The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-05-29

must have passed tn reach their houses
about two miles from town. Nearl,
everybody said the body was that o
Dave, as it had q bullet in it-not SOM
old bullet, such as any one might have
somewhere in his system, but a com
paratively fresh one, which had passed
through the heart-Bob was taken into
custody, charged with the deed. In
the mean time I had. moved up from
below the falls, and as the whole town
had taken the other side 1 determined
to stand by the friend whom l had
known in the States.
At the trial the courtroom was
packed with people, and the tide OF
public opinion set so strongly against
the prisoner that the Judge had
to draw his six-shooter q dozen times
to keep order. After a score of wit
nesses had been examined for the rros-
ecution, every one of whome made
things look very black for Robert, the
State rested its case. Then the attor-
ney for the defense arose, and simply
said
"Your Honor, L shall make no pre-
Urinary statement, and l shall call but
one witness. By him 1 shall prove an
abb, or give up the case"
"Eh! What's that ?" shouted the
District Attorney, hopping upon his
feet-as fussy a little rascal as ever
snorted law before a deaf Justice of the
Peace. "Will you prove that the
prisoner was not on Spanish Town road
the night of the alleged murder"
"No I'll prove that the deceased was
not"
There was a marked sensation in
court as my name was called, anc | was
solemnly sworn to tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.
"At ten o'clock on the night of July
Is, 1851 began, circumstantially, 81
was walking along the river bank, on
the side of town opposite the Spanish
Town road, and Just above the falls. l
wouldn't trouble myself, if 1 were you"
turning to the District AttorneJ-"to
ask what 1 was walking there for, be-
cause it isn't anybody's business"
q appeal to the Court :" screeohed
the little rascal ~springing to his feet,
"if I'm to be insulted in this way"
keep still, will you" said his
Honor, "and let the witness proceed"
I had made a favorable impression at
the start, and it gave me confidence. l
resumed
at was a warm, moonlight evening,
and the mist rising above the cataract
was less dense than usual /; 80 l could
see tolerably well. Just at the brink,
on an overhanging rock, / saww a tall,
bent figure in gray clothes, wearing n
SLOUGH hat-a very bad hat I don't see
more than a hundred worse in this
room" There was . smile all round,
and then the District Attorney asked
me if l had known the deceased, Mr..
Thatcher, in his life time. | replied
that had not-had never seen him.
Remember that, gentlemen of the
jury" said he, with a conccited smile ;
remember the witness had never seen
nor heard of the deceased. We don't
mean tC controvert the witnesses state
ment Oh that point, sir,"he added, adj
dressing the counsel for the defense,
and Sinking as if he had got hold of a
good thing which he would hold in re-
serve as a final crusher.
"Cuss you !" roared tie Judge,
keep your mouth shut, will you? The
witness will proceed"
az approached this person on the
1 continued, "and said, Good
evening""
"'Bet you five dollars it ant = said
he. turning sharply about"
At this there was a general Singer
from the spectators, and Dave Thatch-
er's widow, who sat near, looked up
with a sudden hope in her face that was
cheerful to see. 1 resumed my testi-
,
edo you see that oak on the other
p continued the man on the rock,
to a conspicuous pine"
81 thought the fellow must be a ma
MAC, and l did not know just what to
say; but presently replied that 1 was