Weekly commercial herald., 1885-09-25

VAC5 dA4u lIuuOIa4ILy ID Iehus Luucu BOOQ may
it do every one PRESENT. Then the clerk sits
down, and the judge, forsaking his papers,
begins his work
He arranges his robes to his satisfaction,
leans forward, and, placing the tips of his
long, white fingers together, addresses
charges. am told, is the right term-the
grand jury in pleasant, colloquial manner.
strain every aural nerve to catch the pur-
port of his glib wordA He is sure to say
something about this important murder
case. shall, perhaps, be able to learn how
1t was that the man fell under suspicion.
Alas! the judge is one who, by years of
practice has acquired the knack OF using
his voice only just so much as is absolutely
necessary. The grand jury is close to him
and can. no doubt hear him; but to those
who, like ourselves, are far away in the
background of the court, his remarks are in
audible. All can catch is a closing caution
to the grand jury, to bear in mind that it is
not within its province to determine the in-
nocence or guilt of the prisoners, tut to
simply decide whether thero is or is not suftl-
cient evidence for the cases to 60 to trial,
The grand jury files out of court to con-
duct its solemn deliberations in the place
appointed. The Judge addresses few smil-
ing words to the sheriff and other magnates
who, by right or favor, occupy seats en- the
bench; then he returns to the perusal of his
papers.
For the first time since we entered the
court, Philippe speaks to me. "Are they
trying him nowr she asked in low awed
whisper, yet in voice SO changed that
know what the suspense is costiI g her.
Briefly explain the procedure of the law,
so far us know it She sighs, and says no
more.
More monotonous calling of many names.
to which summons, however, another class
of men respond. The common jurymen are
now being called Probably, to save time,
twelve men are sent into the box, where
they sit, some appearing to enjoy the dig
nifty of the position. some with stolid indif-
ference, others with acute unhappiness
plainly manifested. l look at these men
with scarcely less interest than look at the
judge On them, or on some Of them, our
fate rests as much, perhaps more, than it
rests on him. Those men are trying US
not only the man who will by and by stand
in that rail topped enclosure, into which we
look down.
Twenty long, weary minutes pass by. All
eyes turn to a wooden gallery in the right
hand crrner of the court. A door in the
wall opens The members of the grand jury
emerge and fill the gallery. The foreman
arms himself with gigantic fishing rod, to
which he attaches a paper, which is con-
veyed by this clumsy method to that busy
gentleman, the clerk of assize. What idiotic
foolery all this seems to mel
The clerk detaches the document, glances
at it. and looks up at the gallery.
Gentlemen of the grand jury, you return
a true bill against William Evans for mur.
derf'
''We do" answered the foreman with shy
solemnity.
grind my teeth. Foolsl II men of cul-
ture and standing err like this, what can be
expected from common iurya 1t is we'll
for me that l heard the caution just now
given by the judge l take such comfort as
can by thinking they have tried the evi-
dence, not the manl What can the evidence
be3 All! we shall soon know
The clerk turns, and addressing no one in
particular, says: bring up the prisoner" +"
Once more l set my teeth. feel my wire's
arm tremble; her hand grows cold. hear
a buzz, as of expectation, run through the
crowded court Every eye turns in one di-
rection-toward the empty dock. For a
moment species of dizziness comes over
me; objects swim before my eyes. The SEN
sation passes away. Irecover myself. The
dock is no longer untenanted. In the centre,
with stalwart policeman on either side of
him, stands the accusedl The man who, if
needs be, must be saved by such sacrifice!
From my place, far back in the public
gallery, con, of course, see nothing more
Of the prisoner than his back. l gaze at this
with intense curiosity, endeavoring to deter
mine the station of the man who is now
about to be tried for his life. l can but
gather this much: He is tall and slight. His
dress is Of a semi-respectable nature, but
seems to have seen much service. He might
be anything from broken-down, clerk to a
gcntleman's servant out at elbows l re-
ioice at his poverty y-stricken appearance.
Judging from it, money will be welcome to
him. Let the jury but assert his innocence,
and feel certain that the liberal pecuniary
compensation which it iss my intention to
mote out will repay him a hundred times for
the ordeal which he is undergoing.
Ordeal Yes, it is the right word. 1t Is
easy to sec it Is terrible ordeal to the poor
fellow No need to look at his face to be
told that much. Even as he emerged from
the cells below he seemed to quake with
fear. Now he absolutely falls forward in
the dock, supporting himself by grasping
the iron railing which runs round the top.
notice that his fingers, as they cling to the
iron bars, open and close convulsively.
Every movement Of his back and shoulders
betrays fear and anguish of mind. His
state is pitiable, 80 pitiable that one Of his
custodians places his hands under the
wretched mans arm. and gives him the ply
sical support which he so sorely needs. He
bends his head as in shame, and know that
could see his face 1t would be white as my
own or my wife's
In spite Of the strain upon my mind was
able to wonder at the prisoners hopeless de-
meanor. Although had, as it were, torn
my very heart out by the roots to insure this
man's SAFETY in the event Of things going
wrong with him; although did not even
now regret tho course | had taken. am
bound to say that his cowardly behavior
took awSy much Of the sympathy which l
should otherwise have felt for him In his un-
meritod predicament 1t is, Of course, very
easy to say what one would do IL In another's
place. certainly felt sure that, were in
that poor fellows plight that consciousness
Of my own innocence would give me strength
enough to raise my head and face boldly all
the judges, juries and prosecuting counsel in
the world. I was willing to make every
allowance for the NERVOUSNESS nntnrnl 70