The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-04-29

| Inc court accompanied 1tS announcement VI
the recess until 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, quarter of mile down
State Street, in front of the Capitol. lie and
his wife were on the third floor, at the end OF
the hall, in room No. PAL. AS Jacob was going
to his room, large man, with dark piercing
eyes, standing in the door Of room No. 239,
said: "Your case is on, hey!"
"Yes " said Jacob, as he was passing.
"You had better look sharp" said the large
man.
"Why?" inquired Jacob, wonderingly as he
paused.
Trough business, burning down buildings"
said the large man, harshly, and he closed the
door of his room with bang.
| Jacob passed on to his own apartment There
he talked over the events of the day with his
wife. When he tried to sleep that night, the
Assembly Chamber and the face of the large
man in room No. 239 haunted him.
In the morning, after breakfast, down in the
front hall, Jacob met the large man again.
"Try twist at it o-day, | 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!'
Eyes; it is strange" said Jacob, not per-
ceiving the connection.
"They say it is the end of the world-Sodom
and Gomorrah," said the large man; and he
turned and walked away.
AT ten o'clock the court convened. As ia
cob approached the Capitol steps he saw a
chubby person on the brick pavement at the
| foot of the steps, explaining to group of the
people his views of the weather - | do not
think myself" said the chubby person, glauc-
ing at the yellow canopy, that it is anything
supernatural, but have seen fifty people this
y,nCY rhNf t. ~
Jacob found it impressive in court. The
Judge said it was 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, altho' it 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 ia
cob's house screaming testified to the facts.
This with the documentary evidence, made the
plaintiffs 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 to
open the defense. After a 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 mean and contemplate insinua-
ton" exclaimed Jacobs lawyer, springing to
his feet, land you have no right to suggest
such thing, when you know you can't prove
it,"
Sir" rejoined the opposing lawyer utter
ing the words with pause after each, and
scathing hiss that made Jacobs flesh creep,
" IRE mill proUe Ht'
Jacob felt as if 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,n 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 man stood in the
door of room No. 239 again.
- Hard at it, hey!" he said, as Jacob passed
Yes, but they can't prove it, said Jacob,
with determined accent.
Sir, " said the large man, severely, "thev
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 oil Jacobs neighbors, and the evidence
was very painful to him on that account. One
testified that there could not have been as
much hay il the barn when it burned as Jacob
insisted here was. Another thought that
Jacob had exaggerated the size of the bav
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
Jacobs farm when the hav and grain were
growing, and was confident that there was
only "middlin' crop,n and by no means as
much as the plaintiff claimed
The opposing counsel explained, with
glance at the jury, that this evidence was pre-
sented not only as bearing upon the question
of the amount of the loss, but as showing
more clearly the nature of the attempt, ION
the part of this wretched man." to defraud his
neighbors.
There was significant pause The oppos-
ing counsel held whispered conversation
with his assistant attorney, and with some
men whom Jacob recognized as members of
the board; he then rose and said impressively,
"We call Gotleb 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 neighborhood at the Cove.
Jansen gave his testimony through an
officer of the court, who acted as Interpreter
His statement was that, standing lover be-
yond hollow, quarter of mile away in
the field back of Jacobs large barn. he had
seen Jacob come behind the barn, deliberate
ly strike a match, and set the straw and hay
and barn on fire.
The cross-examination 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 says yes he could,'" 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-dey vos potts" said the
witness, making cross lots answer in broken
English to save time.
"You understand my question:" said the
counsel.
''Yaas, yass, l unders ham, said Gotlieb.
" Ask him in German" said the Court to
the interpreter.
The interpre er complied and responded
3" He says they were boots.n
ASK him what time of day it was" said
the counsel.
g 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 1t was black handkerchief
g Ask him II he could see him plainn
He says yes "
Ask him whether he had on stockings
said the counsel.
This question caused a slight ripple of mer-
riment. Old Gotleb glanced arouul. saw
the fun, and laughing aud shaking his head
said, Nav, nav, could not tell de shtock-
ings.n