The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-23

4
as l really accomplished"
"It was reported, at the time, that you
lived very fevered life"
1--WE most of us do, at twenty years of
age"
1T was also saia, at chat time, you were
very passionate"
THAT IL quite true. Unhappily for my
self. l have never been able to overcome
my naturally hot temper; my anger car
ries me away before am aware that am
under IFS influence"
"You do not, then, hesitate to make this
admission, although You must know that
it would most seriously damage your case
were YOU on your trialV
81 do not hesitate to admit this, simply
because 1t is the plain and absolute truth.
am fery-tempered man-all my friends
know me to be tbis-and it would be use
less to deny it.
The magistrate became silent. So much
calmnrss aud natuTalness in tine man with
whom he was conveTsing on question of
life and death astounded him, although
curing his long career he had done the bat
tle OF words with many q clever hypocrite,
with numberless comedians. But here he
found himself face to face with a new and
totally original character. The man he
was halt-interrogating, appeared to look
rDOn caldOr-thaJ quality least affected
by tho ouilty-as his best resource. So far
f ON hiding his bad points, his question
able acts, he openly svowed them, with
out audacity, but equally without fear.
So far from trying to make himself appear
better than he was he seemed to be will
ing to admit more chan was ever required
Of him.
Either this man is innocent" thought
the magistrate, ''Or Nature has provided
him with energy and intelligence in no
ordinary degree"
And against you there is not only the
affair Of the assault, but something else to
which you have not yet referred" he went
on.
"True; and have not vet referred to !,
because almost Immediately after my en-.
trance you requested me to wait for ques-
tons being asked me, and not to put them
myself"
"Irue. Then may ask you how it hap
pened that you came somewhat recently
to be mixed up in certain gambling trans
actions over cards, at your clubp
81 was,no doubt, mixed up in that trans
action. A young gentleman from the
country, introduced to my club, himself
proposed TO play for high stakes. He was
rather SHED at, at first, but he was 80 well
recommended, he seemed desirous of play
ing, and he appeared to have so much
hot Of I1a taI Mt aH MI
playing with him. He was not clever,
and still he persisted in playing. Finally
he lost over two thousand pounds. and be-
ing unable to pay the money. as an alter
ma i've, he declared that cheating had been
Going on. This kind of thing happens at
the clubs more than once or twice IN the
course of season. A man is n bad player,
and is too proud to admit be Is not good
hand at cards, and prefers to charge his
frllow players with rOguery rather than
himself with ignorance. BY these means
te may get kicked, but he justities the
ron-payment of his debts OF honor; and
society in general, out of the club, look
upon him rather as a victim than slam
derer. In the particular case you refer to,
| was one of SIX or eight gentlemen ac-
cuscd by the young man of cheatlng-an
accusation he made in a letter to the club
committee. The committee examined the
affair, and the result of all was this-that
the Young man made an apology, and ul-
timatcly paid the money he had lost"
But by what means could you possibly
know | should ask for these questions"
Because had no doubt that where q
man has the police about him, every ap-
parent black point In his character is
Kicked ont with dead certainty. The af-
fair of the assault was notorious; and as
for the card case, although 1t never be-
came public, it was much talked about;
and even now it is scandal Which has
scarcely died out"
Austin Slvory spoke with 30 much ease
and coolncss, his voice was so sympathetic,
and he sat in his chair with SO much self
possession that he appeared rather to be
making a mere morning call, than giving
| O magistrate such o private examination
of his conduct as should prevent his beng
| arrested and publicly examined upon a
charge Of murder.
So far, no movement or sound had be-
I
Mayter. As she promised, she performed
Suddenly the MAGISTRATE went to thu
heart of his inquiry. Where did yot
pass the evening Of the Goth of OctOberP
(The date of the assassination.l
"And youl"
This reply was made rapidly, in sharl
tone of voice, but the speaker still ap
peared to be perfectly calm.
The reply obviously irritated the magis
trate, amiable as naturally he was. Ii
rose from his chair, and said, "Sir, you for
get the respect due to justice itself, and o
which am, at this moment, the represen
tatve. Since my endeavor to save 70,
from public examination appears to hav
failed, | must at once give orders"
Sir" interrupted Austin, in firm voice
but with politeness which could not ta1
in calming the magistrates irritation
"you have totally niscomprehendcd tn
sense of my words. Not for one momen
did | contemplate offending gentlema
like you, whose words and manner. how
ever severe, have shown how considerat
YOU can be to man under the shadow {
an accusation of murder. | simply wishe
to point out by this question, made in ol
p, sition to your own, how difficult it is
answer you. You ask me suddenly, an
without leading up to the inquiry, whel
was on a particular night. reply, AN
you9 In fact, 1 am sure that any ma
asked such question, suddenly, and will
cut anticipation of its coming, would
unable to reply satisfactorily"
THAT would depend" said the magi
trate, sitting down, upon the sort of Ii
any given man lives. If it is regular, II
question appears to me simple enough.
on the contrary, the life is irregular. the
am willing to admit that probably
would be difficult to answer the inqnir
=: l.. l.. &c .:. -. Lns 81