The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-03-24
BLAKEs WIDOW.

Jem Blake was shot dead in his own
doorway by Antonio Gueldo, and the
trial 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 hOnorto institution of Judge
Lynch Jtm had been quiet man and
good neigh or, with hand always
ready to help one who was out of luck
so public sentiment ran pretty high
against Antonio. II tire general incli-
nation had been followed-as, up to that
time il always had-the last named gen
tleman would have found very scar t
opportunity to make any remarks in his
own behalf.
However, things were advancing nj
San Saba as well as elsewhere, and i,
wouldn't do to hang Antonia witht
regular trial, no matter how n, reea BILE
such proceeding might be to Che peo-
pie at large.
So ran the opinion expressed by Judge
Pilbaldo, whose ideas on such subjects
were usually accepted without c, IN
ment.
Nevertheless there was more than
one dis>enter 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.
Eff Antonio's goin ter be hung, why
don't we hang him P'
This was the pertinent query of Jake
Smith, the leader OF the opposing fac
ton, and his view of the question put ii
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 way to start the law in
properly, and give it fair show. Be-
sides, it didn't make any kind of differ
encet Antonia had shot Jem, hadn't he P
Well, then, what was the use of talking |!
All the jury would have to do now was
to return their verdict of guilty In the
first degree, and there you were all COM
Portable.
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; Il tell
yer there's nothin' like doin' a thing
reg'lar; parrikerlally when yer know
just how it's comm out"
So the judges argument, supported by
his influence, and increasing bias at San
Saba in favor of more civilized views,
settled the matter and it was decided
that Antonio Gueldo should be tried be-
fore he was hanged
As there was no place specially ar
ranged for such ceremonies, Judge Pill
baldo Hospitality offered the use of his
shed.
Here a rough table and chair were
placed for the judge, the other necessary
furniture, intende1 to represe-t the
dock, the stand, etc, being eked out
with boxes from Silas Baggett's grocery
store.
Jake Smith looked on at these pre-
parations for n time with frowning dis.
content, and then strolled down the
road, turning into the lane that led to
Blake's.
When he reached the door of the
shanty he leaned against the .jamb and
poked his naked head inside, tanning
himself in an embarrassed way with his
greasy fragment of hat. He had come
there with the intention of saying some
thing, but the sight within made him
forget it.
Blake's widow sat there, as she had
sat pretty much a. the time since the
'murder, staring straight before her, with
her chin in her palm. The sunlight
struck through the foliage of the red OAK
trees that grew before the door, and
checkered with fiickering briqhtness the
floor and cradle in which Jem's baby
was sleeping.
There it was, just as it had been three
days ago Gould it be only three daysP,
just as it had been when she went out
that morning to look after the drying
clothes, and left him standing in tn,
door by the cradle, chow fond he was O.
the baby just as it was when she heard
the crack of the pistol, and ran in will
an awful sense of suffOcating fright
Just the same as she had found him lying
upon the cradle, dahbling its white liner
with his blood, and the baby playing