The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-25
Blake'S Widow.

Jem Blake was shot dead in his own
d' orway by Antonio Gucldo, and the tlial
was to come off 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 at San Saba in any
more formal court than the time honorcd
institution of Judge Lynch Jcm had been
quiet man and a good neighbor, with a
hand always ready to help one who was
out of luck, so public sentiment ran pretty
high against Antonio. If the general incli.
nation had been followed-as, up to that
time 1t always had-the last-namcd gentle
man would have found very scant oppor-
lunty 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 to 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
disscntcr 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 Anton,o's goin ter be hung, why in
don't we hang hlm?"
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 light That the Judge had great diili-
Guilty in impressing people with his con-
viction. He said that things had gone OH
in an irregular way long enough; and here
was way to start the law in properly.
aud give it lair show. Besides, it didn't
make any kind of difference; Antonio had
shot Jcm, hadn't he? Wen, then, what
was the use of talking? All the jury
would have to do now was to rcturn their
verdict of guilty in the first degree, and
there you were all comfortable.
1t was just the same thing, in the end
exactly. 'sA5 a'|' "~ [| W. NJ 'FF$NS%
81 tell yer" 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 rcg'lar; partikcr-
lally when yer know just how it's comm
ont"
So the Judges argument, supported by
his influence, and increasing bias at San
Saba in favor of IN orc civilized views, set
tied tho matter, and it WAS, decided that
Antonio Gueldo should be- tried before ,hc
was hanged. ka asE 85S- g. ss&.. ..&&
AS thcrc was no place specially arranged
for such ceremonies, Judge Pitblado hos
pitably offered the use of lis shed.
Here rough table and chair were placed
for the judge, the other necessary furni-
ture, intended to represent the dock the
stand, etc., beng ekcd out with boxes
from Silas Baggett's &, ocery store I'D,
Jake Smith looked on at these prepara-
tions for e tlmo with frowning discomfort,
and then strollcd down the road t,lrnr z
into tho lane that led to Blake's.
Whom he reached tho door of tho shanty
he learned against tho jalnb and pokcd lis
naked head inside, tanning himself in an
embarrassed way with his greasy: fragment
of q hat. He had come thero with tho IN,
tention of saying something, but the eight
within made him forget 1t. 3# 81
Blake's widow sat there, as she had sat
pretty much all the time since the murder,
staring straight before hor, with her chin
in her palm. The sunlight struck through
the foliage of tho red oak trees that grew
before the door, and chcckered with flick
cring brightness the floor and cradle in
which Jini's' baby was sleeping.
There It was just, as It had been three
days ago; Gould 1t only bc three days9)
just a. 1t had been when she won't out that
morning to.loQksaftert the Rdry ings elothes,
and left standing n tho door by the
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