New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-02-06
although your friends life may depend up
or, that word Il

s
although your friends life may depend up
on that unspoken word, you will not speak
i it. Do not realize that this sllence-this
suppression of the truth-may launch Percy
Hinton into eternity
4 drew it strong because had a purpose
/ in it. felt certain she knew something
vital to the defense of my client, and be-
4 lieved there was just one way to get at it
| by an appeal to her emotions
The sequel proved that had not miscalcu-
lated, for when ceased speaking, she was
sobbing violently.
God forbid that should be his slayer'
cried she. II will tell all-for his sake!n
/ Then tell me what you saw
II saw the crime committed! I saw the
| person who struck the fatal blow! ~
ssYou?n I gasped, in astonishment ssHow
/ came you, at that late hour, to be upon the
street in that locality?
i She started violently and turned deadly
| pale I half expected she would faint but
she managed, by herculean effort, to once
more compose herself.
That is something must decline to ex-
plaln,'' she answered. I saw the deed com
mitted; let that suf1ice2n
'tBy whom?'
| i
sIt was not Percy Hinton?''
s'No; it was not he.n
did you know the murderer?
s'Yes.n
| 'Would you recognize him were you to
see him again:''
sYes.''
Have you seen him since the crime was
committed9n
| Eyes; several timesO
'tWhere?n
Il am not privileged to state. This, how
ever, will say; lam certain as to his identi-
| ty, for know him intimately. Il is not
necessary to say more.''
| 'sWill you repeat what you have told me
upon the witness ST.
| She stopped me with a Mortified gesture.
Your promise! Remember your prom
| ise!' she cried, wildly. 81 will not go up
on the witness stand I must cut no figure
In this case, whatever
sank back aghast. For the moment
had really forgotten my rash pledge
| What could l do-what defense could I
establish without her testimony?
rs there no way for admitting this
evidence through another source?n I
inquired. care there any other witnesses
who could bring out the facts you have mar
| rated?'
| "No person besides myself knows any
thing concerning the case. You must get
along without this testimony
"Imposslble!' cried. sit would be utter
madness to go into court with so fimsy a
defense You have it within your power
to save him; with your testimony Percy
Hinton will be hangedn
| "If, by giving up my own life, could save
his, would do it; but when you ask me to
publicly recite what I have told you, you
! ask an impossibility.''
| So saying, she arose, and at the
same time drew role of bank notes from
her reticule and placed them upon the table
| before me-
"Here is your retainer she continued
s'Spare no pains in preparing your defense;
save my friends life, for he IS innocent,
and under no circumstances be unmindful
of your promise. If you succeed, you shall
be literally rewarded
She turned abruptly and walked toward
the door, butt called her back
| "You have not yet told me your name, y
j said.
81 prefer not to make it KNOWN
"But desire to consult with you,
and, in that event, would require your adj
| dress.''
'You must get along without it," she re-
! Piled and glided out Of the room like a
shadow
! I sat like one benumbed for fully a
] moment after her abrupt departure, quite
incapable of realizing just what course to
! pursue
| What seemed most to require attention
was the generous roll of bills lying before
me, which l eagerly counted and tucked
snugly away in my pocket; then I settled
down to profound study of the case.
saw nothing in it to inspire hope; but
was not wanting in ambition and energy in
those days, and resolved to do my best to-
| ward earning the liberal fee my visitor had
paid me.
After a brief review of my notes, set
out for the jail, to have talk with the ac-
cused.
| found him to be a bright, handsome
young fellow, evidently well bred, and in no
wise bearing the stamp of a hardened char
acter. There was an air of candor about him,
too, and an honest expression in his clear,
blue eyes that impressed me favorably from
] the very first.
I told him had been retained by his
friends to defend him, and requested a de-
tailed statement of his side of the case
There is little to tell'' he said, gloomily,
ssand that little is all against me'
! He then related the incidents of his quar-
rel with the murdered man, and, in no par
1 ticular degree, added to the story told by
the young lady His explanation of the
events just prior to the crime, however, was
new to me.
Later in the evening" said he, several
young men and myself, among the number
/. Horace Vancourt my employers son, left
the club in rather hilarious condition, and
started up the street together. ! 1 had drank
a little more than was good for me, and,
urged on by certain remarks of young Van
court, wagged my tongue rather freely
about my employer. OF course meant
nothing desperate, and hardly gave my ut
terances second thought. About midnighJ
we came to a point where our various ways