San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-08


would be the most natural thing in the world
for the negro to deny all cognizanoe Of the
matter.
This course Mr.. Clark would not for an
instant, listen TO, for the reason that il the
negro, being summoned by the defendant,
should swear that he knew nothing of it, it
would prove disastrous in strengthening the
evidence against the defense. The state had
deemed it not worth while to make the negro
a witness in its behalf because the defense
could invalidate his testimony on the ground
that he himself was accused of felony.
And, although MIR. Clark argued and
pleaded with lobe, he could not make him
soe the danger Il such a step nor get him to
reiinquish has iD&eption. Much to every
body's surprise, lobe became angry with his
lawyer. The attention of the entire room
was attracted to him as his voice became
audible
"It's me a-beip triedi it hain't you I'm
a-gwine to have q say so In this thing. You
needn't bother about it; l reckon kin make
out thout your sarvices Sam Black oaynt
git I'D thar and sw'ar he didn't sell me the
watohp'
''Silence In courtr cried the Judge.
Mr. Clark arose with an angry look and
told the Judge that, inasznnch as be and his
client were unable 30 agree on the manage
ment ot the defense, be would be obliged to
withdraw from the case Accordingly be
left the room.
A young lawyer was appointed to take Mr..
Cark's place, the jury was chosen, and the
business Of the trial proceeded Sam Black
was brought from the Jail and put under
oath He firmly denied knowing anything
Of the matter.
lobe sprang furiously to his feet, but was
Immediately pushed back into his seat by the
sheriff. The testimony adduced by the state
was strongly against the accused, and the
only witness that he had expressed any de-
sire to testify had sworn against him. The
solicitor general made a powerful, convincing
speech The young lawyer had NOT had time
to familarize himself with the case, and
though be did his best, he was no match for
the experienced state solicitor. His argu-
ment was poor, and his speech fell fiat 1t
was easy to read the conclusion these twelve
men had arrived at in their faces even before
they had left their seats to decide on YER
dict.
About an hour later they returned and pro-
uounced lobe Longley guilty, and be was
sentenced to two years Imprisonment IN the
state penitentiary. They led him TO Jail,
putting him in a cell near the one occupied
by Sam Black, leaving him with a strange,
dangerous fire in his eyes like that seen in the
orbs of wild animal brought to bay.
The next morning the jailer saw a soul
thrilling sight when he looked into Tobe's
cell. The sheets of his bed were torn and
twisted, part of which were hanging from
the iron bars overhead his chair was broken
to pieces, and he stood in corner of the
room with bruised face, hands and neck; the
half demented creature had passed the long
night in trying to hang himself. The Jail at
tendants eyed him in awe stricken silence.
They moved his bed from the room, and when
they brought his breakfast it was given TO
him without plate, knife or fork
That morning his wife came, pale and
trembling, and begged to see him. Her re-
quest was granted, but they carefully with
held all knowledge from her of her husbands
horrible attempt.
They stood face to face, only the iron bars
separating them Neither essayed to speak.
Presently she took notice of the bedless cell,
and her lips moved in horrified whisper.
lobe, haint We had no beds Whar d ye
sleeps"
''Whate' be said, sulenly, with eyes down.
cast.
"Tobe, whars yore bed thingsr' she re-
peated.
''Hain't they tor youF be answered pres
entity, after pause.
''Tor me what, TobeP"
"Why, they tuck 'em out to sun this morn
in. that's all" he said with a peculiar, cum
ming expression stealing into his face.
MANDY be continued with more voIubility,
and coming nearer TO her, MANDY, they say
they're a-gwine to start with me for the pen
itent'ry in the mornin. That's all right;
they kin, reckon, but fore go l wart to
AK you some'n. Mandy, you know my buck
horn knife 18th the long bladea It's on the
shelf nigh the Bible-ef faint thar it's
stickin' in the log t the head o our bed.
Mandy, want it, 1t hain't kaSe | intends to
do nobody any harm. | jis' kinder hate to go
off 'thout it. Its leck quittin' off tobacco
when feller's always had one in his pocket
Fetch it to me this evenin' fore dark, Mandy.
| needn't ak You anything agin-leastwise
not fur some time to come. Anyway, it's 4
small thing ter ak. Be shore IA you don't
let 'em see it; wrap it up in a handkerchief,
an poke it through to me, you hear"
She whispered her consent and left him,
making her way rapidly through the crowded
,-nIrtyard
ne shades of evening were falling over the
/, when the woman again made her APP
france at the Jail The jailer followed her
,iosely to the prisoners cell, telling her she
could not remain.
"Tobe, here's clean handkerchief" she
said in a hurriedly agitated voice, pushing a
small white roll through the bars. The look
in the prisoners face was almost demoniacal
as his fingers closed over the bundle.
ON come in the mornin' an fetch the baby