Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-05-27

were examined, whose testimony
showed that Gueldo had had
trouble with Blake, and more
than once threatened his life;
that Gueldo's pistol was one
charge empty on the evening of
the day of the murder, whereas
in the morning it had been full;
that he was seen that morning
around Blake's house, and, more
than that; Blake's widow had
heard Gueldo's voice just before
the fatal shot, and had seen his
retreating form as she ran out.
At this point the Galveston law
yer asked the witness a few
questions regarding how she
knew it was Gueldo's and how
she had recognized the voice for
his. She didn't know how ex-
actly, but was none the less sure
for that. There had been a ru-
NOR about that some one had
heard Antonio make a boast of
having "done for Blake this
time," but if there was a witness
for this he could not be found
now. And so the prosecution
closed. The Galveston lawyer
began by, involving in a whirl-
pool of hopeless contradiction
the witness who had sworn to
having seen Gueldo near Blake's
house. Then he expatlated on
the case with which one person
may be mistaken for another,and
brought witness to show how
Gueldo had already been said to
resemble some one in the village.
Finally, he produced three of the
ill-conditioned fellows before re-
ferred to, who swore that Anto-
Mo was with them on a hunting
expedition during the whole OF
day on which the murder was
committed. 1t was a clear case
of abb. Jake Smiths astonish-
Irient at the ease with which the
thing had been accomplished was
unbomded. He threw dis
gusted look toward Pilbaldo, but
the Judge was nonplussed, and
didn't seem to be interested with
the things in Jake's vicinity.
"Gentlemen Of the jury" said
he, ''things has took a turn |
didn't altogether expec'. l don't
know as there's much to be said.
I s'pose you've got to go by the
evidence, an that don't need any
explainin'. Ef you can make
out accordin' ter that, that An
tonic .Gueldo killed Jem Blake,
why, just recollect, that's what
yer here fur"
The jury filed out, and the ex-
pectant audience occupied Itself
with tobacco andwhispered COM
ments. Jake Smith fidgeted a.
bout on his box, and cast anxious
glances through the open door,
| toward the clump OF nopals
where the jury were celebrating.
Antonio talked and laughed In
an undertone with his counsel,
and Blake's widow sat staring
at them with compressed lips,
and a strong expression of deter
mination coming into her face.
1t wasn't long before the jury
filed in again, all seating them
selves. but the spokesman,
and Judge Pilbaldo rose wiplng
his forehead with his shirt sleeve.
"Straighteneditout, have yer?'
asked he, nodding to the spokes-
man.
The man nodded slowly in re-
turn.
/ "Wal, let's have it them"
eyer see," said the spokesman
with hesitating and disappolnt-
ed air, ''ef yer hadn't corralled
us with stickin' ter the evidence
, we might Il done better, but ac'
cordin' ter that, Antonio WASH
thar, he couldn't done it, an
t eff he didn't do it, why-then-
: of course, he's-net guilty"
Pilbaldo didn't dare to look a
anybody; he stared up at th'
: rafters--down at the table-no
where in particular; and thel
/, turned halfway toward Antonio
! "You kin co. said he, speak
ing with great deliberatlon,," "Du
/ wouldn't stay round here to-
long"
There was dead pause for
minute, and nobody moved
Jake Smith exploded a singl
I expressive word, which he ha
held in for some time past, an
> Blake's widow stood up. "ilav
you got through, judge r sh
: asked.
"Wal-I-s'pose so.'
"And there is nothing more t
: be done p
"I'm afraid there amt"
u "And he's free to 60 p
: "Y-a-a-s."
= Antonio Gueldo rose with a
. ;nsolent orin. and picked up h