Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-04-25

illusions. Her thoughts leaped from n
terror 10 4 defense.
at was the tramp. He stole the bar
and wrecked the train"
"Mebbe he did, and mcbbe he dida';
This do know. Samson Glider was
a-wiShing the president into the ditch
This is his bar, and he was out ON the
line just before it happened.n
The coroner's Jury called 70 consider
the death Of Thomas Starmore and
others, killed at BarStow'S Siding on
the night of the Goth Of February. met
at the Switch-house and heard the evi.
deucc OF the persons who were known
to have been present al the time Of the
disaster. Even the tramp had been
captured. He was seen prowling in
the woods near the line, and had been
caught by the Secticu-maSter and his
men, Every one vt once said, The
tramp did IT. But the tramp had in
his hand another bar just like the bar
found under tho train. lie admitted
having stolen the bar. he had seen
the disaster from the woods, and had
then run away lest he should be caught.
After some time he had come back to
find the bar he had dropped in the
woods in his flight. He had the
bar with him when caught He could
prove al this, because the bar was
rusty from lying in the snow.
The reporters of the Centreville pap
ers who were present called Mary Brit
ton to the telegraph that II message
might he dispatched. One of them
placed II paper before her; 4 tramp
has been found who admits having
stolen the bar, but II is evident he did
not use it. All the evidence goes TO
show that the engineer wrecked the
train out of spite against the presi'
dent
These words Mary Briton sent or Ivy
wire To the whole United States, while
her lover sat near already in tho Shad-
ow Of advancing calamity. The opcr-
ators who read off these words in dis
tant cities heard every word distinctly,
little knowing the terrible trial under
which they were dispatched. Never in
after-l(e did She forget that message.
"Gcntcmen." said the coroner, this
case seems to warrant me IN referring
the whole matter to the srand jury for
further explanation.
Weeks passed. and then the trial
came on mt the courthouse at Centre.
Vile. Samson Glider had been COM
United to answer u charge Of will(ully
wrccking railroad train.
Mary BriUon lived Years in these few
weeks. She could not believe Samson
had committed SO great wrong. Vet
every thing was against him. Track
layers bars were abundant enough. He
could easily have found one about the
place, and with il have drawn the
spikes from rail Her mind went
backward and forward over all this Il
hundred times in search of something
to prove him innocent. She still at
tended to her duties Mt the station, daily
sending and receiving messages. One
morning, us she sat thinking bitterly of
the sorrow that had invaded her life.
her eyes fell upon an old newspaper
fallen under her desk. She picked it
up and opened it. The Iron Trade Re-
riew. She eagerly turned to the second
page An! why had she forgotten these
pictures? Strange black figures, etchings
IF iron, nature printed. Given this
slight clew her mind loaped to Il brave
resolve. She would bring science to
loves rescue. How, she could not tell.
She had n vague idea OF what might
be done, and, asking her father to at
tend to the telegraph, she ran hastily
the village Stopping at II certain
house. She found u young girl who was
i good operator, and nj once hrcd her
70 take her place at the station.
Before night she had taken every dol
lar she had in the world from the saw
ings bank, and was on her way to the
city, The moving cars seemed to drag
too slowly. Why had she fingered so
long idle, and Samson in danger
The day Of the trial came on. AT
the trial all the testimony that we al
ready know, and much more Of less
importance, bad been offered by the
prosecution. The defense set up the
previous good character OF the prisoner,
and that seemed about ali that could he
said.
Mary i5rtton had given her testimony
early in the trial, and that seemed the
all that she could do. size had more
to say, but was not ready to speak. All
the morning she had sat in the crowded
courtroom. watching the clock, and
waiting aud looking for some one, y
strong and brave helper, to come to her
assistance. At the last moment she
spoke to the counsel, and asked for a
slight delay. There might be yet other
witnesses the defense began to talk
against time, and messenger was sent
to hasten the tagging aid.
The knight arrived. a pale, thin
faced young man in glasses appeared,
and demanded 10 give his testimony.
Behind him came marvellous array
men with strange tools, lanterns OF sing
ular construction, bars and rods OF iron,
and number OF gentlemen who SEEM
ed to be prosperous merchants and
manufacturers. There came also an
old German jew and farmer from
Barstows. The young man spoke to
Mary BrittOn with the utmost Difference,
and she consulted with him for mo.
ment, and then presented him to Sam
sons counsel.
There was slight murmnr Of sur