The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-12-25

listened, nothing could be made out, and al
length In louder tone Mr. Randolph call
ed his FIRST witness.
This was man named Dasls, who lived
at the Cross Roads.
He swore positively that no had seen Mrs.
Williams about nine o'clock on Christmas
Eve crossing the field near his cabin accom-
panied by ihan, whom he recognised in
the moonlight as her repu,sa hnSband, Joe.
Dudley cross-examlued him closely; but
bis statement was utshaken, and he was all
lowed to go down.
Then Matte took his place, thin and pale,
but confdentj and, with voice trembling
little, she told her story, already familiar
with the reader.
Describing, among the rest, the visit Of
the magistrate next morning the accusation
and the arrest, she said aua
"Mr. Ewell's words were these, never u
be forgotten while live The chain il
complete except single link. We need q
witness TO show beyond doubt that you, Tom
Foster, were With Mollie Williams at the ap-
pointed time--bet1esh nine O'Clock and ten,
realized, as then imagined, my frightful
situation' It %a5 who could supply the
very evidence required, and tainted. That
night | fled ard have been living concealed
at Truxton until the beginning of this trial.
l have been in court yesterday and to-day.
This rttorning ] saw for the FIRST time that
my evidence, which had supposed would
be the destruction of my husband, might be
his safety; and when he had told bis story
l could restrain myself no longer.
This closed the case. .f
1t was now dark, and candles had been
brought in. F'i
Governor Duley made short speech, fol-
lowed by old Mr.. Randolph with one not
much longer and then by candle light, tho
Judge read BIS notes and charged.
The charge, it was felt, was dead againste
the prisoner, although strictly upon evi.
dence. Toms story was, of course, thrown
out.
And so the case went to the jurJ and they
retired. .. ........-. ,..... .......
A great silence followed, no one leaving
the room hot as it was; but, with pale faces
and hearts thrilled with the suspense, the
people watched the man whose fate now
hung between life and death.
Tom, holding Mattie's hand, conversed
with his counsel; Dudley read newspaper,
and Judge Armstrong ate some lunch, which
had been brought to him, upon the bench.
and thus about twenty minutes passed.
Then there was sudden shuffling and
murmur, the door OF the jury-room opened,
and the gentlemen came stumbling in.
A stern cry of "sileucep' followed, an
awful stiffness, and the announcement be-
ing made that verdict had been found, the
prisoner was ordered to stand up.
"Not guilty."
A great shout rang out; the women in
the room laughed and cried together; the
mountalneers threw up their wool hats and
coon-skn caps and above all the din was
heard the voice of the old Niger, Glenn Scott,
who stood in a corner, rocking himself to
aud fro in "meetn" style, and singing,
Pra Use de good Lord Raise your voices,
friendsl De good time is come. Gloryl"
regret to add that about o minute af-
terward, poor Glenn, whose demonstrations
had caught the eye Of the Court, was seized
by baliff and ignominiously elected from
the room.
So Tom Foster was free man again,
every member of the jury feeling that he
was innocent, evidence itself being nothing
against an intuition. And that very night
he again went through the ceremony Of
matfiage with Matte.
The fate Of Joe Williams no one ever
knew but it was he, beyond doubt, who
had committed that dreadful crime on
Christmas Eve. olf
Accompanied by his wife aud attended by
his friends, Tom returned TO his cabin on
the hillside; and with the cheers Of the
mountaueers still ringing in Che air,we close
our scene. f1a