Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-26
n IAcou VIII SoN-.Nir.

tember, 1850, it Ia decided, In view OF al
the circumstances, that no award Will Dt
made.
This was signed by Silas, as secretary
Of the company.
A week later Jacob was in a lawyer
office in Albany, in private consultation
81 don't want no lawing," said Jacob
I" and my wife says so, too, although We
cannot stand it to lose eighteen hundred
dollars"
"Are you going to let them say you
burned the building said the lawyer.
"They dar'n't say it" replied jacob,
fiercely.
THAT is the meaning of it, said the
lawyer.
Jacob was silent. The old family
name, distinguished for honesty, was at
stake as well as the property.
The papers were served in November,
and in January the case was on the cal
endar at the Albany circuit of the Su-
preme Court of the State. The calendar
is always crowded, and there is delay in
coming to trial. The case was not
reached until September the 5th, 1881,
at an adjourned circuit, the day before
the famous yellow day, already alluded
to.
The city hall, in which the Courts were
held. having been destroyed by fire a
short time before, the circuit was held in
the assembly chamber Of the old capitol.
II seemed to Jacob an imposing scene, as
he entered the famous room where so many
laws were made, and in which the law
was to be administered in his case. He
had to wait, hanging round the Court for
three days before his case was reached
The time was no, lost to him. He heard
several trials, which were as interesting
as story books.
At five o'clock, on the evening Of the
5th of September, number ninety of the
calendar, which was Jacobs case, was
re ached. Jacobs lawyer and the oppos-
ing counsel announced themselves ready.
Jacob was invited forward to seat by
the side of his lawer, and the drawing OF
a jury began Immediately. A few were
rejected, but before six o'clock-the hour
for adjournment-twelve men who were
TO both sides had been Sc
cured, and Jacobs lawyer had opened
the case, and the trial was fairly begun.
The Court accompanied its announcement
of the recess till morning with warning
TO the jury not to allow any one to talk
with them about the case.
: Jacob did not sleep that night. He
was at the American hotel, a quarter of
d mile down State street, in front of the
capitol. He and his wife were on the
third floor, at the end Of the hall, in room
PAL. As Jacob was going to his room,
a large man, with dark, piercing eyes,
standing in the door of room No. 239,
said :
Your case is on, hey
"Yes, sill" said Jacob, as be was pass
ing.
You'd better look sharp" said the
large man.
"Why :" inquired Jacob. wonderingly.
as he paused.
"Rough business burning down build
ings," said the large man, harshly; and
he closed the door Of his room with
bang.
jacob passed on to his own apart
ment. There he talked over the day
with his wife. When he tried to sleep
that night, the assembly, chamber and
the face of the large man in the 239
haunted him.
In the morning, after breakfast, down
in the front hall, Jacob met the large
man again.
"Try twist at i. to-day, l s'pose,"
said the large man sharply to Jacob.
Yes, the trial" answered Jacob, ner
vously.
Somebody has been committing an
awful crime" observed the large man
" have you seen the sky
"Yes, it is strange" said Jacob, not
perceiving the connection.
They say it is the end Of the world
-Sodom and Gommorrah," said the
large man; and he turned and walked
away.
At ten o'clock the Court convened. As
Jacob approached the capitol steps. he
saw a chubby person on the brick pave
ment at the foot of the steps explaining
to a group of people his views of the
weather. 81 do not think myself" said
the chubby person, glancing at the yell
low canopy, "that it is anything super
natural, but | have seen fifty people this
morning who think it is the end of the
world
Jacob found it oppressive in the Court.
The Judge said it was gloomy room
and a gloomy day, and directed the Off
GERS to light the gas. The artificial
light did not relieve the atmospheric
pallor very much, although it enabled
the Judge and the lawyers 70 reao their
papers. ,.
Jacob, and Mary his wife, and Willie,
and the woman who saw the fire first
and came to Jacobs house, screaming,
testified to the facts. This, with the
documentary evidence, made the plaini-
ifs case. The shorthand writer of the
Court took down the evidence very rapid
", and at about twelve o'clock noon the
plaintiffs side of the case was before the
jury.
Then the opposing counsel proceeded
to open the defence. After few gen.
eral statements he began to hint that
there was painful revelation to be made
bearing upon the character of the PLAIN,
IL L. Ln.l