Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-05-05
Blake's Widow.

o>~O-
doorway by Antonio Gueldo, and the trial
was TO come of directly.
The extraordinary interest in the affair
was less due to the murder and its peculiar
circumstances, than TO the fact that this
was the first case tried al San Saba in any
more formal court than the time honored
institution of Judge Lynch Jem had been
a quiet man and good neighbor, with a
hand always ready to help one who was
out of luck, so public sentiment ran pretty
high against Antonio. II the general incli-
nation had been followed-as, up TO that
time 1t always had-the last-named gentle
man would have found very scant oppor-
iunity to make any remarks in his own be-
half.
However, thing were advancing at San
Sabu as well as elsewhere, and it wouldn't
do 20 hang Antonio without regular trial,
no matter how agreeable such a proceeding
might be 10 the people at large.
So ran the opinion expressed by Judge
Pitblado whose ideas on such subjects
were usually accepted without comment.
Nevertheless there was more than one
dissenter in the present instance, to whom
it was BY no means clear that there could
be any sense or profit in thus beating about
the bush.
"Ef AntonIo's goin ter be hung, why in
don't we hang himI"
This was the pertinent query OF Jake
Smith, the leader of the opposing faction,
and his view OF the question put Ii in so
clear a light that the Judge had great diff
Guilty in impressing people with his con-
viction. He said that things had gone on
in an irregular way long enough; and here
was a way to start the law in properly,
and give it a iair show Besides, it didn't
make any kind of difference; Antonio had
shot Jem, hadn't he? Well, then, what
was the use of talking? All the jury
would have to do now was to return theii
verdict of guilty in the first degree, and
there you were all comfortable.
1t was jus: the same thing in the end
exactly.
81 tell yer,n said the judge, who felt the
weight of his title, albeit the same was al
together one of courtesy: 81 tell yer there's
nothin' like doin' a thing reg'lar, partiker.
lally when yer know just how it's comm
out"
So the judges argument, supported by
his influence, and increasing bias at Sar
Saba in favor of m ore civilized views, set
tied the matter, and it was decided thai
Antonio Gueldo should be tried before HI
was hanged.
As there was no place specially arranged
for such ceremonies, Judge Pitblado hos
pitably offered the use OF his she'd.
Here rough table and chair were placed
for the Judge, the other necessary furni
ture, intended to represent the dock, thu
stand, ETC., beng eked out with boxe'
from Silas Baggett's grocery store.
Jake Smith looked on at these prepara
lions for time with frowning discontent
and then strolled down the road, turnirl
into the lane that led to Blake's.
When he reached the door OF the shant,
he learned against the iamb and poked hi
naked head inside, tanning himself in al
embarrassed way with his greasy fragmen
of a hat. He had come there with the IN
tention of saving something, but the sigh
within made him forget it.
Blake's widow sat there, as she mad sa
pretty much all the time since the murder
staring straight before her, with her Chi
in her palm. The sunlight struck througl
the foliage of the red oak trees that grew
before the door, and checkered with flick
ering brightness the floor and cradle Il
which Jim's baby was sleeping.
There it was just as it had been thre
DAYS ago: (cculd it only be three days'
inst a. If had been when she went out tha
morning TO look after the drying clothes
end left him standing in the door by tn
cradle, chow fond he was OF the oaoy'
inst ss il was when she heard the crack
the pistol, and ran in with an awful sens
of suffocating fright; just the same as sn
had found him lying upon the cradle, dat
bling its white linen with his oiooo' an
the baby playing with his hair. sh
screamed once, the first and last complain
.nvope had heard her make, then she vi
ouie, and helpful through it all; when u
men came and lifted him Hp; when ene
laid him on the rough bed ia the otn'