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

had even dared to testify to the fact that the
gamblers had sworn to get hid of him on account
of the exertions he had used against them; and
the prisoners own account of the affair was also
received. The Judge plainly intimated that the
prisoner would be hung, and the jury Winked at
each other knowingly.
A lawyer named Compton summed up for the
prosecution, and finally Prentiss arose, as was
his right to do, 70 make his final answer. He
received part of the testimony second time,
and then went over the prisoners own statement.
He pointed to the wife and children of the young
merchant, and drew picture of such a man do
ing foul murder. 1t was so preposterous that
even the Judge plainly showed by his looks that
he did not believe it. Prentiss saw that he had
fastened the attention of both court and jury,
and after dwelling few moments longer on the
picture he had drawn-after painting the youth
struggling against such enemies as were arrayed
against him, and seeking to rid bis adopted home
of the foul pest of thu gamblers he'll, he stop
ped, and raised his fingers toward heaven. 1t
rested there a moment, and then sank down.
The silence was breathless-painful-b it was
not to last long. Prentiss raised those strange
eyes of his to the Judge, and the strong man
quaiIed.
"Your honor" he resumed, in tone so
strange with marvellous power and depth, that
every breath was instinctively hushed when it
came upon the still air, " have one system of
evidence which have not nsed, and which, God
grant, may not have to use. OF the perjury
which has gone up from yonder stand, will not
speak But will speak of more deadly, dam
ming thing which has crept into this house. l
mean Bribery! hold at this moment in my
possession, evidence of the most Wholesale
bribery that l ever heard of. In all my inter-
course ut the bar, never came across case
which could equal this for gigantic, bOld-faced,
deadly bribery. Rake open the bottomless pit,
and drag therefrom the worst villains that an
incensed God has consigned there, and they
would shudder upon beholding the proofs Of
guilt which could show them. ] could show
them an innocent man compassed about with an
evil, struggling for the salvation CT his kind
from Satan's full grasp-that man shouldering
the enmities of thieves, gamblers and assassins
-way-aid by murderers on his way to his own
quiet, peaceful home, and to save his own life,
obliged to shoot down two men whom you al
knew for od-thirsty villains. Then should
show them that man seized by his enemies, who
we're too cowardly to attack him physically
again, and cast him into prison upon the charge
of murder. And-lsten-I could show then
now fearful scene! could point out to thost
men who should save the innocent victim of al
this wrong, bartering away his life for bride
Ay; selling his very life to the meanest scum
this game-curst place for a paltry bribe. Ii
Gods name hear me. Let not the story be told
) As you value your sacred name here. and you
| immortal souls hereafter, let not the tale g
= forth. God forbid that should herald the dam
? ming proofs! Oh! let me crush the burning
blighting evidence in my grasp, ere another ey'
| save mine, and that eye that never sleeps, cal
see it! Your honor, 1 have done. Gentlemen
, of the Jury, fear not to trust my client in you
! hands. know the foul tempter who has wills
pered to you; ay, and which has dared to whis
per to one higher than you, but fear not hi
t power over you. can read the noble spirit i
A your faces now. I can see in each face befor
=. me free and independent soul, and it seems t
speak out plainly, thus: We are men-Go
+ keep US from temptation. We are jurors-n
:. power can make US do wrong"
C For some moments after Prentiss sat down, a
n was silent as death. 1t was not so much tn
d words tina. had been spoken, as the tone, til
n spirit, the keen fire of the eye, the strange Gu
: of the lip, and the significant point of that fiji
= ger moved the people there. The jury had I
e first been frightened, but the closing sentence
Is the address had placed them on better tern
r With themselves and with the speaker. The
- knew that he was aware of the bribery, but tbs
lie now believed that he did not know they had a
" cepted it. The judge was nervous and uneas
K He dared not meet the eve Of Prentiss, and
ar hardly dared look up. His charge to the ju
was all prepared, but he dared not read it. +
e. had prepared it, as the evidence was being gi
s, en-, but crushed it now in his hands.
no But he finally arose, and after stammerir
awhile, he simply informed the jury that thu
:" had heard all the evidence, that they might r
tire and make up the verdict. They went o
and were gone only some fifteen minutes; al
n when they returned, they brought in verdi
us of-Not Guilty.
We There was shout Of JOY went up from d
y people there assembled. thought here were sor
"' low curses. The Judge disappeared as soon
possible, and the jury shrank away BY a 81
door. rB 5
"Mr. PPentiss,'' asked the young merchal
as quite a party were assembled in the house
the latter in the evening, "what evidence
=, you obtained Of this briberyl'
"None that would be good for anything in
court of justice" replied Prentiss. "Imanag
,, to gain considerable information on the suhiv
"a by paying roundly for it, but could not find
man who would give his name, or consent to IA
an oath. But knew what the Judge and I
jury were. knew that they were bribed, a
that your death was sure, unless they could
= frightened OF. OF course they supposed !
la pockets we're full of documentary proof.
- it's all as we'll" "i
bat And so it was. A joyous evening stretci
he away into the night, and on the following mo
ing, Prentiss started for his home. This II
but put ball in motion, and opened the eyes Of
,ad people, and ere another year rolled around, I
|, As gamblers had departed and found other hor
md some in other towns and cities of the eaI
and some