The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-10

NcH EuSlduu CaSJ Out one. lnere was .
tall, powerful negro called George WASH
ington, a man well known in this county
town, to which he had come, as drift
wood from the storm of war in '65.
As for his occupation-when the census-taker,
with wink to the boys In the store, had asked
him what it was, he had said, in that same odd
tone: !" Putties UP glass little-whtewashes
a little" and, when the man had made show
OF writing al that down, breaches a little"
He might have said breaches big,'' for you
could hear him a mile away Il s
The. foreman was q, retired sea-captain.
GOOD cap'n-Capn Thomas,' one Of his
neighbors had said of him.. g Alters gifts good
ships-never heZ to go huntin' round for
vesstln ~ IRA f-t " tii'''
g Gentlemen, y said the foreman, when the
officer at last had securely locked them in,
shall we go through the formality of a bal
lot! If the case were Il less serious one we
might have rem cred a verdict in our seats"
What's the use foolin' round ballotinW
said thick-set butcher. . Amt We all o. one
mind!P
:" 1t is for you to say, gentlemen % said the
foreman. =" l shouldn't want to have it go
abroad that We had not acted formally, If
there was anv one disposed to cavl u
F." Mr.. Speaker" said George Washington,
rising and standing in the attitude Of Webs er,
g rises to appoint to order. Wetook ballast
in de prior cases, and why make flesh of one
man an fowl of another?"
VERY WELL" said the foreman, a trife
sharply. GO he longest way round is the
shortest way home ~ io $50
Twelve slips of paper were handed out, to
be Endorsed guilty, g for form" They were
collected in a hat and the foreman told them
over" just for form" "' Guilty. guilty
guilty gdity'-wait minute" he said,
6 here is mistake. Here if one not guilty
"whose is this?' 70 tf-~... .-..f... -t..,.
There was a pause.
81. sgNEbnca ie mn fla
Eli turned a little red.
''It's mine," he said.
do you mean ii: 81 said the foreman.
"Of course mean it, he answered.
"Whew!" whistled the foreman. q Very
well sir; We'll have an understanding, then,
This case is proved to the satisfaction of every
man who heard it, l may safely say, but one.
VIII that one please state the grounds Of his
opinion?"
81 amt no talker," said Eli, s'but amt sat
isied he's guilty-that's ALL" sf
Don't you believe the witnessesp
''Mostly" ..'33 tIi
(which one don't you believer rt .
u can't say. don't believe he's guilty"
SIS there one that you think lied2"
No answer. .s.f. II ...t--ff f..tf .-r.. .t-.
snow it seems to me- said third Jury
man.. 4" Hn I1i fl g
Zone thing at time, gentleman" said the
foreman. "Let us wait for an answer from
Mr.. Smith. Isl there any one that you think
lied! We will wait, gentlemen, for an an
swer.' .-'
There was long pause. The trial seemed
to Eli Smith to have shifted from the court
to this shabby room, and he was now the cul-
prit. .g - y'l.. .D#. l.Hi 1909 iu1
All waited for him, all eyes were fixed upon
him.
The clock licked loud! Eli counted the sec
onds. He knew the determination of the
foreman.
The silence became intense. .Hl.a a
II want to say my say,n said short man in
a pea jacket-a retired San Francisco pilot
named Eldridge 81 entertain no doubt the
man is guilty. At the same time l allow for
differences of opinion. don't know this mau
that's voted mot guilty, but he seems to be a
well-meaning man. / don't know his reasons:
probably he don't understand the case |
should like to have the foreman tell the evil
dence over, so as if he don't see it clear he can
ask questions and we can explain"
Il second de notion" said George Wash
ington.
There was general rustic of approval.
Il move it, said the pilot, encouraged.
VERY well, Mr.. Eldridge,n' said the fore
man. ''H there is no objection, will state
the evidence and if there is any loop-hole, /
will trouble Mr.. Smith to suggest it as | go
along" and he proceeded to give summary
of the testimony, with homely force.
Now, sr!" he said, when he had finished.
81 move for another ballot,n said Mr.. Ell
bridge. s... f....Gs II, 49,
The result was the same. Eli had voted
''not guilty."
''Mr. smith, said the foreman, ''this must
be settled in some way. This is no chld's
play. You can't keep eleven men here,
trifing with them, giving no pretence of a
81 haven't any reasons, only that don't be-
lieve he's guilty." said Eli ''I'm not goin' to
vote a intn St ata 7
believe he done it,'' and he rose and walked
to the window, and looked out. 1t was low
tide. There was broad stretch of mud in
the distance, covered with boats living over
disconsolate. A driving storm had emptied
the streets. He beat upon the rain dashed
glass moment with his fingers, and then he
sat down again. ...., M
"Well, SIR" said the foreman "this is sin
gular conduct. What do you propose to ooa"
Silence. s I4
81 suppose you realize that the rest of us
are pretty rapidly forming conclusion on
this matter,'' said the foreman. A ~
Come come ~ said Mr.. Eldridge; "don't
be quite so hard on him, Captain. Now, Mr.
smith," he said, standing up with his hands
in his at-pockets, and looking at Eli, 1--WE
know that there often is crooked sticks on
uries, that hold out alone-that's to be ex-
pected; but they always argue, and stand to it |
5he rest are fools, and all that Now, all is, we
1on't see why you don't sort of ARGUE, if you've
got reasons satisfactory to you. Come, now,n
ne added, walking up to Eli, and resting one
loot on the seat of his chair, ''why don't you
ell it oyers and II we're wrong, I'm ready to
Join you'll 7Yth irrua 0eflt GIL iU
Eli looked up at him. -t.f.s.,.. |
"D6dn'tyou ever know, " he said, T" of mans |
akin a cat off, to lose, that his little 4irl
iidn't want drownded, and leavin' him ashore |
twenty or thirty miles, Decline, from home |
md that cats bein' back again the next day |
ourrin' round 3 if nothin' had happenedm
yes" said Mr.. Eldridge-'' knew of lust
such case.n tlIiI- iFfiUii ra1 10 gS1 |
=. Very well,n said Eli; show does he find
" DON'T know, y said Mr. Eldridge; "always
has been a standing mystery to me-
"Wel," said Eli, "mark my words There's
such a thing as arguin', and there's such !
hing as KNOWN outright; and when you'll
ell me how that cat inquiries his way home,
Pll tell YOU how know John Wood amt
guilty" ii....,.tf, .,3, ..,...... .....,
This made a certain sensation, and Ellis
stock went up fiitts OF tNtl' fJfI
Then 2. the foreman, when nobody seemed
disposed to move, speaking slowly, at first,
md piecemeaL alternating language with |
smoke, gradually edged into the current of
he evidence, and ended by going all over it
lgain, with fresh force and point. His cigar
ylowed and chilled in the darkening room as
he talked. ~
'Now," he said. when he had drawn all
he threads together to the point of guilt,
what are we going to do upon this evil |
iencea" }lflia9mU~ .I. .iIE I.la |
"Pll tell you something said Eli. 81
iidn't want to say it because know what |
Quill all think, but I'll tell you, all the same"