. I became nauseated and vomited several times. Nellie Belle looked horrid. Her face was swollen something terrible.
We were lucky. There was a brawl outside a gaming room around eight o’clock that evening and several men were arrested. They released us to make room for these new arrivals.
We rushed to the Frontier Inn and knocked on the door of the room. Katherine opened the door and screamed when she saw us. Pelina made us lay down and she and Katherine put cool wet towels on our faces. This relieved the pain and helped to bring down the swelling after several hours.
When I was feeling better, I told Pelina and Katherine what had happened.
“You are both lucky to be alive,” Katherine told us. “These are extremely violent men to beat women like that.”
Pelina looked angry. “Ginny, let’s go speak to Mr. Wrampelmeier about your mistreatment by those rotten policemen. They need to be reprimanded.”
“I agree, Pelina. We will talk to them at breakfast tomorrow morning.”
Major Parker
We met the Wrampelmeier’s in the hotel lobby when it was time for breakfast. They were both livid when they saw Nellie Belle and me. Our faces were still a little swollen and bruised.
I told them about all the events of the previous evening as we walked to the hotel restaurant and were seated. I described how Flynt was killed and sarge wounded. As I told them how Nellie Belle and I were assaulted by Gus and Josh, they shook their heads in disbelief. Then when I told them how the policemen had arrested us at the hotel and accused us of being prostitutes, Mr. Wrampelmeier’s face became red.” This is inexcusable!” He exclaimed in disdain. “I will talk to the police inspector immediately and have these officers disciplined. They truly do not belong on the police force.”
“This is all so completely deplorable, “Mrs. Wrampelmeier said. “This nonsense needs to end now.”
“Let’s hope so, dear. Hopefully it’s almost over,” Mr Wrampelmeier said as he took a sip of his coffee. “Ginny, have you found out any information about the wounded man, sarge? Is he expected to recover?”
“We don’t know yet. He’s probably still at the hospital,” I replied.
After breakfast we went to the hospital to inquire about sarge. We sat on a bench in the waiting room for a long time. A doctor came out and told us that the sarge was not expected to make it. I asked to be notified immediately about his condition.
We returned to our room. Later that afternoon the hospital sent a message to our hotel informing us that the sarge had expired.
The man who murdered my parents so brutally five years ago was now dead. I became silent when I learned the news. I brushed tears from my eyes. I would never forgive and forget what these evil men had done, and the truth of the Biblical verse “He who lives by the sword shall perish by the sword” and “vengeance shall be mine” now took on a whole new meaning. This was my vindication. It was a bittersweet victory in every way, but even so, it would not bring my parents back.
Pelina and Katherine were a great comfort in this time of desperation, and they helped me to find hope. They also provided support for Nellie Belle. I was fortunate to have them at my side at a time like this.
There was a knock at the door. I was afraid to open it. What if it were Gus and Josh come back to finish us all off?
Katherine went to the door.
“Who is it?” She politely asked.
“This is Major Nate Parker from the Newport Army Barracks. I am here to investigate the report that you made to our department headquarters.”
Katherine opened the door. A clean-shaven gentleman wearing a blue army uniform with two rows of shiny brass buttons on the front was standing there holding his officer’s hat at his side. He had sandy, wavy hair and blue eyes. I think that Nellie Belle fell in love with him at first sight.
“Oh, please do come in. I have always loved men in uniform,” she smiled.
It was good to see Nellie Belle getting back to her old self again.
“I am here concerning the report filed on Wednesday,” he said as he entered the room. “Who is Miss Ginny Chamberlain?”
“I am Ginny.” I came forward and he took my hand gently in his and smiled. Nellie Belle appeared to be envious.
He looked at my face
and then at Nellie Belle. “Looks like both of you have been in a fist fight,” he said jokingly.
“Well, it’s a long story, sir,” I said.
“I will ask you about that later then,” he said.
We all sat down at the window table and discussed my written report. He took it from his leather side bag and placed it on the table.
