Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-05-27
BI.AKE's WIDOW.

The extraordinary interest in
the affair was less due to the
murder and its peculiar clrcum-
stances, than to the fact that
this was the first case tried at
San Saba in any more formal
court than the time-honored in
stitution of Judge Lynch. Jem
had been a quiet man and a
good neighbor, with a hand al
ways ready to help one who was
out of luck, so public sentiment
ran pretty high against Antonio.
If the general inclination had
been folIowed-as, up to that
time it always had--the last
named gentleman would have
found very scant opportunity
to make any remarks in his own
behalf.
However, things we're advanc-
ing at San Saba as well as else
where, and it wouldn't do TO
hang Antonio without regular
trial, no matter how agreeable
such a proceeding might be to
the people at large.
So ran the opinion expressed
by Judge Pilbaldo, whose ideas
on such subjects were usually
accepted without comment.
Nevertheless there was more
than one dissenter III the pres
ent 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 don't we hang him?"
This was the pertinent query
of Jake Smith, the leader of the
opposing faction, and his view
of the question put it in SO clear
a light that the judge had great
difficulty in impressing people
with his conviction. 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 fair
show. Besides, it d:dn't make
any kind of difference; Antonio
had shot Jem, hadn't be? Well,
then, what was the use of talk
ing! All the jury would have
to 90 now was to return their
verdict of guilty in the first de-
gree, and there you were all
comfortable. 1t was just the
same thing in the end-exactly.
81 tell YER" said the judge,
who felt the weight of his title,
albeit the same was altogether
one of courtesy; 81 tell yer
there's nothin' like doin' thing
reg'lar; pertikerlally when yer
know just how it's comm out. I
Sodhe judges argument, sup
ported by his influence, and IN
creasing bias at San Saba in IA
! vor of more civilized views, set
tied the matter and it was deci-
' ed that Antonio Gueldo should
j be tried before he was hanged
!. AS there was no place specially
: arranged for such ceremonies
: Judge Pilbaldo Hospitality Of
c fered the use Of his shed. Here
j a rough table and chair were
r placed for the judge, the othe
necessary furniture, intended t.
: represent the dock, the stand
ETC., being eked out with boxe
p : from Silas. Baggett's grocer,
lie store. Jake Smith looked on a
,sr these preparations for a tim
h with frowning discomfort, an,
then stroIled down the road
turning into the lane that led t
Blake's. When he reached tn
door of the shanty he leaned q
gainst the jamb and poked hi
n. naked head inside, tanning him
cs self in an embarrassed. way wit
IS y. his greasy fragment OF a hal
He had come there with the In
d. d. tention of saying something, bu
h. h. the sight within made him fol-
Ie: get it. Blake's widow sat there
nd nd as she had pretty much all th
lie time since the murder. starin
straight before her, with he
nd nd chin in her palm. The sunligf
X, struck through the foliage Q
le; :; the red oak. trees that grew b'
les fore the door, and checkere
nd with flickering brightness II
nd floor and cradle in which Jem
nd baby was sleeping. There
To- was, just as it had been thrt
nr- days ago; (could it be onI
three days?) just as it had bee
les when she went out that mornln
to look after the drying clothe
GI- TI- and left him standing IN IL
ces door by the cradle, chow for
nm he was of the baby just as
nts was when she heard the crae
do of the pistol, and ran in with {
90 40 awful sense of suffocating frigh
/. Just the same as she had foul
him lying upon the cradle, da
bling its white liner with i
blood, and the baby playil
with his hair. She scream
once, the first and the last col
plaint any ons had heard b
.ltl , 80