The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-15
HOW THEY LOOK.
Pen Pictures of the Persons Concerned in
the Thompson Case.

the Thompson Case.
Something About the Prisoner, the Attor-
neys, the Judge and the Jury.
Ben Thompson, calm and dignifled, sat beside
Jay Minter this morning while. Major Buck
Walton asked a witness to describe the manner
in which Jack Harris was killed. Mr.. Thomp-
son was not so pale as one might expect he
would be after six months confinement. The
glow of health was still in bis cheeks and the
flashing of his bluish-grey eyes was sufficient
proof that he had lost no whit of the spirit for
which he is noted He was neatly and fault
lessly attired i'm a business suit of blue pilot
cloth which showed ais firmly-knit frame to
advantage. His hair was arranged in the style
now generally affected, falling low over his
forehead. On one of his shapely fingers he
wore a ring set with a broad stone; i'm his shirt
bosom glistened Il cluster of diamonds. Alto
gether he was the most handsome and with the
exception of Judge NOonan and Judge Devine,
the best dressed man in the court room The
determination for which he is noted was indi-
Gated by his firm jaw; his natural intelligence
by his wide brow and the breadth of his temples.
also Indicative of his receptive qualities; his
VANITY DN Int contracted muscles OIL ms llDS,
tending to smir<; his desire for adventure by
large bump above his ear, and his wonder
full vitality, his fOndness for display and
his penchant for amours by his round
head and the great space between the back of
il and his ears. His eyes nave II cat-like ap-
pearance. They and his short upper lip are
his worst features, the one indicating treach-
cry, the other cruelty. But, though Mr.
Thompson may he both treacherous ana cruel
10y nature, he has a reputation for neither
He is ignorant of the usagcs of good society
and of the topics most interesting toa we'll
educated person, yet he is a good CONVERSE
tlOnast and, having once gained ones atten-
ton, retains IL till himself disposed to release
it. His figure was the most striking in the
courtroom to-day and was, of course, the CEN
ter of attraction to the throngs who often
provoked the order "silcnce in court from
the busy sheriff.
Jay Minter spent most of the morning hours
in looking at the jury. Doubtless he was delib-
Grating on the question whether the Seec-
ton of the jury was favorable to his client or
not. Under his searching, steadlast gaze sew
eTti of the jurors grew restless. One of Them
II man with a cOmbatiYe disposition, endeavorcd
10 end Mr.. Minter's performance by doing what
is yuigary but effectively styled staring him
out of cOuntenanCe. He failed to do so. While he
winked and blnked and turned red in the face
Mr.. MintCr remained passive, his eyes wide
open, his teeth firmly clinChed. There is pc
culiarty about his eyes. They seem to look
through one, yet never meet the eyes Of any
one else. This is not because Minter looks
downward, for he does not, but because of
some quality he has which is not possessed by
other persons.
i'm front OF Minter was Mai. Buck Walton,
and beside Maj. Walton Judge Sheebs, of Aus
tin. The Judge was present merely because
of his friendship TO Ben Thompson. His prin-
cipal occupation seemed to be the pulling of
pair of red wriStlctS forward and backward on
his attenuated wrists. Mai. Walton looked as
he always does, as if he were general OF
he knew would be successful. Rather aggres-
siye but always calm he made u very favorable
impression.
Colonel N. o. Green was there, too, the man
of wonderful memory, whom jOcular friends
declare TO have knowledge of the date and the
place of birth OF every man, woman and child
i'm the state.
One of the most noticeable consulting law
Yers for the defense was John A. Green, who
occupied position near mis- son, j Ohm \. Green,
IN. His principal task was weighing the evil
dencc with legal scales encrusted with every
tUchniCality imaginable.
OF the counsel for the state Major Teel is the
chief. Fred Cooke, the district attorney, is
connected with the case, il is true, but he is
content To let the prosecution be managed by Il
lawyer reputed 10 have more ability than him
self. Major Teel, spectacles awry on a red
nose, his rugged face wreathed with smiles which
may disappear instantaneUusy before an eX-
preston OF anger, seems ready at all times to
light rs well as to speak for his cause.
Leo 1arlctOn Is the states StratCgicai lawyer.
small, thin, ever appearing cold bat clad sum
mCr and winter in light clothes u face pallid
'sicklicd Ger with the pale cast q thought
wrinkcd prcmaturely; eyes bright but avoid
ing ones gaze; broad, high forehead, thin
lips, firm chin. Ills partner, Il. /. Boone, is
Just the reverse; jOlly-Oolling as he is grave
Not tar from THrlCtOn is r. G.. Anderson, his
mouth full of tobacco and contradiction, and
behind him is his brother MacAndeTSOn, tall,
slender, white haired, clean shaver shopping over
4 bundle of musty documents and smiling as
he thinks OF the latest joke gotten of in his
hearing by the culpIits 70 whom he meteS JUS
ticc in his capacity as recorder. To Mac Ander-
Judge NOOnln tn ipta "A
ton. He looks toward Judge Noonan for live
minutes at Il time and il you observe closely
you will see that ii is not the judges face nor
mis- hands, nor himself at all in fact,
sons attention. How anybody can be
identified with the legal profession and always
appear as If just from the hands of IL valet is
seemingly more than blunt Mac Anderson can
understand. Mr.. Anderson is noted for his
successful pleading, and il is said he will make
one of the speeches for the state
Another lawyer i'll the service of the state is
Judge Deyine, spare man past middle age, with
white hair and sidewhiskers, grey eyes, shaggy
eyebrows, prominent cheek-bones, fun lips, a
receding chin and loose jaw In dress he vies
with Judge Noonan for neatness, fit and ele-
gance. Judge NOOnan himself his smooth
shayen red face unreilective Of the thoughts
which may be his, sits erect. his shead thrown
slightly backward, his elbows on the high desk
i'm front of him and his forearms inclined back
ward so that he can support his china posture
awkward To most persons, impossible to many.
Tine jury is an average one. The most at
tcntive juror is middle-aged man with
a brown beard who stares hard through
large SpectacleS for a minute on so, then wipes
them with handkerchief and rcsums the
staring. He is the man who swore when ex-
amined as To his eligibility Tor jury service
that me had lived here nearly all his life hut
had never heard or Jack Harris nor of his being
killed by Ben Thompson though the homi-
eide cOnVulScd the entire communicate had
not read newSpaperin fifteen years.