Major Parker looked at me intently. “Ginny, could you please tell me what you are doing here in Newport?”
I recounted my entire story beginning with my parents murder and then explained our reasons for coming to Newport.
He looked with conviction into my eyes. “This was a terrible ordeal for you, Ginny, especially at such a young age. I am truly sorry for this violent deed that has caused all of this suffering and hardship. Two of those men that you described to me and mentioned in your report are now dead…Flynt Conner and Sergeant Bolin.”
“Yes, we know that they are both deceased,” I replied. “It happened last night in front of McCoy’s Tavern on Monmouth Street.”
“Exactly. And that brings us back to the investigation. Your report mentions that there were stolen goods that had been pillaged from some wealthy estates during the invasion of the South. How did you learn of this activity?”
“We eavesdropped on their conversations at their hotel room in Louisville. They openly bragged about plundering Southern plantation houses. Sarge told the men that he was bringing the stolen goods up to Newport from Frankfort and that they were going to be rich men.”
The Major nodded and glanced down at my written report. “You mention a freight wagon here in the documentation. We have determined that this freight wagon belongs to a foundry near the Ohio River. The information which you provided in your statements has helped us to launch a large-scale investigation. We do not condone this conduct in the army and it is a violation of our protocols.”
I nodded in affirmation of this promising news. A wonderful feeling crept through my body, finally my efforts were reaping results.
“I hope that this will put an end to this sort of thing,” I said.
Major Parker smiled at me. “We are making headway now, thanks in large part to your report.” He looked out the window a moment and seemed to be remembering something that troubled him.
“Many field commanders turned their heads to this rampant foraging by wanton soldiers during the Civil War. Believe it or not, some of these commanders were “on the take.” They openly denounced pillaging, but secretly allowed it as long as they got their share of the take. Towards the end of the war things became very ugly during Sherman’s march. I’m sure you all know about that; the burning of Atlanta and Sherman’s march to the sea. The land was scorched from Atlanta to Savannah, and onwards into South Carolina. Civilians were woefully mistreated, and the soldiers came to be called bummers, their purpose being solely to strike terror into the population, and to exact retribution on them. This was a very dark time in our history. Men like Sargent Bolin and Flynt Cain were very much involved in this looting, and it seems that they have held onto their loot, waiting for the right moment to get the most money for it. There is a hiding place somewhere out there where all this stolen property is being stored. We hope to find out where it is.”
Major Parker looked at me and Nellie Belle. “Please tell me about this bruising on your faces, Ginny and….”
“Nellie Belle. I was with Flynt when he was shot down by sarge last night”
The major nodded. “I see…and then what happened?”
“Ginny stayed the night with me at my hotel room. In the morning Gus and Josh, two of the men that knew sarge, burst into my room and demanded money. When I told them that we did not have it, they beat us senseless. The police came and then the men ran off. They found Flynt’s address that I had written on a slip of paper in my purse. They were going to break into his room and take the money.”
“Nellie Belle, would you mind writing all of this down in a statement as a separate report? I know these men and they will be disciplined.”
“I don’t write so well,” Nellie Belle replied. “Can Ginny do it for me?”
“Sure, Ginny can do it as long as you sign it with a witness.”
Major Parker assured us that there would be a thorough investigation and that the army would take action to stop the sale of stolen property pillaged during the Civil War. These men would be “weeded” out of the service, he said.
The next day police were summoned to a Cincinnati hotel to quell a disturbance. Two men were fighting over money. When Major Parker got wind of it he sent two army police officers to investigate.
The Cincinnati police found Josh dead in a pool of blood. Gus had escaped and was reported leaving the city headed towards Chillicothe. The army and police lost his trail.
A few days later I purchased a copy of the Cincinnati Enquirer as we waited at the train station for our trip home. A headline on the second page announced:
Soldier Found Dead
Yesterday a soldier was found dead near Paint Creek in Ross County. He had suffered injury to the head and torso. The cause of death and the soldier’s identity is unknown.
