The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-02-13

Then followed an awkward pause.
The evidence was almost all lin. and
there still remained an important point
which the prosecution must make be-
fore the summing up began. That was
to introduce the testimony of the TO-
year-old daughter of the prisoner as to
the cup and saucer marked "Pet,"
which Bishop claims he gave her, and
which she denies ever receiving from
him. They were afraid to put on little
Adele as witness of their own, because
1t had gone abroad that the prisoners
friends had tamper with her. Itremain-
ed to bring out her testimony against
her mother in some other way, because
it would never do to put witness on
the stand whom they might wish to i'm
peach. There was hurried consulta-
ton between the Prosecutor and his as
sistant. and then the latter called out in
loud voice, "Sheriff, bring in the lit
tie grill"
There was stir among the spectators
as tall man in a blue coat and brass
buttons appeared walking by the side of
a pretty little form, all lace and feathers
and dimpled confusion. Every body
made way for them, and they walked
slowl ly past the lonely figure in black,
which bent forward for an instant, and
then drew back quickly, until they
reached the witness chair. The little
girl climbed into it, and then turned to
the audience pretty face, remarkably
like that of the prisoner, though with
more of the rosebud than the rose in her
cheeks. She was a bonnie wee thing,
with her long golden hair pushed back
over her face by black circular comb,
golden ear-drops, and hat of lustrous
blue silk and white lace perched on top
of her ringlets. The tiny white lace
scarf about her throat was tied with just
the least suspicion of jauntiness, and
her small white hands nesting against
her plaything of muff, showed the
glitter of ring-her mothers gift.
"What is your name little one asked
the Public Prosecutor, with gentle
ness which contrasted strongly with the
war of words which had preceded it.
For moment the witness looked
about in childish confusion. Then she
murmured, "Adele w. Cobb.''
White haired and venerable Mr.. Wait
could bear it no longer. .'I object to
this, your Honor" he cried, bringing
his hand down upon the bar with an
emphesis that made it rebound. Then
he rose, and with something of the air
of the lion, turned to his learned an
tagonist and shook his hand warningly
at him. object" he cried in ringing
voice, ''to this unparalleled scene. l
object, your Honors, to bringing this lit
tie tender thing, innocent of the nature
of an oath, or of the knowledge of any
thing evil, into this court to testify
against her mother, who is on trial for
her life! 1t is bad enough to have
these lawyers for the State putting her
questions, as they admit having done,
without bringing her here to bear
forced testimony that may help hang
the mother that bore her and nursed
her. l ask your Honors to put a stop
to this thing here and at the outset!''
Prosecutor Waller rose with flushed
face, in which regret at the part he was
acting struggled with a sense of duty.
He spoke in low voice, every syllable
of which W audible in the furthest
corner of the crowded court room. He
said:
"Your Honors, admit that it is a
most painful sight, and nothing but the
conviction that am doing my sworn
duty to the State and to the community
would justify me in what l am about
to do.n .4t..4 ea.ss
"The prisoner at the bar is her
mother" broke in Mr.. Wait, impa-
tiently. r5
"Aye, gentlemen continued the
Public Prosecutor, "the prisoner at the
bar, as my learned friend truly says, is
her mother; but is not the murdered
man her father? For myself, if you or l
were to be murdered by poison, trust
that we would leave children-yes, even
little ones like this-with honor and af-
fection enough to aid in pointing out
the murderess, even though she were
her own mother!"
Kind-hearted Judge Culver drew his
chair to the edge of the platform, and
looked upon the witness.
"Adele," he said, in a kind, cheering
voice, "do you know what it is to tell a
falsehood?"
EYES," answered the little girl, with
a nod; "it's wicked"
"Who will punish you if you tell
falsehoodp"
"God WILL" she replied.
"And who told you that God would
punish you?"
"Mamma did, sir" A..sg
The Judge wiped his glasses, and
both he and the Chief Justice looked
very grave. There were few dry eyes
in the vicinity of the little witness, and
even the stern Jurymen looked melted
for a moment A tear stood in the
prisoners eye, and then rolled slowly
down her pale face. She raised her
veil and brushed itaway with her hand
kerchief