White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-20

conclusively, that the prisoner at the bar was
innocent of the crime alleged against him.
i At this moment there was little stir and bus
tie towards the door, but officers were stationed
there to prevent any one from going out. Eve
ry one was now on the qui viOe, expecting some
thing new and extraordinary; even Edward era
~ partook of the general feeling.
In few moments, to the surprise Of all; Ber
Pearson took the stand as a witness for the
prisoner. He looked around the assembly for a
moment, his honest, frank countenance lighted
up with peculiarly grati6ed expression, and
then gave his testimony in such frank, straight.
forward manner as carried conviction to al
present
He told the whole story of the Armitage chill.
dren's kind-hearted desire to give pleasure to
Mary Harland; of Mrs. Armitage having acct
dentaIly paid him peculiar coin, which he ex.
amined carefully and returned to her, she valu.
ing it as gift from her absent brother. supposed
to be dead; he described briefly his visit to the
lonely house where the prisoner lived. and bis
establishment at the accusation brought against
him. His interest In the case had brought him
from great distance to hear the trial-he- Ar.
rived late, and stopped At the bar opposite 70
get drink Of cider; while there, certain indi-
vidual present had paid At the bar the very coin
he had seen In possession Of Mrs. Armit5ge, 70
this fast the landlord could bear witness. He,
/ paa.aon had ho.,-hk IL sis, - . i;ekla 49,,
than its valae; it had been identified BY the
owner, and he could now produce Il. He in
mediately handed the coin to the Judge, who
examined it. It was peculiar, of ancient sp-
pearance, covered entirely with hierogiyphics,
and apparently Chinese. Mrs. AFmitage was
Immediately called upon to swear to its iden-
tity, which she did unhesitstingly; there were
little marks BY which she knew itbeyond doubt.
Ben Pearson was ordered to declare from
whom the coin was received, and his testimony,
and the landlord Parker's criminUted idle Bill,
who was Immediately brought forward in charge
oftwo officers, for It had been privately noted,
that once or twice during Ben's narrative he had
tried to leave the hall. Being called upon to
account for his possession Of the coin, he at
first said he got it in pay for work from Mr..
Jenkins; but the latter individual Immediately
said he he had not worked for him for two
months. Indeed it was asserted loudly that idle
Bill had done nothing for six weeks past, but
get tipsey, that his behavior Was strange, that he
was quarreIsone, &C., and It Vas with difficulty,
silence and order were obtained. Idle Bill
looked round with sullen and lowering gaze,
muttering 1T was id hard to haul man up
for spending his own money
Harry and Mrs. Armitage were again called
to e1stify, whether the man named William
Allen, commonly called idle Bill, was the man
who had robbed the one and wounded the
other.
Both declined to swear positively, as the dress
was 50 different. A lock Of triumph came on
the countenance of idle Bill, which was soon
dissipated however, by an order from the Judge,
that William Allen should be taken from the
court, and clad in the prisoners dress, which
was done, much to the dismay and anger Of that
miserable man, who protested bitterly against it,
and even resisted by force, till reminded that
this violent opposition was presumptivs proof
of guilt. As he again entered the Court, he
shrunk appalled, from from the couRtless eyes.
that all fixed their piercing glances on him. It
was indeed terrible ordeal, and in breathless
silence the multitude listened for Harry Armi-
tage's testimony. Mrs. Armitage could not de-
clare him the culprit, even in his changed dress;
but Harry in firm, clear voice now swore posi-
lively as TO the indemnity Of the robber with the
| man before him. A low murmur ran through
the crowd. Idle Bill trembled, turned pale, and
then raIlyiug himself, swore deep oath that he
was innocent.
His appearance was certainly calculated 10
produce no favorable impressioas A bloated
face, fierce, scowling eyes, hair disordered and
snA-Ied, and matted together, and reckless,
desperate air, these were all against him. But
proofs Of guilt were now aecumuiating fast
Crime cannot be long concealed; the very stones
CIV out, and nature herself turns evidence
against the guilty.
Two officers had been sent to examine the
tumble-doxn building where idle Bill lived, but
they found nothing 10 reward their search.
TRIES light as air, sometimes determine mems
destiny. Afne grey squirrel attracted the at
tention Of one Of the officers. q rather young
man, who lived very near, As IL sprang lightly
up an old oak tree that grew close By the
house.
'Ah . said he, a. be watched him run into q
hole little way up the trunk, 4 promised ny
little girl squirrel, and can catch this one 90
easy, Ire half mind to do it,
ooh, nonsense " said the;other, come away, It
is waste oftine.'
1T won't take me two minutes.' and up be
sprang into the tree. Wrapping his silk hand
kerchief carefully round his hand, he thrust Il
into the hole, and drew out, not the grey SPUR
rel, but > small grey trunk.
Halo what the deuce have We here r cried
he, not needing the squirrel which ran out Of
the hole 10 the end Of one ofthe branches, and
sat there scoliing and ehattering.
What have you got = said the man below.
Something, can tell you.' said the other,
running his hand again into the hole, and draw
i-g out red purse, and gold watch.
my eyes! here's discovery cried he, joy.
fully, Fastening down Here's. the proof, /.
We've got him now. Thunder and Hghtsing |.
This Is squirrels nest 9
When the other officer saw what had been
discovered he too vas delighted, and they both