Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-04-05

burned as Jacob insisted there was
: Another thought that Jacob had exag
gerated the size of the bay where the
hay was stored, and he thought, for thai
reason, there could not have been as
much as was represented Still an.
other had walked over Jacobs farm
when the hay and grain were growing
and was confident that there was only
a 'middlin' crop and by no means as
much as the plaintiff claimed.
The opposing counsel explained. with
glance at the Jury, that this evidence
was presented not only as bearing upon
the question of the amount of the loss,
but as showing more clearly the nature
of the attempt, 'on the part of this
wretched man. to defraud his neigh
bors.
There was significant pause The
opposing counsel held a whispered con-
versation with his assistant attorney,
and with some men whom Jacob recog-
nized as members of the board he
then rose and said impressivelv, we
call Gotlieb Jansen"
A short, elderly man, rather thin
than full faced, but evidently a Ger
man, was sent forward from the back
seats. Jlcob recognized him; he was
a hired man, who worked about the
neighborhood at the Cove.
Jansen gave his testimony through
an officer of the Court who acted as in
terpreter His statement was that,
standing over beyond hollow, a
quarter of mile away, in the field
back of Jacobs large barn, he had seen
Jacob come behind the barn, deliber-
ately strike match, and set the straw
and hay and barn on fire.
The eross-examination of this wit
ness by Jacobs counsel was the inter-
esting feature of the trial
Ask him. said the counsel, If he
could see how Jacob was dressed
He says yes he could" responded
the interpreter, after putting the ques-
tion to the witness.
Ask hin what color his clothes
were
He says he wore brown, or a kind
of red iron-cloth overalls.'
ASK him whether Jacob had on
boots or shoes
Dey vos poots,-dey vos poots, !"
said the witness, making q cross-lots
answer in broken English to save
time.
You understand my question: said
the counsel.
"Yaas, yaas, l untersthan,' said
Gotleb.
Ask him in German, said the Court
to the interpreter.
The interpreter complied, and re-
sponded, He says they were boots
Ask him what time of day it was,
said the counsel.
"He says it was just getting dark. ,
Ask him what Jacob had around
his neck, when he saw him strike the
match and set the fire.
He says 1t was black handker-
chief
Ask him if he could see him plain. ,
He says yes
Ask him whether he had ON stock
ings, said the counsel
This question caused slight ripple
of meriment. Old Gotlieb glanced
around, saw the fun, and laughing and
shaking his head said, Nav, nav,
could not tell de stockings
There was brief redirect examina-
ton, in which Gotlieb stated stated
that he did not mean that he actually
saw the match, but only saw Jacob
stoop over and strike, as if it was a
match, and then saw it kindle, and
saw it grow to large fire. He also
explained that the overalls were blue
instead of red.
1t was apparent that Gotlieb's left
eye had been injured or lost. His ex-
animation was concluded by single
question, asked by Jacobs lawyer,
which drew out from Gotleb the ans
wer; New, nav, can only see from Won
eye
AS the concluding evidence in the
case Jacob was now recalled formally
to deny,a the rules of evidence require,
the statements made by the witnesses
against him. AS he came upon the
witness-stand, it was apparent that a
great change had come over him. Was
there such pallor upon his face, or
was it the strange yellow light of that
strange day? His voice had sunk al-
most to a whisper, and he seemed
weak and uncertain in his steps He
quietly answered ON to the long, for
NAL questions involving the statements
which had been made against him, and
that closed the evidence in the case.
The counsel summed up:' the oppos.
ing counsel assuming and urging to
the jury that Jacob was the profound
est rascal and hypocrite in the county,
and Jacobs lawyer asserting that Got
lieb was a perjurer. In few words
the court charged the jury, and they
were sent out, in the keeping of three
| officers, to committee-room, to delib-
crate and find verdict.
1t was nearly six o'clock; the court
adjourned for the the day 1t had
been a dreadful day to Jacob. He had
not imagined that his old and near
neighbors could look upon him as a
rascal, and he had not supposed any
man living would have dared to assail
his good name as the opposing lawyer
had assailed it. The revelation of
these facts, the strange story told by
Gotlieb, and the gloom of the strange
day seemed to mingle in dreadful
night mare as he walked to the hotel
He went to his room, and lay down,
and closed his eyes, hoping to rest.
The scenes of the day were as vivid
before him as a'picture. And, through
them, he would remember from time
to time, with a sudden sharp throb,
the dreadful suspense he he was under.
Suppose the jury should find against
himn His father had been one of the