The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-07-31

State rested It's case. linen Tile aLtoHUy
OF the defence arose and simply said:
"Your Honor, I shall make no prelimll-
nary statement, and shall call but one
witness. BY him shall prove an atsba,
or give up the case"
"Eh! What's that." shouted the Dis
trict Attorney, hopping upon his teet-as
tussy a little rascal as ever snOrtcu law
before deaf Justice OF the Peace.
"Will you prove that the prisoner was
not on Spanish Town road the night OF
the alleged murder?n
mo! I'll prove that the deceased was
not.N
There was marked sensation IN court
as my name was called, and | was sol
emily sworn to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth.
''At ten o'c ock on the night OF July 10,
1875" l began, Enthusiastically, Il was
walking along the river bank, on the side
of town opposite the Spanish Town road,
and Just above the falls. I wouldn't
trouble myself, if I were you"--turning
to the District Attorney--"to ask what |
was walking there for, because it isn't
anybody's business 49,
81 appeal to the Court.'' screeched
the little rascal, springing to his feet, ':if
m to be insulted in this way ~
keep still, will yous' said his Honor,
"and let the witness proceed" I had
made a favorable impression at the start,
and it gave me confidence. I resumed !:
1t was warm moonlight evening, and
the mist rising above the cataract was
4 I ! - fol
ably well. Just at the brink, on q over
han ging rock, saw tall bent figure in
gray clothes, wearing a SLOUGH hat-a
very bad hat; don't see more than
hundred worse in this ROOM" There
was smile all round, and then the DIS
trict Attorney asked me il I had known
the deceased, Mr.. Thatcher, in his life
time I replied that had not had
never seen him.
Remember that, gentleman Of the
iury,' said he, with conceited smile;
remember the witness had never seen
nor heard Of the deceased. We don't
mean to controvert the witnesses state
nlent on that point SIR he added, ad-
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" t
"Cuss YOU'D roared the Judge, "keep
your mouth shut, will you? The witness
will proceed" 49,.
II approached this person on the rock, "
I continued, " and said, Good evening""
'''Bet five dollars it ain't!" said he,
turning sharply about.
At this time there was general sniSge
from the spectators, and Dave Thrasher S
widow, who sat near, looked up with a
sudden hope in her face that was cheer
full to see. I resumed my testimony:
$500 you see that oak on the other
bankY continued the man on the rock,
pointing to a conspicuous pine. ... ..
Il thoughtthe fellow must be a mani
&C, and did not know just. what to an
swer; but presently replied that was
not certain whether I saw it. Or mott
depended upon circumstances. Gle was
silent for some moments; then he SILVER
ed and chartered his teeth.
"'Snow before morning. said he. Per
haps So said I, non-committally: Seems
thickening up, but that may be an Opt
cal illusion ~ -. :.
Then he wanted to know If ]. remem-
bered what year General Jackson was
elected President-'waspt it in '52?' |
told him did not recollect. After a
while he said carelsssly:
They're talking, here at the bluff
about running Ben Franklin for next
President -. $50, -..~. ....>.
i made no reply Then he came up
to me and LAID a hand on my shoulder.
s. See here, stranger said he, is there
any subject you feel at home on? Have
you got any hobby-any opinlons?' "
e I am not sure replied; some peo-
pie 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, I swearp said he disguised,
I'm going to jump over these falls-bet
you five dollars | whip T.: -: .e.1. -
81 said nothing and he continued: 7
shall be exactly three seconds and half
getting to the bottom--won't I, now?'
Possibly. Maybe a little more than
that --maybe a little less-maybe just
that. don't remember, jumping over
ary cascades myself .'.s....*.,
"He gave me one look, laid off his
hat, backed up to the brink Of the preci-
pice, and drepped himself down, hanging
on to the edge with his hands. Then he
let go, falling three hundred feet into
the boiling whirlpool belowW -
INLAY it please the Court shrieked
the little District Attorney, lunging for
ward upon bis hind feet, 81 want to put
one question to this witness now? You
say, sir, YOU had never seen the deceased
Mr.. Thatcher up to the moment you met
him on the rock--and never heard OF
! him--and never head Of his relations
Now, sir, On your oath, on your Bible
oath, sir! how do you know this man
you saw go over the falls was Dave
Thatcher! How do you know it, STRIP
| I don't know it. l know it was moi
he. For just before he let go the rock
| he looked up at me with his pose above
| the edge, and said: 3#s
"sYou think Pm Dave Thatcher, dom
youY"
II told him he might be, or he nigh
not.
+" Just SOP said he desperately, as hi
i fingers began to slip. Bet you fv,
dollars I ANTI"
There was a good deal of loose talk il
court after this, but the spectators woult
| not liSfpn RI If and Pnh n - y7o