Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-02

foot OF the steps, explaining TO group of the
people his views OF the weather 81 do not
think MYSELF said the chubby person, ganc-
ing at the yellow canopy, "that II Is anything
morning who think IL is the end OF the world. I"
Jacob found IL impressive In court. The
Judge said IL was a gloomy room and a gloomy
day, and directed the officers TO light the gas.
The artificial light did not relieve the atmos-
pheric pallor very much, allho' II enabled the
Judge and the lawyers to read their papers.
Jacob and Mary his wife, and Willie and the
woman who saw the fire first, and came to Ja-
cob's house screaming testified to the facts
This with the documentary evidence, made the
PLAINTIFF case. The shorthand writer OF the
court took down the evidence very rapidly and
about twelve o'clock noon the plaintiffs side
OF the case was before the jury.
Then the opposing counsel proceeded 10
open the defense. After few general state
ments he began TO hint that there was pain
full revelation TO be made bearing upon the
character of the plaintiff. The intimation was
that Jacob had burned his own buildings to get
the insurance.
"That is a m can and contemplate insinua-
ton" exclaimed Jacobs lawyer, springing TO
his feet, land you have no right to suggest
itw
"Sir," rejoined the opposing lawyer, utter
ing the words with pause after each, and a
scathing hiss that made Jacobs flesh Creep
zoe vii pf0Oe az"
Jacob felt as II the very ground was opening
beneath him, as the lawyer went on with dia-
bolical GOODNESS to state that they had al
though with some difficulty, secured the only
witness who saw "this miscreant," indicating
Jacob, fire his own buildings. Happening to
turn his head just then, Jacob saw the large
man sitting within six feet of him and watch
ing him closely. This completed his confusion.
The subsequent proceedings upon the trial
were not clearly apprehended by Jacob.
The court took recess for dinner As Jacob
went TO his room the large mau stood in the
door of room No. 2S9 again.
Hard al II, heyi' he said, ss Jacob passed.
Eyes, but they can't prove II, - said Jacob,
with determined accent
"Sir,n said the large man, severely, they
can prove anythingif they have the evidence
and the large man went into his room and
banged the door again.
In the afternoon the evidence upon the part
of the defense was given. The first witnesses
called upon that side did not seem very i'm
portant TO the case. They were, however,
some OF Jacobs neighbors, and the evidence
was very painful to him on that account. One
testified that there could not have been as
much hay IN the barn when II burned as Jacob
insisted here was. Another thought that
Jacob had exaggerated the size OF the bay
where the hay was stored, and he thought, for
that reason, there could not have been as much
as represented. Still another had walked over
growing, aud was confident that there was
only a "middlin' crop" and by no means as
much as the plaintiff claimed.
The opposing counsel explained, with q
glance ut the jury, that this evidence was pre-
sented not only as bearing upon the question
more clearly the nature OF the attempt, ION
the part Of this wretched man" TO defraud his
neighbors.
There was a significant pause. The oppos-
ing counsel held a whispered conversation
with his assistant attorney, ana with some
mon whom Jacob recognized as members OF
the board he then rose and said imprcssively,
ave call Gotlieb Jansen"
A short, elderly man, rather thin than full
faced, but evidently German, was sent for
ward from the back seats. Jacob recognized
him; he was "hired man. who worked
about the ncighborhood at the Cove.
Jansen gave his testimony through an
officer of the court, who acted as interpreter.
His statement was that, standing =" over be-
yond a hollow, quarter OF mile away, In
the field back OF Jacobs large barn, he had
seen Jacob come behind the barn, deliberate
ly strike match and set the straw and hay
and barn on fire.
The cross-eyamination of this witness by
Jacobs counsel was the interesting feature OF
the trial.
{" Ask him. said the counsel, "if he could
see how Jacob was dressed"
" He saws ives he could,'n responded the
interpreter, after putting the question TO the
witness.
+" Ask him what color his clothes were.n
He says he wore brown, or kind of red,
iron-cloth overalls.n
" Ask him whether Jacob had ON boots or
shoes"
:" Dey vos poots-dcy yos potts. said the
Witness making a cross lots answer In broken
English TO save time.
"You understand my question: said the
counsel.
"Yaas, yaas, unders ham," said Gotlieb.
"Ask him in German" said the Court to
the interpreter.
The interpre err complied and responded.
"He says they were boots"
ASK him what time OF day II was, said
the counsel.
He says 1t 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 IL was black handkerchief"
" Ask him II he could sec him plain"
I" He says 'yes'n
"Ask him whether he had on stockings"
said the counsel
This question caused slight ripple OF mer-
rimenf. Old Gotlieb glanced arouu |, saw
the fun, aud laughing and shaking his head
said, Nav, nav, could not tell de shtock-
ings."
There was brief redirect examination, in
which Gotlieb stated that he did not mean
that he actually saw the match, but only saw
Jacob stoop over and strike, as II 1t was a
match, and then saw it kindle, and saw 1t grow
to large fire. He also explained that the
ovcralls were blue instead of red.
1t wcs apparent that Gotieb's left eve had
been injured or lost. His examination was
concluded by a single quest on, asked by
Jacobs lawyer, which drew out from Gotlieb
the answer: "Naw, nav, can only see from
Won eyc.n
AS the concluding evidence In the case
Jacob was now recalled formally to deny, as
the rules OF evidence require, The statements
made by the witnesses against him. AS he
came upon the witness stand, IL was apparent
that great change had come over him. Was
there such q pallor upon his face, or was II
the strange yellow light of that strange day
His voice had sunk almost to q whisper, and
he seemed weak and uncertain in his steps.
He quietly answered 'no" TO the long, formal
questions involving the statements which had
been made against him, and that closed the
evidence In the case.
The counsel "summcd up;n the opposing
counsel assuming and urging to the jury that
Jacob was the profoundest rascal and hypo-
critic in the county, and Jacobs lawyer assert
ing that Gotlieb was perjurer. In few
words the court charged the jury, and they
were sent out, in the keeping Of three officers,
to committee-room, to deliberate and find a
verdict.
lJNtS ncdTly SIN y ClOCk, tuc uu1OurQcu
for the day. 1t had been dreadful day to
Jacob. He had not imagined that his old and
dear ncighbors could look upon him as a ras-
cal, and he had not supposed any man living
would have dared to assail his good name as
the opposing lawyer had assailed it. The reve-
lation of these facts, the strange story told by
Gotlieb, and the gloom Of the strange day
seemed to mingle in a dreadful nightmare as
he walked TO the hotel. He went TO his
ROOM and lay down, and closed his eyes, hop
ing 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 sudden quick throb, the dreadful sus-
pcnse he was under. "Suppose the Jury
should find against him." His father had
been one Of the consistory Of the church
when living, and Jacob himself had long
been achurch member. The hurt TO his repu-
tation and TO the family name was the sharp
est sting.
Jacob got up, and went to The star end" Of
the hall to ask Willie to come Wille's room