The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-04-16

Iu!Il sqIbegan; the judges and jury
men took their places Hanging on the
wall was the fatal cuckoo, Ii had be-
come an instrument Of death-a certain
proof Of the crime. There it was,
silent, sinister witness marking the hour
of three. This clock was little larger
than ale usually made, which explains
how it could support The weight OF
man.. A sort of niche lii the woodwork
hid the bird from sight, who sung the
hour. The public could not look al il
without fear. Every one felt the in
fuence Of the mystery, and all thought
that the trial would not throw much
light on it, unless the accused could be
made to speak.
The prisoner was ordered to appear
The crowd swayed like field Of wheat
in the wind All heads were turned to-
ward the same place-the little door BY
which Jean Muller entered. Every
sound ceased and a silence like death
weighed on this multitude SO restless, 30
tumultuous but an instant before.
Muller advanced between two guards,
tall, thin and fair, with a gentle look
his eyes troubled and his head lowered.
He walked without knowing what be
did. Not sound escaped bis lips; his
movements were those Of an idiot his
glance was fixed on the ground.
The witnesses gave their testimony
it4sll tended towards a crime. He was
alone in the house with his master; he
was hidden when they made Che dis
coyery; he had neither confessed nor de-
MED the murder. One question alone
remained to decide his fate. Had he
committed the murder in cold blood or
in fit Of insanity.
Jean Muller had not raised his eyes
He seemed neither to hear nor under
stand. 1t was like torch extin-
guished.
Suddenly in one corner Of the hall
there arose murmur, which increased
little by little till it reached the front
ranks.
a man traFersed the crowd, using his
fists and elbows to make himself free
passage, and arriving near the prisoner
he, looked at him with strange sneer,
then leaping lightly over the railing
which separated the tribunal and the
public he addressed himself to the
judges; 1r III u
"Gentlemen, will you permit me to
make a test to recall this unfortunate
man to Ieason2 ] am called Elias
Wolfmann, Your Honor, sold this
clock 10 the late Samuel Staufer, my
worthy co-religionist."
A shiver ran through his hearers at
this declaration; the curiosity was re-
doubled; every ear was wide open,
The Jew Wolfmann was tall, angu-
lar parsonage, with yellow beard float
ing in two points from his chin; his
nose was sharp and his small gray eyes
were hidden beneath the Dushy eye
brows; a continual sneer hovered
around the corners Of his mouth. He
wore long coat reaching TO his ankles,
gathered al the waist with wide belt
and immense brass buckle. His cos
tune was not hattering and the resi-
dents Of H---did not associate with
him willingly. 1t was with great in
terest that they looked al him, detailing
his dress and scrutinizing his features.
He appeared false and perfidious.
ask but one thing" said he, the
permission to putin motion this clock. "
1t was granted. Then mounting q
chair he put in motion the pendulum.
eAt the fourth stroke the niche opened
and the cuckoo appeared on the thres-
bold, and singing three times announced
the hour. Hardly had it finished when
music hidden in the body of the. clock
played the 'iRaat1 des TNoehes,n but in a
manner so piercing and wierd that 1t
awed everyone.
At the moment when the cuckoo rang,
Jean raised himself like one awkened
from dream; be ggzed at the clock
with arm outstretchsd, and his mouth
open, expressing an awful fear.
"0hp' said ne, trying to cover his
face with his hands. aaf
The clock had resumed its monoton-
Gus tic-tac and the hands moved mechan-
! ioally around its face. etd btn
IsinWhen the music ceased Jean stood
erect, and said with a steady voice, look
ing at the judges, "Wbat do you wish
Why have you arrested me? am in
nocent. will swear it. Ny master
killed himself. am saying nothing
| but the truth; ! have come 10 myself
| The night OF the murder was a fear
4 lul Duts ste JOu hAl A-AloNtt rata WV y Ntfhs
man: "a storm mixed with raiDS hail aEt
I thunder, SO that nothing which trans
pired at my masters could he heard ii
the neighborhogd Samuel Stauffer Ell
tered the house at nine o'clock in tn
evening carrying this clock under hi
arm, and it was ! who hung it soiidly i
| the wall Of his own room opposite hi
bed.@ He seemed enchanted with hi
bargain and talked Of 6fitincessaniy. A
ten O'Clock / assisted him to regulat
| the cdckoo and 10 put II in motion. A
half past ten it struck for the first tim
and played the air which you have jus
heard. 1 was helping Samuel Staule
to disrobe. He turned TO me abruptly
as If something had struck him.
"sDo you not think that musi
stranger said he.
| at told him efectually that it hal
shaken my nerves little, at which b
laughed heartily.
''HWell, WE'LL he explained, s go t
bed; that win calm you
l.