Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-06-02

from the court whether anything may
say now can ever be used against me in
any way?"
What did he meanG What need for
that question Every one looked at
his neighbor inquiringly.
The flushed face Of the Judge showed
that he, at least, understood what it
meant-an attempt to swear his guilty
companion out of the hangman's grasp.
Then, in tone of unmistakable indig-
nation, came the answer:
am sorry to say, sir, that nothing
you may say now can be used against
you; that is, on trial for murder. You
have been acquitted"
Ryan's face grew pale and then red,
and he said, slowly and distinctly:
1t was l who fired all the shots
not Short"
Most of the faces in the courtroom
wore looks of incredulity; some of in
dignation at the hardened wickedness
of the man who had Just been declared
innocent, and who, by his own state
ment, had been guilty of murder, If he
was not guilty Of perjury.
But quietly and calmly, without a
tremor, as coolly as though he were de-
scribing 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 fred
the fatal shot in self-defense, or at least
under such circumstances of danger as
would have led any jury to acquit him.
He detailed how he had fred the first
shot from q 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 the deceased
with saber 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 when he had but one
shot left he stumbled over q large stone
and fell on his knees, and at this
moment the deceased struck at him
with the saber, cutting him slightly in
the cheek, and, being thus pressed, he
aimed and fred the last shot, which
subsequently proved fatal. He further
told how, upon recovering his feet, he
ran, waded through the stream, and
finding that he had lost his hat when he
fell, retraced his steps, recrossed the
stream, found the hat and then went to
a hotel, where he was seen by several
witnesses to dry his wet clothing. His
manner, his bearing and his story con-
vinced his hearers that he was telling
the truth.
But, SO that nothing might be want
ing if any doubt remained in the minds
of the judge or jury, witnesses Of un-
doubted veracity we're called who COR
roborated him as to the condition of his
clothing and the cut on his cheek within
fifteen minutes after the occurrence.
Besides, it was shown that, although
the man who had fred had waded
through the stream, Shorts clothing
was perfectly dry.
1t is unnecessary to say that Short was
promptly acquitted and warmly con-
graduated on one of the narrowest es-
capes ever made by any man in court
room. Nothing could have saved him
had the court refused to direct the ac-
quittal of Ryan and allow him to testify.
The deceased corporal. the soldier
and Mary Bowen mistaken. That
was all there was about it.
So much for the occasional unrelia-
bility of the direct testimony of honest
eye-witnesses.
And SO much, also, for giving the ac-
cused an opportunity to be heard on the
witness-stand, the denial of which by
the law is one of the relics of barbarism
which still disgraces It's administration
in some States at this late day.