The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-06-19

tured it. The whole previous atmosphere
was changed Whatever of interest had been
conferred i'll the trial was now all concen-
tratcd in this new development coming on.
of it, The audience, fir bending forward,
at last rose in their seats to get better
view Of the wealth there displayed AT
rough guess | had put on exhibition about
two thousand dollars in quartz specimens
being gold in form never before seen l..
that part of the country.
The district attorney felt his case slipping
away from him. The introduction of such
evidence was an indirect contradiction to
his differences regarding my "loafing about
and Suspicious habits" 1t was plain that
if had been mysterious, there was some
thing which would justify mystery. He OBJ
cctcl to such things being put in as evil
dence
But the "things" had done their work.
It was finally necessary to call the court to
order ere the trial could be resumed. The
Judge laid aside his spectacles, but retained
the richest lump on the bar i'll front of him,
and his eyes would glance occasionally in its
direction. | continued my story: 81 did
not find this claim. My partner, who is here
in court, did, long before met him. l acted
~
necessarily absent carrying the rock to THE
| Bay to be worked Mr.. Pratt found me on
the ground was guarding 1t was true we
had no tools visible or notices up, because
| thee might have excited observation, and we
were not, rs to regulations for holding such
| ground, protected by any law, Mr.. Pratt
insisted on meddlng with the ledge from
which this goll was taken. He insisted on
meddlins with it Mt the very place where wo
had dug out the pieces you see before you
| Now, what was to dos Let him do 50 or
| uotp
Mop roared out a voice in the audience.
"Order in courtl' cried the sheriff But
that "No!' was n powerful expression of the
prevailing sentiment.
| continued:
Snow, gentlemen | did not do as you think
| did Here comes what | know is the I'M
probable part of my story. 1t would be far
easier for me To say that did shoot Pratt in
defense of what considered mine than that
he shot himself. That is exactly what he did
do--by accident He had the drop on me,
his finger on the trigger, warning me not To
interfere with him, when his foot slipped
from the rock ON which he was standing; he
fell over backward, his pistol was discharged
and by the fall and the shot he got the two
wounds in his head. Well, | was frightened
nearly 10 death at the time myself. | saw in
a moment all the appearances would be
against me had to keep secret the locality
OF the claim My partner was away.
went up to Pratt and found him
as | SUPPOSED, dead. | didn't know
what TO do, so | covered him with
brush and went home | couldn't rest thai
night for thinking about the boly up there
how it would he discovered aud our claim
with it, and between the two-of the fix
should be in to keep our claim a secret, anc
account satisfactorily Tor Pratt's death under
the circumstances got up in the night ant
went up 10 the body. | intended to roll il
down the Hill and pitch it into the river {,
get it out OF the way. Thank God! | founc
Pratt alive Now, gentlemen, that's all my
story, ami whether you believe me or not, IL
ask you If you would not possibly do as hav,
done under the circumstances"
IL think can .vouch for what the gentle
man says, said n voice near me. twas tina
Of blanche Seton.
This appearance CT beautiful woman II
the court III connection with the trial wa
even more phenomenal than the quartz
There was an eager cranirg forward of neck
and then profound hush 10 hear her mex
words.
After hping sworn In as witness, she con
tinu;d: