Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-02-13
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING.
not on Spanish Town road on the night
of the alleged mnrder p

court as my name was called, and L was
solemnly sworn to tell the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
''At 10 o'clock ON the night Of July
10, 1853" | began Enthusiastically, II
was walking along the river hank, on the
side Of the town opposite h Spanish
Town road, and just above the falls
wouldn't trouble myself, if | were YOU =
turning to the District Attorney to
ask what | was walking there for, because
it isn't anybody's business"
II appeal to the court p screechcd the
little rascal, springing to his feet, III
I'm to be insultcd in this way"
Keep still will you" said his honor.
''and let the witness proceed" l had
made a favorable impression at the start,
and it gave me confidence. resumed !:
1T was warm moonlight evening.
and the mist rising above the cataract
was less dense than usual, so could sec
tolerably well. Just at the brink. on an
overhanging rock, saw tall, bent fig-
ure in gray clothes, wearing SLOUGH
hat-a very bad hat; dent see more than
a hundred worse ones in this room. /"
| There was a general smile all round,
and then the District Attorney asked me
i'll had known the deceased, Mr. Thatch-
er, in his lifetime. ! replied that had
not-had never seen him.
Remember that, gentlemen of the
jury said he, with a conceied smile /;
remember the witness had never seen
nor heard of the deceased. We don't
mean to controvert the witness statement
on that point, sir" he added, addressing
the counsel for the defence, and Sinking
as if he had got hold of good thing
which he would hold in reserve us a final
crusher.
"Cuss you" roared the Judge, "keep
your mouth shut, will you ? The witness
will proceed"
! approached this person on the rock ;"
continued ''aud said good evening"
Bet you five dollars it ANTI !" said he,
turning sharply about.
At this there was a general snigger
from the spectators, and Dave Thatchcrs
widow, who sat near, looked up with u
sudden hope in her face that was cheer
full to see. resumed my testimony /:
Do you see that oak on the other
bank continued the man on the rock, .
pointing to conspicuous pine.
II thought the fellow must be ma
MAC, and | did not know just what to
answer; but presently replied that was
not certain whether | saw it or mott
depended upon circumstances.
g He was silent for some moments
then he shivcred and chartered his teeth
Snow before morning." said he.--
Perhaps so, said |. non-commttally;
''seenls thickening up, but thut may be
an optical
Then he wanted to know if | remem-
bercd what year Gen. Jackson was elect
ed President wasn't it in '52?"
told him did not recollcct. After
while he said carclessly:
They're talking, here at The Bluff,
about running Ben. Franklin for next
President"
| made no reply. Then he came up
to me and laid hand on my shoulder.
''Sce here, stranger" said he, sis
there any subject you feel at home o.
Have you got any hobby--any opinion y
IL am not sure" replied some
people have opinions, and some don't
have any. Some that do have them,
don't have them all the time; and those
that have them all the time often forget
them"
well, | swear?' said he, disguised,
Pm going TO jump over these falls-bet
you five dollars will y
] said nothing, and he continued: 81
shall be exactly three seconds and u half
getting to the bottom won't | now 2"
Possibly. Maybe little more than
that-maybe a little less--lnaybe just
that. ] don't remember ever jumping
over any cascades myself"
He gave me one look, laid off his hat,
backed up to the brink of the prccipice,
and dropped himself down, hanging on
to the edge with his hands. Then he
let 90, falling three hundred feet into the
boiling whirlpool below
SHAY it please the court" shrieked
the little District Attorney. lunging for
ward upon his hind feet, II want to put
one question to this witness now! You
say, sir. you had never seen the deceased
Mr. Thatcher up to the time you net
him ON that rock-and never heard Of
hini-and never heard of any of his re-
lations. Now, sir. on your oath-on
your Bible oath, sir, how do you know
this man you saw 60 over the falls was
Dave Thatcher How do you know it,
sir p
II don't know it, l know it was not
he. For just before he let go the rock,
he looked up at me, with his nose above
the edge. and said:
''You think Pm Dave Thatcher. don't
YOU p
/ told him he might be, or he might
not.
''Just so p said he, desperately, as his
! fingers began to slip. Bet you five
dollars / ain't.D
There was good deal Of loose talk in
court after this, but the spectators would
not listen to it, and Bob. D---was tri-
umphautly acquitted, being borne thro"oh
the town on the
TO the mr.
cheers