The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-10-23


lawyer for the prosecution had summed
up his case; and now the counsel for
the defendant, after making n few re-
marks, in which he drew attention to
Gus Antoine's statement as perhaps not
80 foreign TO the case after all, added
that he thought IL sufficiently strong
without it. They would soon see that
Squire May could not have committed
the murder, for he was about to prove
an alibl, and would base IL entirely upon
the testimony of one witness, and so
saying he led Hope to the stand. She
had known she would be called upon to
testify, but now her courage left her, and
she felt as If she must fly through an
open side door and escape from them all.
But a glance from her father, and the
thought that she might save him, re-
strained her. The little figure looked
very piteous with its white face, black
dress, and flowing flaxen hair. Already
there was heard a murmur of sympathy
in the room, beginning with the women.
But the prosecuting attorney was equal
TO the occasion.
protest, your Honor" he said
~' against the testimony of such mere
child being admitted in court / am
willing to assert that she does not know
the nature of an oath, and it is u well
known fact that she has visited her
father in prison, and been instructed by
him as to what to say"
4' The Court grants you permission to
ask her any questions you choose" said
the judge.
Hope held the back of u chair tightly
as the lawyer turned upon her.
DO you know the nature of an oathp"
he asked fiercely.
=" On yes, sir !" replied Hope. It's
swearing, and I've heard Colonel An
toine swear lots of times"
\ subdued litter, which Hope did not
hear, greeted the words, while the prose
cutting attorney turned with gesture of
despair " Your Honor SECS" he
began, then suddenly turning to Hope,
ChC NuNSblOh Whdu dlu yOuI
father teach you to say here ?"
There was a murmur of indignation
in the house of, "Why do they let him
sass her so? ?" and the like. But Hope
replied firmly, 6 He told me, whatever
they asked me, to tell the truth"
Sc Yes, understand, he told you to
say that he had told you that. What
else ?n
Nothing-oh yes he told me not to
be afraid if the lawyers were very i'm
pudent and tried to put me out, but just
TO tell the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth, and God would
help me-"
g think, your Honor" said the law
yer for the defence triumphantly, " that
there is no longer any question as to the
eligibility of the witness, and that she
may now be permitted to give her testi-
mony,"
The judge bowed gravely, and the
prosecuting attorney took his seat.
=" And now my little GIRL" said the
other lawyer kindly, "will you state
briefly, but as clearly as you can; the
events of the day, from the time the
twelve o'clock whistle sounded until Gus
Antoine left your"
3" We were all eating when the twelve
O'Clock whistle sounded" said Hope,
timidly. " Father beckoned to me, and
we left the others there and went around
to the old cottonwood tree on the other
side of the house. He had meant to fix
a swing for the children, but he had
been so busy about lection that he could
not do it before, and he wanted me to
help him. We finished it while they
were eating, and then called them out
and surprised them all. L heard the
noise the pistol made. Father was up
in the tree. He said, There, some of
those boys are firing at mark. must
put stop to that. It's dangerous"
This was all of Hopes testimony,
but the most rigid cross examination
did not impeach it. No other witness
was called. The judges address to the
jury was brief. AS they retired for con-
sultation, Gus Antoine elbowed his way
through the surging crowd, brandishing
the confession in his hand. He made his
way to the judge and handed it to him.
lie glanced it over, then rose and read it
aloud. A cheer rang through the room,
but the judge, with lifted hand, COM
manded silence. "This paper, said he,
=" comes too late to be used. The Jury
have retired, and we must await their
verdict IF mt IL, oooo,lo.. -, a,