Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-09-08


DEFENSE.
81 hear he is worse" was my reply, and
felt my face redden and burn as spoke Ac-
tually did feel then like Pratt's murderer,
and on trial before jury prejudiced against
me, without favorable witness or extenuat-
ing circumstance in my behalf So strong
seemed the effect Of the predominant thought
from the group in that store to make me feel
as they believed
There was another silence. A great deal
Of renewed and possibly unnecessary pipe
filing and cleaning Of stems with broom
straws went on; possibly as mental relief
to the more sensitive, and consequently en-
barrassed, of the party.
"Was you coming down Scrub mountain
when you found Prattg" asked another.
'.NonI replied. ~ went up to him"
81 wonder how he came by two bullets in
his head" asked Long Mac.
81 don't know that he has any bullets in
his head" I replied.
"Tou don't, was the rejoinder from Long
Mac. The emphasis ON the pronoun was
peculiar. I did not mistake its meaning, but
made no reply.
Meantime Mr.. Setter was silent Perhaps,
for the first time, sense Of the response
bility Of his loquacity had come over him.
He did not like talking in face of the
accused. The matter was now in sterner
hands
"Wel," said Long Mac, ~ think for one
this thing needs looking into. It's bout time
this robbin' and murderin' was stopped
Somebody needs stringin' up.n
The mortality list for Bull Bar, and, say,
stretch of river for two miles up and down,
averaged man killed by known or unknown
parties about once in ten days. But the Bar
was now in the throes of one Of those spasms
of law and order, peculiar to all communi-
ties. Woe to the wight, guilty or not guilty,
caught during such spasm. he would hang
It was worse than any direct trial, this
being accused by hint, inference and inuendo
There was, felt, but one thing to do. I re-
solved to make the issue and meet it.
"Look here!" said. "What are you fell
lows driving at, anywaya You talk as If
some one had tried to murder Pratt. Now, as
Pm considerably mixed up in this matter,
I'd like to know if any one is suspected Of
crooked business, and if so who it isg'
No one replied was now started
and kept on.
1T strikes me-" said, ''from the way that
this talk has gone on that I'm the man you're
aiming at Now, if anybody's got any
charge against me he can back up with
proof, this is as good time to make it as
any other. I object to being tried behind
my back and without any chance to defend
myself. Has anybody here seen me waylay
Pratt, shoot him or rob him2 If there is let
him talk. am ready to hear what he has
to say"
My audience was very quiet.
"Have you, Mr.. Sefterl I believe you've
had good deal to do and say in this matter.
You seem to know as much, If not more,
Of this affair than anybody else? You were
with me when we brought Pratt down tbs
mountain Why shouldn't think 1t very
queer piece Of business to talk Of your being
up ON Scrub mountain the day Pratt was
hurt, poor man, trying to get an honest liv-
ing and all that. tell you, Bill Setter, that
sort of talk has put the halter round more
than one mans neck in this country when it
didn't belong there. This buzzing suspicious
In peoples ears, until the man that buzzes
and those he buzzes to can't tell the difference
between mere hearsay and absolute proof is,
think, about the same as murder"
Setter was silent. felt myself warming
up as concentrated myself upon him alone,
and, what was to me relief, felt also the
fetters of constitutional backwardness for
any sort of expression for the time falling
from me-whether that expression should be
one Of deeds or words, Of mind or muscle.
"Sefter,"I continued, 'syou are making this
trouble for me. and I know it. You are .