Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-19

tiiA.t i0i,C ICCculiS. anu HIS COIi WAS Gorn ana
had mud on it. He was quite lame too, and
hobbling. That day they took him.
Al the inquest and before the magistrates
things looked dead against him; and although
favor, It was felt. when he was cpmmlGte1 for
trial, that it would go hard with him.
For tie defense an altDi was set up and the
Keepers death accounted for by the accidental
discharge OF his own gun, one barrel OF whfc !,
had been fired: but as White had been up IN the
wood prior to going with the watchers. add
might then have had a shot at some polching
dog or lurcher, little could be made OF 1t. AS to
the words, Take Perks; I'm done for it WAS
strongly urged by the prisoners counsel, whea
the trial commenced. that they were In fact
only the words OF a man strong in his duty, and
who was bent on carrying out that for which
they were together.
lie felt" said the counsel. "that he was
done for. shot b. his own gun. through full
or stumble. 1t was therefore OF no Use hinder
ing with him. Perks was out; let the n go and
take him
But such solution of the difficulty was not
credited for an instant, and the counsel for the
prosecution had it all his own way.
1.-THE long-standtng enmity, the previous
threat, the 1ntim alton they had had that he
self and his clothes and his gun when the
watchers met him, and his total inability to
substantiate his own statement, and. above
last words, as he felt them to be--al tended"
he said, ''tO show that Ralph Perks, and Perks
only, was the man who fired the shot-the man
who was guilty of the willful murder OF Walter
White
Again did the prisoner maintain his fnno-
cence, and again did he assert that at the time
sworn TO as the time the shot was f1red-two
O'clOck-he was miles away from the covers.
He said he certainly went out that night with
the intention OF poaching in the Home Wood,
the cider shop, he thought-if it did come to a
tussle-that four might be too many for him,
and he therefore decided to go further afied
and in an opposite direction and he made for
w
wood OF Major Murray: and he then repeated
that which he had said befOre-that, In coming
down the hill for short cut to the cover, he
caught his foot in the gorSe as he got near the
road and fell down into it, his gun going Off in
the fall and his head getting cut open: and that
as he lay there in the ditch, half stunned and
bleeding. the clock over the water struck two.
His lordship, in commenting on the fact that
perSiStfng in such statement would not avail
him unless it were corroborated said:
'Have you really no means to prove it? Did
nothing occur, as you went or returned by
which the jury might infer that what you say
is true-no one you met or spoke tor
No. nothing" said Perks. ''No one what
''NOr when you lay there In the ditch, as you
say. half-stunned and bleeding?"
'Well. yes, my Lord was the reply; "there
was man passed then certainly
ITO whom do you refer? Did you know
him?''
az did not: don't know who he was, nv
lord; but he was man on horseback, and he
had baby with him.
"A man on horseback, and baby with him,
What. ut two O'Clock on November morning
cold, damp, and foggy! Do you seriously assert
that?"
Yes, my ioId, do; for heard it cry
81 did, my lord, and heard him speak to it,
.'And pray what did you hear him say?"
asked his lordshtp. who seemed to doubt the
story told him as Did all there.
He said, my lord, Poor little wretch! But
it is a chance if we can do it. And then" said
Perks, che Dut his horse into gallon and was
off,,
..what was the man Hke?' said the Judge,
On every face in court. ''COuld you see enough
CT him to make that out, eh?'
Partly, my lord partly" was the prompt
as lay there In the ditch, he shovel Ella" asainst
the sky; and they were pair of 'em-a short
thick man and short thick horse"
But the statement was too wild to be credited
and all there felt that for any use ie would be
to him 1t might as well have been left unsald
In summing up, however. the Judge briefly al
luded to this extraordinary statement by the
prisoner OF the man and the baby, but without
repeating the words heard or the assertion that
the clock struck; and he said that it would be
for the jury themselves to decide whether or
not such an assertion, unsupported By the
slightest evidence, was worthy or credence.
IL was at this particular point in his ordship's
address that Dr. Brown came into court, and
startled all there by his exclamation.
"What that man said is true my lord; the
child carried am Brown the Doctor, Brown
OF Beac0lsne,d."
AS hush In court enSued at the CRY OF s1Sl-
lence!" the greatest interest prevailed and all
eyes were turned TO the witness box.
Now, Sir,'' said his lOrlShtp, after the for
ment that You have to Make
Good, my lord, was the response. "Shan
save the time Of your lordship and that Of the ne
jury, shall first state what I have TO say, and
then answer whatever questions may be suy-
9ested By the evidence Offer!"
We Will hear,'' said the Judge, 'syour own
statement first This man is charged with
murder, and he tells u5-he pleads an a!ibi-that
as ne lay In a ditch on Furze Hill On the night
In question. disabled By fall, man on horse
back passed him, and he had baby With hin
Tor he, the prisoner. heard the baby cry. Now,
you say you were that man, and that you lr-
RED Child. VIII you give us the date OF 1t?'
twas toward the end OF November, nv
lord: the last week In 1t. The day, 1 know, was
Tuesday: the last Tuesday In the month .
turning to the counsel for the defense
But before he could reply his opponent. the
counsel for the prosecution, said:
ANTI, 1.-The ,r twenty, fourth my lord date that
"Wnl you tell us, Doctor" resumed the
Judge, not needing the remark, "what time It
%ag %een you rode up the hill-can you re-
Yes, my lord, can. 1t was two O'Clock, for
hear the clock strike as galloped up list
M1chaeFS clock, that is just across the water
1t was damp and chilly morning-cold and
"Do you mean Tuesday night-or, rather
Wednesday morning."
"NO, my lord; Monday might've on Tues
day morning 1t was during the night OF Mon
day-Monday the twenty-thfrd"
Sand how were you mounted?"
"On thick, stout cob," said the Doctor;
''ny night horse"
Go on, SIR said his lordship, as the coun-
sci looked at each other.
mad been to case, my lord, and was COM
Ing IF I'm it"
YES, yes; just So" his lordship interrup.e1.
''But about this Child. Tell us, win you, how If
was that On this cold, damp, foggy morning. In
that drearieSt OF months, you were out In the
open country galloping home with a baby?''
MT home, not home, my lord; but on for
the forest"
"Why?"
"TO prevent q murder"
Explain yourself said the Judge, as buzz
vent round the court, and the people looked at
each other.
IAN attempt had been made, my lord. on the
life OF that Child. which frustrated; but as I
Inew the yOungSter would be settled as soon "a
N.Y. back was turned, gallOped of with 1t to
save IT.
And quite right too, Doctor" his lordshp
sad. "Now give us the circumstances; give
them In your own way"
And as the one counsel looked confident and
the other bit his pen, Ralph, the prisoner, drew
himself up like man who felt he should he
Cd nd % aytvac,