Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-09-13

/ ed and fiattened, ana there was tlldI
| leisurely kind of morning converse
ton that prevails among men going
off by an early train to their days
work. / sooa discovered that | had
fallen among a party of barristers,
and their chief topic was peculiar
I IL interesting case which was TO be
! finished today at the l.. assizes.
He must sumup against the prison
er, said a gentleman with fat, ford
/ face, and long sandy whiskers, who
I wore o light overcoat and shepherd S
plaid trousers The defense was
a complete failure, and deserved to
/ be"
1T was certainly rather audacious, "
returned a clean-shaven young man
with a double eye glass, who sat oppo-
site me. "But | don't like circumstan-
tial evidence"
'All evidence is more or less cir
cumstaAtial, answered he of the
florid complexion; and this man IS
as clearly guilty to my mind, as II
there had been "A dozen witnesses to
stand by and see him do the deed.
That's my opinion, Haywood, and
the oracle disappeared behind its
newspaper.
Feeling glad to discover any topic
that would divert my thoughts from
their gloomy forebodings, | addressed
myself to Haywood, the young barris-
ter, with whom had aslight acqualnt-
ance.
you seem much interested in
this trial that is going on, ] said.
May ask if you are engaged upon
/ itf'
"No, - he answered But it is a
curious case. A man, clerk dismissed
/ from his employment, is accused of
numbering the cashier Of the bank.
The evidence against him is entirely
circumstantial but the defense broke
down at the most critical point, and
the case certainly looks very black for
the prisoner.
The train was now slackening speed,
and there was a general rising | rose
too
Are you going to get out heref
said Mr. Haywood, opening the door
as we glided into the station,
Have you come down so early on bust
nessl"
Yes / said, wishing to good
ness | knew what the immediate busi-
ness was Nothing very urgent,
though, l added, half to myself, as |
got out,
'If you have the time to spare
YOU had better turn in and hear the
end Of the trial, said Haywood. ''The
court will be crowded with ladies, no
doubt, but | can smuggle you into a
corner
Not knowing what to do with my
self the next two hours, ! accepted
the offer with gratitude. | was soon
seated in am obsure csrner of a dingy,
ill-lighted, ventilated courthouse,
which would have been ill-smelling,
too, had it not been for the scent
waited from the numerous ladies
who were present. One of these, a
buxom female obstruction who ought
to have known better, was just IN
front Of me, and blocked my view with
am enormous bonnet. | could not see
/ the prisoner or his counsel, or even
/ the clock over his head, at which the
people were looking eagerly as the
hour fixed for the recommencement
of the trial approached.
At last there was a stir and hustle,
caused by persons invisible TO me,
then call for silence, and, after a
few prelimiuaries, the summingup
commenced
| listened the more intently because
/ | could see nothing, The clear, cold,
telling sentences cut deep in my con
sciousuess How distinct and con
yincing it all wasl How all those
minute facts the mute testimony OF
foomark and the like, arranged and
distributed by that powerful intellect
group themselves into the damnlng
proof of guilt
cared nothing for the prisoner,
had no personal interest IN the trial
but my mind was wonderfully fasct
mated hy this tale of horror Al
length the weighty tones ceased, and
murmur of relief and expectation
ran round the assembly. AT this mo
meut the woman with the huge bon
net shifted her seat, and | obtained q
full view of the prisoner. | started IN
voluntarily. Where had | seen that
face before.
The jury returned aftera short ab
seuce. The verdict was guilty, accom-
panied with a recommendation tC
D mercy. AgaintheJudge' solemn tone,
= sounded throughthe court, again they
/ ceased.
I There was dead silence. / sprung
a to my feet as if mpelled to do SO b,
+ some unseen power and locke,
G steadily at the prisoner. His fac,
e was ayertcd from me for the moment
IA but the looks of the people Shove,
/, me that he was about to speak
d Slowly he turned round, and M
IS voice whose deep earnest tone
y. could be heard all over the assembly
VI Inc said
d ''rhere lives but one man who cai
j prove me innocent and there h
ia stands
a. With white face and outsuetche
.. arm he pointed -at me | gazed a