The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-06-21

uelSHDOruOOu VI lily house Was III dill up
roar. People were determined to make me
speak had no mind to give the victory
of might of numbers against right. Until
the present moment 1 have not been placed
in aposition where my words could have
effect. / was to come to the trial any way.
l was not compelled to answer any questions
put to me by detectives previous to being
brought before the COURT
The Judge turned to the district attorney,
who rose in some embarrassment and adj
dressed the prisoner.
at is not the part of the public prose
cutor'' he said, ''ordinarily to interpose
any defense for prisoner, especially for
one whose means are as yours. 1t has been
perfectly possible for you not only to secure
the best legal talent in the city to help you,
but the court has gone so far as even to
appoint counsel, whom you have refused
to receive. The evidence against you is
overwhelming in its strength. Still,
although l am the prosecutor, it is the
province of my position to get at the whole
truth in regard to this matter, and | will
therefore ask you one or two questions. 1t
may enable you to make d clearer eXpana-
ton of your case, and may in the nature Of
the cross examination bring out more
strongly the case for the prosecution. |
will ask you, therefore, to account for your
time from seven o'clock in the evening of
Tuesday, the 18th, until three o'clock the
next morning"
Every WE'LL" responded Mr.. Brownlow,
j. q low tone, sit was about eight o'clock
len l found out definitely that Mrs.
BrOwnoW had departed. | did not want to
60 and dine alone with the friends who cx-
pected US. l should have been obliged
to explain to them my wife's absence;
therefore l remained alone at home until
eleven O'Clock smoking and expecting to see
my wife return at any minute. Then being
unable to smoke any longer, | went out
with the intention of asking whether she
had not been seen at the house of her most
Intimate friends. When l was outside the
door | reflected that she could not have
sought shelter at the house of any of the
persons whom we knew, because they
would have Immediately sent me word.
reflected that should wake up people who
had been in bed some time, and that
should make seless scandal upon the sub
ject of family quarrel, of which it was bet
ter to wait the natural solution. | strolfed
up the avenue and into Central Park. where
l wandered about a prey to sentiments.
sometimes sad, sometimes violent, and dc
not know exactly at what hour l returned
home"
"You did not dine any where then that
evcning?"
No"
did you take any measures looking
towards a discovery of your wifes where
abouts!"
''No."
"Did you notify her family of her dis
appearance or her friendsH'
Il dld not, and for the reasons that have
just now Indicated. l believed that she
would return soon and did not care to ex
pose my domestic relations to criticism O.
outsiders. That nobody has been enabled
to find out where she is or what became o
her justifies my intention upon that mat
teri
'You pretend to say that she went away
in evening dress without any other clothes 2
"That l can swear to-"
''Are you aware that Mrs. Brownlov
made will in which she bequeathed all he1
property to you"
..No sir. lam ignorant of the existenc,
of any such paper"
s'But it was written at date which pre-
cedes your wife's disappearance by a few
Gays only"
The defendant did not answer.
"You have heard the testimony concern
ing the opera cloak and the Identification .
the remains of Mrs. Brownlow. Have vol
any thing to offer u pom that subject9"
"Simply this, that l was considerable,
disturbed when the cloak was shown me
because it did seem to be evidence that som
trouble had befallen her which 1 knew no
Of AS for the body identified as that O
Mrs. Brownlow, do not believe that it wa
She There is no good evidence before tn
court to prove that it is"
s.Would you not consider the evidence q
her relatives as good for the purpose Q
Identification in this case!"
ono"
"Your honor" said the district attorne,
81 have no more questions to ask"
CHAPTER VI
The Judge turned to the prisoner an
asked if he had not any witnesses whom h
wished to have heard in his behalf. Nj
Brownlow quietly responded that ther
sufficient for him.
IF you have any thing to say to the JURY
them" said the judge, addressing the pri.
oner once more, "you have the opportunit
to do so now"
Mr.. Brownlow's address was brief: s.Ger
tlemen of the jury" s"id he, 1.-THE hazard
drawing by lot has gathered upon you
bench twelve citizens, strangers 10 eac
.pther, belonging to toe most diverse classs
and professions, each one occupied with an,
thing rather than criminal psychology, ant
badly prepared, undoubtedly, to discern tn,
true from the false or to draw the reality
from the mist of the clever sophistries O
the public prosecution, well drilled as it is
and wearing IS il does tho Judicial appare
which the prosecution renders solemn il
order to strike with better effect upon you