Just Common

Harbor District

Folks, ya ready? Just needs ta get myself seated an we a start, soon as I do that. I hope all are doin good, well shall we start!

Folks ran that ad full page second page the papers in town. All three a thum Doc say, he wasn't sure I should a posted more than a warnin. Folks guess what? I posted more than a warnin! That get his attention! Bet ya wonderin what it say. Well I'll tell ya! Give me second now!

I posted the warnin plus my message ta that murderin fool! Folks this what it say.

Ta ladies of Mobile, ifin ya have ta travel from 8 at night till 6 in the mornin. Please travel in groups or pairs. Best bet would be ta stay at home. They is a murderer about Mobile. This is not an order, I request the Saloons an Houses of Pleasantries ta close by 10 at night.

Now, ta the one, that is doin the Killin. Surrender ta me, an I'll see ya get help. I will catch ya, ifin I have ta chase ya fer years ta come. Ya don't surrender, Judgment will be swift.

Ranger Common Howard

Folks, I wanted that killer, ta know he stopped. Why I'd try an get him help. I am sure Doc knows of a place that would lock him away, as insane. Ifin he keeps killin, why my Judgment a be swift, an highly painful! That folks is the truth! I just hope the Ladies a Mobile listen ta my warnin, an travel in groups or pairs. Maybe even stay home ifin they can. Doc thinks, our killer won't listen. He go about his business, strike in two maybe three days. As is normal fer him. Folks, Doc is right, but I had ta try now didn't I.

Folks we do know, he likes the Harbor District, ta leave his dead. My thinkin is, he even does his killin in the District. So we a focus on, that District the most. Plenty a places, he can choose his prey from. Constables even asked the Lamp-men ta keep an eye out. Those fellas light the coal oil lamps, not many in the Harbor District. They can help though, an we need the help. Not much more we can do, but patrol an hope we catch him. The sad thin is, it a probably take another killing. Ta even find this fool.

Folks, been keepin Doc near me. Figure rule him out ifin he stay close. Doc don't seem ta mind, what I am doing. Ifin he does, well he a get over it. Doc an I been doin night watch, pass few days. Seems city folk worse than small town folk. They out an about more than the smaller town a Valdosta. Ladies walkin alone, Pleasantry Girls workin they corner, or doorway ta a Saloon. Folks they actin like they wants ta die. Well, so be it can't help the ones not wantin ta help they self.

Folks, it happened me an Doc found her. Least ways we think it's him. We both got ta lookin, Doc say don't think it's him Common. She wasn't posed no clothes folded, or shoes left. Her dress was cut open, no stab or cut wounds, hell from the looks of her she has been. Beat ta death, I think a Pleasantry Girl just had a customer dispute. Folks hate an happy ta say, I agree. The wait an a lookin is still on. We informed the Constable of the young lady's death.

Told Doc ta get some rest, I needed ta think some. Figured I'd take a short walk clear my head. Maybe get a bite ta eat. Just needed some alone time was all. Doc say, Common I won't leave I need some sleep. Folks walked towards the more affluent section. The delivery wagons a baked goods, meat an milk were out. Well dressed men takin cabs an they carriages ta work. Servants out tendin ta the yards, or just arrivin ta start they day.

Found a quiet restaurant, had some breakfast couple cups a coffee. Took walk ta nice little park, sat a spell bout dozed off, looked up lan sakes! A carriage! With that crest! Carriage with that damn crest folks! Why I took ta runnin after that carriage! Shoutin driver stop!
Best stop that blame carriage! Folks driver must not heard me, he kept at his slow pace. Managed ta get ta the front, abouts out a breathe, could hardly shout. I shouted I said stop! Ya blame fool!

Folks that carriage finally stopped, I grabbed the handle ta the drivers steps an leaned over, folks ain't had ta run like that in years. Looked up at that driver, say blame dumb ass, fool! When I say stop! I damn well mean it!

That driver, looked at me, well, like I done somethin wrong. He say, didn't see ya were a Ranger. Thought ya were just a thug. I say, Ranger Common Howard ya be. Jones Ranger, Edward Jones he say. Folks that is when I heard a familiar voice. I look inside! Why it's Doc an some wealthy lady! Doc say, Common Miss Virginia Mosser. I was angry as hell, could spit fire out! I look at Doc, yell what in Sam White Hell, ya doin Doc! Left the Motel again, after sayin ya would stay put!

Doc, looked a touch flabbergasted, an say get in Common please this can wait till later. Miss Virginia has some vital information. Folks I kept my thoughts on Doc inside, gots in the carriage. I looks at this Miss Virginia an say Ranger Common Howard pleased mam ta meet ya. She say, an I am pleased. We can talk at the Madison lets just enjoy the ride. Folks I know it's daylight an all, but Doc say he would stay put. We don't exactly know when this one gets his prey. Hell could be when the opportunity arises.

Folks, I must say, Miss Virginia Mosser, well looked a might nice, very attractive lady. Just they was somethin abouts her, that well, she looked familiar least ways felt like I seen her befer. Doc made small talk with her, I just sat and tried ta calm myself over Doc breakin his word an all. More I think on it, why hell could a seen her here in Mobile. Hell been ta this side the city, at least three times, Constables office is this side the city.

Folks what Miss Virginia had ta say, well best way ta put it, she thinks her brother is the killer. Folks her idea ain't ta far off, the mark now. First off, I think she is wrong Doc he is just willin ta listen, maybe try put this all tagether. Her words folks as ta why she thinks it is her brother.

She say, seems like, they is a few murders each time her brother comes inta town. Last year they was three, heard they was bad. Poor ladies he got, scared  Mobile an the ladies ta near stayin home an locked in. Two were of high standin. I say do ya know ifin he is here?

Folks she ain't certain, she ain't seen him. I asks he stay with ya, when he is in town? Yes, but some nights he is gone then returns in a day or two. He just say he found a lady of interest is all. I asks whats he look like? She saw rather a smaller man, straw colored hair, like mine little long fer most men of business. Of course he has always been a touch different. Unless it's business, he doesn't talk much ya see his voice is rather lady like.

He doesn't go out much, but fer business has few friends travels more than most people do. I live here only a few months then go back ta Saint Louis, seems like the same thin occurs in Saint Louis, when Fred is around. The murders I mean. I asks why does he travel? She say our Import Company Mosser Imports, we have offices in Orleans our real home, Mobile, an Savannah. The chocolate factory is in Saint Louis.

Then she say, I prefer Saint Louis over Orleans. I like the change of weather. When I get tired of the cold I move south, either here in Mobile or Orleans. I say do ya have a house in Savannah? She nods, then say well, not a house, a Hotel The Seaward Hotel. We stay there if we are in Savannah. Folks that is about all she say, oh he is 24 years old, an he does have a carriage. She isn't certain if it has the crest still or not. She say did have one, just she can't remember seein it the last time. Then I asks did he have any medical trainin? She say one year an maybe a half at Morton.

Ya see somethins are on target, just no real proof. Just the murders coincide with him in town. Folks just not enough ta, say it's him. I did tell her ta get us, ifin her brother came inta town. Might long winded till next time folks, ifin they is one.