The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-10

eeOCub Wibll VII
the day previous, holding mysterious
conference with ill-conditioned fellows
OF Gueldo's kidney. t...,..a
The court was assembled, the jury
had been chosen, and the witnesses were
| all present save one-Blake's widow !
Pretty soon there was a stir at the
door, then murmur of surprise ran
through the crowded room.
MAY be cursed" said Jake Smith,
audibly, if she hasn't brought her
babyr'
What reason she may have had for
not leaving the little thing in charge of
some sympathizing woman-and there
were plenty who would have been glad
of the trust--was not apparent; however
| that might be, there it was, clasped
firmly in her arms, its bright red cheeks
contrasting with her whiteness, and its
fathers sunny hair mingling with her
| dark locks.
With some difficulty way was made
through the throng to her seat, which
had been placed on one side of the
Judge, directly opposite the candle-box
on the other, where Antonio sat. She
took her place and never moved during
the whole of the trial, excepting as she
was required to testify, and once when
the baby tugged at some glistening
thing that lay hidden in the folds of her
dress, at which she took pains to distract
its attention with chip from the floor.
AS for the baby, it sat there with its big
blue eyes open to there fullest extent,
entirely absorbed in the novel scene,
save at the moment when that irresistible
glitter caught its eye. ..
Every one being now present, the trial
went on in good earnest. A number of
witnesses were Examined, whose testi-
mony showed that Gueldo had had
trouble with Blake, and more than once
threatened his life; that Gueldo's pistol
had one charge empty on the evening OF
the day of the murder, whereas in the
morning it had been full; that he was
seen that morning around Blake house,
and more than that, Blake's widow had
heard Gueldo's voice Just before the
fatal shot, and had seen his retreating
form as she ran out H. rN- -
AT this last point the Galveston lawyer
asked the witness a few questions re-
garding how she knew it was Gueldo's,
and how she had recognized the voice
for his. She didn't know how exactly,
but was none the less sure for that.
There had been ramon about that
some one had heard Antonio make a
boast of having ''done for Blake this
time" but if there were a witness for
this he could not be found now
And so the prosecution closed.
ko ok 10, l,oo L,
ing in whirlpool of hopeless contradic-
ton the witness who had sworn to hav-
ing seen Gueldo near Blake's house.
Then he expatiated on the ease with
which one person may be mistaken for
another, and brought witness to show
how Gueldo had already been said to
resemble some one in the village
Finally he produced three ofthe i'll con-
ditioned fellows before referred to, who
swore that Antonio was with them on
hunting expedition during the whole of
the day on which the murder was COM
mitted. - ...... ... @
1t was clear case of abb. Jake
Smiths establishment at the ease with
which the thing had been accomplished
was unbounded. He threw disguised
look towards Pitblado, but the Judge was
nonplussed and didn't seem to be
interested with things in Jake's vicinity.
Gentlemen of the jury" said he,
''things has took a turn l didn't
altogethere don't know as there's
much to be said. l s'pose you've got to
go by the evidence, an that don't need
any eXplainin'. Eff you kin make out,
IN IA, %bnt Avto
killed Jem Blake, why, jest recollect
that's what yer here fur" ay \. ~.
Jake Smith fidgeted about on his box
and cast anxious glances through the
open door towards the clump of nopals
where the jury were celebrating. hNiag
Antonio talked and laughed in an
undertone with his counsel, and Blake's
widow sat staring at them with compress
ed lips and strong expression of deter
mination coming into her face ''i ~.
1t wasn't long before the jury fled in
again, all seating themselves but the
spokesman, and Judge Pitblado. rose,
wiping his forehead with his shirt-sleeve
Strengthened it out, have yerp" asked
he, nodding to the spokesman. '.
The man nodded slowly in return,
Eyer see,' said the spokesman, with
hesitating and disappointed air, ''ef yer
hadn't a-corralled us with stickin' ter
the evidence we might "a done better,
but accordin' to that Antonio wasn't
thar when the murder was done, an eff
he waren't thar he couldn't "a done it;
an eff he didn't do it, why-then-of
course he's-not guilty. e.-T "a fr1
Pitblado didn't dare to look at any
body; he stared up at the rafters, down
at the table, nowhere in particular, and
then turned halfway towards the prison.
er. f.. r-.f n...., 10 1872
''You kin co. said he at last, and
with great deliberation, "but don't stay
round here too long" f|
There was dead pause, during which
nobody moved.
Jake Smith exploded single cuss-
word, which he had in for some time
past, and Blake's widow stood up.
"Have you got through, Judge" she
asked. Afs
'Wal-I-s'pose So" ,.4 -... go
and there is nothing else to be
done?' p f''' - ~ 'iA
I'm afraid there amt" - ~.
And he's free to goP" tt@4f
Y-a-a-s.' o.-.r..,y E g., ..
Antonio Gueldo rose with an insolent
grin and picked up his hat.