It was a brief article, but I was sure that the unknown soldier was Gus. He probably was killed for that dirty money. It seemed like that money had become a curse of death. I folded the newspaper and placed it in my handbag.
We boarded our train and headed out of Covington for our return trip back to Louisville.
Decisions
Back in Louisville Nellie Belle caught the first riverboat out of town to St. Louis and Memphis. I never saw her again.
I returned to my hotel room. Pelina and Katherine went home. I was very lonely by myself. I wrote in my journal the entire day, hoping that Walter would be back soon.
July 16, 1867
Walter is back today. I am so happy! He brought me gifts from the great city of New Orleans. A silver necklace and a diamond pendant. Tonight, we will go out for diner, afterwards, dancing.
July 17, 1867
Last night was fun, we had a delicious meal in a pub. The roasted beef there was excellent. While we were eating a man in shabby clothing came up to Walter and said, “You owe me, where’s my money!” Walter excused himself from the table and talked to the man outside the restaurant. When he returned I asked him who that man was. He smiled and said that it was nothing, just an old acquaintance asking for money.
Walter’s riverboat was going out of service for the year, it needed maintenance repairs. I was not at all disappointed to learn of this; now Walter would be with me and away from the river.
It was good waking up in the morning with Walter next to me. I got up and poured water from the pitcher into the wash bowl. I bathed standing on a floor mat with the perfumed soap I had bought in Cincinnati. I put on lotion, wet my hair, combed it, and put on a leisure dress.
Walter ordered room service. There was a knock at the door. Walter sprang from bed, donned a bath robe and opened the door. A scrumptious breakfast awaited us all finely laid out on a rolling cart.
Living in a hotel room had its benefits, not to mention the service and comfort. But I became uncomfortable in the fact that Walter and I were not married. Sure, there were plenty of women that slept around town, but I was not like that. I was not some saloon girl, out for thrills. I wanted a relationship and family. I continued to prod Walter for marriage.
Most people at the hotel assumed that Walter and I were married, at least that is what I hoped. To maintain respectability was important for a lady. I needed some assurance from Walter.
“Don’t worry, Ginny, we will be married soon! You are my only girl!” He would say. A week later I was wearing a diamond engagement ring. Then I used some money that Walter had given me to buy a wedding dress.
September 12, 1870
I was the maid of honor at Pelina’s wedding today. I was so happy for her. It was such a beautiful wedding, and I cried. She will always be my best friend. The wedding and reception lasted int
o the evening. I was angry that Walter did not attend.
When I returned to my room I wrote in my journal for a while, then I closed it and shut my eyes. I had not seen Walter since this morning. He said that he was going to visit with some friends at the wharfs. I was feeling shaken because of what had just happened.
I had returned from the wedding and was walking through the hotel lobby towards the stairs when this insane man ran up to me yelling “yer gonna pay for this wench!” Then he ripped the right sleeve completely off my best dress. I screamed and slapped the man. It took several men to get him away from me.
By ten pm Walter still had not returned to the room. I had a bad feeling that something was wrong. I decided to go out and look for him. I left the hotel and walked up Main to Fourth Street. I thought that Walter might be in one of the taverns. I noticed some men shouting over a card game in Dandy’s. One of the men was Walter.
Now I knew how Walter was getting so much money. This was how he could afford our hotel room, the diamond jewelry, the fancy restaurants. He was a high stakes gambler, apparently a good one at that.
I must say that I was devastated by this turn of events. I had suspicions that something was going on all along. I recalled the conversation with the woman in the restaurant. So, this is what she meant when she said that Walter must be doing “something else”. Then there was this insane man who ripped my dress. Was he one of the men that Walter had angered at a card game?
I returned to my hotel room and cried myself to sleep. It was late when Walter returned.
The next day after breakfast Walter left to get supplies at the dry goods store. When he returned he was furious.
He had found out about the insane man who had ripped my dress. I had never seen him so angry. He grabbed his gun and stormed towards the door.
“Any man that lays a hand on my woman will pay for it!” He shouted.
Kentucky Sky Page 9
