Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-09-20

the Jury, nor the spectators entertained
the slightest doubt Of his guilt, and when
:he Commonwealth, at this point, closed
its case, it seemed as though the fatal
rope was already around his neck and his
escape impossible.
Ryan heaved sigh Of relief which
was audible throughout the whole court
room. for he was safe; there was not one
word of testimony against him, or any
circumstance tending to show any pre-
vious arrangement or concert Of action
between him and Short.
After whispered consultation between
the counsel for the defense, one Of them
rose and moved the court to direct the
jury to forthwith return verdict Of not
guilty as to Ryan, in order that he might
be called as a witness for the other pris-
oner. This was resisted by the District
Attorney, and, after lengthy and elaborate
arguments, the court decided that it was
bound to grant the motion, and according
ly Ryan was declared mot guilty" and
the verdict recorded.
Then came a scene as dramatic to those
present as anything ever witnessed on the
stage. Without any opening speech by
Shorts counsel, Ryan, in obedience to a
nod from his attorney, stepped out OF the
prisoners dock and into the witness-box,
looked around the courtroom, took up
the Bible and was sworn to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth" Every head was bent for
ward, every ear was on the alert. every
eye fixed on the witness-something start
ling was expected. Would he attempt
to show that Short had done the shooting
in self-defense' That seemed the only
thing possible. But how could he be be-
lieved in the face Of the positive tes,imo-
ny Of three witnesses, two Of them living
and in the courtroom, one Of them dead
murdered:
Ryan stood for moment looking down,
and then, slowly lifting his eyes TO the
bench, in a silence in which the falling
of a feather might bave been heard, he
said:
MAY ask the court question:"
The venerable judge, evidently sur
prised at being interroga,ed, looked at
him and said;
Certainly, sir"
81 understand that am acquitted
said Ryan, pausing for moment, and
then continuing " want TO know whe-
ther anything | may now say can ever be
used against me in any way
What did he mean: What need for
the question: Everyone looked at his
neighbor inquiringly.
The flushed face Of the judge showed
tha, he, at least, understood that 1t meant
an attempt to swear his guilty compan-
ion out of the hangman's grasp. Then,
in q tone of unmistakable Indignation,
came the answer:
II am sorry to say, sir, That nothing
YOU may say now can be used against
you-,hat is, on trial for murder. You
have been acquitted"
Ryan's face grew pale, then red, and
he said, slowly and distinctly:
"lt was | who fired all the shots-not
Short.
Most of the faces in the courtroom
wore looks Of incredulity; some of indigna-
ton at the hardened wickedness of the
man who had just been declared innocent,
and who. by his own statement, was
guilty Of murder if he was not guilty OF
perjury.
But, quietly and calmly, without tre-
NOR, as coolly as though he were describ-
ing some trivial occurrence which he had
casually witnessed, Ryan went on, step
by step, detailing all that had occurred,
and when he had finished his story there
was probably not person present who
was not fully convinced not only that
Ryan had told the simple truth, but also
that he had himself fired the fatal shot in
elf-defense, or at least under such cir
cumstances Of danger as would have led
any jury to acquit him.
He detailed how he had fired the first
shot from a small single.barreled pistol in
the air without any purpose except to
give his challenger scare, and then ran
down the alley, and, upon being closely
pursued by deceased with sabre drawn
and raised to strike, he was compelled to
pull out revolver, and fire several shots
toward his pursuer, who was rapidly
gaining on him, to keep him back; and
that, when he had but one shot left, he
stumbled over large stone and fell on
his knees, and at this moment the de-
ceased struck at him with the sabre, cut
ting him slightly in the cheek, and being
thus pressed, he aimed and fred the last
shot, which subsequently proved fatal.
further told how, upon recovering his feet,
be ran, waded through the stream, and
finding that he had lost his hat when he
fell, retraced his steps, recrossed the stream
and found the hat, and then went to 9
hotel, where he was seen by several wit.
ncsses to dry his clothing. His manner,
his bearing and his story itself convinced
his hearers that he was telling tie truth
But, so that nothing might be wanting
if any doubt remained in the minds o.
the Judge or jury, witnesses of undoubtet
veracity were called who corroborated
him as to the condition of his clothing
and the cat on his cheek within fifteer
minutes after the occurrence. Beside i
was shown that, although the man WHIT
had fired had waded through the stream
Shorts clothing was perfectly dry.
1t is unnecessary to add that Short wa:
promptly acquitted and warmly congrat'