White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-12-24

n.y. No one nau oeen present, save the prisoner
and the principal Witness. at the time the two
men were shot, and evidence could not be OBJ
tanned as to the evil habits of the two dead men;
for, though many knew them, none dared to tes-
tify.
Prentiss came, and he called to see the pris-
81 see they mean to condemn you,' re-
marked the lawyer, as he sat down upon the low
pallet.
"Of course they do" returned Masters
" They fear me here; and those who do not fear
me, fear to testify for me, save to my own char
acter. They dare not say one word against the
desperate characters with whom we have to
deal"
"Are you acquainted with old Nash, the
Judge?" Prentiss asked.
Somewhat" returned the prisoner; " and
think he is a hard man. know he CANDLES
much, and fear he has an interest in some of
the gambling houses here,
$50 l thought" said the counsel, with
meaning shake of the head. But never mind"
he added, " will see what can do Tonight
Things do not look so dark as they might, nor
yet so light as wish they did; but keep up
good heart. You have friends about you, and
have some at work who are not suspected"
"Ah!' uttered Masters, interrogatively.
ayes, SIR" returned Prentiss, with a smile;
(" have some perfect villains at work. One of
your friends placed thousand dollars in nv
hands, and shall pay it out to these very gam
blers-that is, to such as suit me.''
Z" But the thousand dollars, STRIP
Has been raised BY your friends. So rest
easy on that score"
After chatting a while longer on various top
les, Prentiss took his leave.
The courthouse was filed with eager people.
Charles Masters was in the prisoners box, and
old Nash was upon the judges bench. This
Judge, was stout, heavily framed man, some
what over forty years of age, with dark, low
like some burly landlord, than like Judge
He gazed wickedIy upon the prisoner when he
entered, but his countenance changed when be
saw the small, lame man come in. With the
short, halting limp, and the regular tap of the
heavy cane, Sergeant S. Pren:iss entered the
room. He took his seat close to the prisoner
and then east his eyes over the scene.
First came the selecting of the jury.
"You may challenge whom you will" Prem
tiss whispered, but it will make little difference
They won't present disinterested man here
and l think you might as well accept the frs
one that is called. They will all be bribed--ev
cry one Of them"
"Do you think so7' returned Masters, turn
ing pale.
lam sure of it.. But don't let that troub
you"
At length twelve men were called up, and a
Prentiss ran his eye over them, he understoO
the game at once. They were poor, miserabl
fellows-hangers on about the different gamin
houses-and the court supposed they would ev
cry one be challenged, and in reserve were he'll
: the bold, reckless men who were TO follow. Tn
prisoner accepted the jury as it was presented
much to the establishment of the spectators, an
the chagrin of the court.
Thus arranged. the trial proceeded. The in
dictment was read, and the prisoner plead nc
guilty. The prosecution openedahe case, an
then the witnesses were called up. When Na
, thaniel Knox took the stand, the people wer
~ eager. He was the man who had made his ei
u cape after Masters had shot his tive companion
IL He swore that he and the two men who wei
now dead, had met the prisoner the night
Is question, and that they stopped him and aske
u l.. L. ,.-o,ld ,,;ra tbapo 70 thav would mt hi
g in the way of clearing out some of the gaming
- houses. He told them to get out of his way
This rather offended, and they told him that
~ had better keep cool if he knew when he wi
well off; and thereupon he drew a double-ba
relied pistol and shot his two companions dead
= "LoOk ye, sir" uttered Prentiss, when
. came to cross-examine this witness. "No
" mind that you answer me truly, for if you spea
= one single falsehood to me, you do it at 70
peril"
N The fellow started at this, for there was som
of thing in the FIRE of those dark eyes Of Prentii
~ that Mr.. Knox was not used to. But he lad
ne time for thought
he "Now, why were You and your two compa
ed ions concealed in that narrow passagef"
ed 1--WE want concealed"
90 "What. Beware, sir! Not concealed WI
his do YOU mean BY that Why, my good ma
at you are giving me the lie to all you have sa
ch Now tell me why you went into that dark p'
wn sage and staid there until the prisoner cal
he alongl Tell mel"
awe nav have turned in there, sir, but
cry want hid. We just turned in to wait for
At man to come up"
ing "And how long did you have to waltz"
it. "Not over half minute"
i've "Be.careful. May it not have been mimi
uld Remember, sir, q falsehood now viii upset y
He whole testimony. You were seen"
he "wsll, sir, 'twan't over minute any va,
out "very well; and now which Of you step
he out first when Mr.. Masters came alOng1"
lest {" Ned Hammond did"
for "And you next, ehl" ..f..
r. "No, sir; Jack Nottell did"
der "Now look We. sir,n Numbered Prentiss,
any that tone, ana with that look which never fAi
the to confound an evil mind, you swore that
him three were coming along the Sidewalk, and
4 to you met the prisoner--that you stopped, and
d stepped. What did you mean by thstf''
wn, The witness stammered out some reply,
Ias- he could not clear himself from the snare he
and worked into. However. Prentiss let him g
his soon as he had Sufficiently shown him up,
The next witness Vas called