The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-03-20
CHAPTER VII.

The trial of Edward Leighton was over
In less than ten hours after the case had
been given to the jury, they had returned a
verdict of guilty. The judges charge had
summed up the evidence against the pris-
oncr 50 clearly as to make it almost impos.
sible for an honest juryman TO bring in any
other verdict than one OF guilty and the
only point of discussion in the jury-room
had been as to the degree.
All the evidence for the defense mad con-
sisted Of testimony as TO the prisoners pre-
vious good character, the principal wit
nesses being Mr.. Merton Courtney and Mr..
Fellows. Mr.. Courtney's evidence had
been very favorable to the prisoner, as much
80 as evidence Of that nature could be, but
they had failed to elicit from him any thing
to substantiate Leightons allegation that
his remarks TO Richard Courtney, which
had been construed into a threat, referred
to anticipated financial troubles, the only
point made out of his testimony by the de-
| Tense being a partial admission that Mr..
| Tenniel's private affairs were not in as
satisfactory condition as had been sup
posed, and that it was possible the prisoner
might have suspected something Of the
kind.
From Mr.. Courtneys evidence the de-
Tense also elected an account Of the ARRAY
referred TO in a former chapter, which had
occurred some years before, when an at
tempt had been made in open day to rob
the bank, and in which, according TO Mr..
Courtney's testimony, Leighton had given
proof of singular courage and devotion TO
the interests of his employer, In fact, al.
though Mr.. Tennicl never liked to admit it,
the robbery had been frustrated almost AS
much by the GOODNESS and bravery Of Ed
ward Leighton as by his own determined
bearing on the occasion, and it was prin
cipally through Edwards fundamentally
that one Of the thieves had been captured
and sentenced to a term in the peniiontiary
which had but recently expired.
Mr. Fellows, while rendering the highes
tribute to LeightOn's good character, haC
considerably weakened the general eilcc
of his testimony by his persistent reference
to the missing photograph and the unim
pcachable evidence which II would I'm
doubtedly supply. The old gentleman ha
indeed felt il bitter disappointment apai
from his confidence that it would hav
cleared Leighton of the terrible charg
brought against him, that an occasion whC
the extraordinary value of the phonograp
as applied by him could have been SO 81!
nally exemplified, should be rendered III
available. The photograph chamber whc
he had constructed for Tennicl " Courtne
had been the realization Of one of his fOnt
est dreams, and his vexation in the prcser
case had been grievously aggravated by hi
inability to convince others Of the necessit
Of instituting the most rigid inquiry wit
view to the recovery of the phonograpl
The natural scepticlsm of the public i
regard to the extraordinary faculties il
claimed for it had been intensified by tn
widely received impression that Leighton
story regarding his efforts TO save it, wa
an Ingenious device to mscad publ
opinion, and poor Mr.. Fellows had bee
unable 10 enlist any ones interest in til
matter sufficiently TO secure any action i
reference to 1t. His zeal and enthusiasm
had so carried him away, while giving hi
testimony at the trial, ms TO become the sui
)ect OF some righteousness on the part {
|. counsel, and the photographic feature c
; lhe case had been generally regarded an
u treated more Us n joke than u serious ma
n ter.
= INC Ncrulct was a matter of no surpris
y 70 any one, and yet when the sentence
u death had been passed upon this your
!. man 50 lately an esteemed and trusted 80
vant IN one OF The leading business hous
!. In the city, and favoritc member OF some
5 ] the best social circles, u general feeling