Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-06

fellow of previously good character, and
took the matter easily. He did no. seem TO
fear conviction in the least. The evidence
brought out was wholly Circumstartial, and
then ordered, and the prosecution sought
tor a motive in the killing. and found one,
as they thought, based upon a ruInor that
there was u woman III the case. The
woman, however. could not be identified
But it was. discovered in the meanwhile
That Terrell and Jack Cochran had been
deadly enemies. But Cochran wasn't
Grimett, and nothing could be proved
against Cochran. No threats of any kind
could be proved against Grimett.
and il lie had motive in
the crime that lie was charged
with the lawyers had TO prove il beyond 4
doubt. More evidence was, therefore. in
troduced against the defendant, who
listened to II with the same indifference as
as before. His attorneys did their best TO
prove his innocence, but failed.
The second jury disagreed and a third
trial was ordered by the :ron-faced Chero-
kee judge.
BY this time the current of public sentf-
ment was setting. perceptiDly against young
Grimett. Terrell was shot from behind,
and Grimett did not deny being the only
person in his rear when he received his
death shot. The crack in the wall dwindled
less and less until by this time it cut no
figure at all in the case. The third
trial came off in January following
and lasted two weeks. The testimony was
the same as before. but was strengthened
by the silent and invisible pressure of pub
lie feeling against the accused man.
The third jury disagreed, but there was
but one for acquittal.
Before the fourth and last trial came of.
two week later, II WAS reported that an eye
witness TO the crime, named Smith. had
been found. and that he would be produced
at the next trial.
Grimetts friends became alarmed and be-
gan to plan his escape. According to Cher
ohee law person cannot be imprisoned I'M
til found guilty of Il charge. and an accused
man is therefore guarded around wherever
he wishes TO spend the time until his trial.
plan ripened for Grimett's escape. His
guards were managed, and good horse
provided. Grimett was set free upon the
back Of the steed aud told 10 go. And so he
did go. but when court called the Monday
following he was on hand and answered 20
his name. His devoted friends had begged
him with one accord 10 fly.
Il am innocent" he told them, and stood
his trial.
At the fourth and last trial the eye
witness was called i'll and his testimony
settled Grimett's fate. He swore that he
saw Grimett raise himself from where he
was lying behind Terrell, present pistol
at the back of his head and fire, after which
he quietly resumed his former posture
Smith was proved to have been III the
house at the time. and his evidence WAS
not doubted. y lengthy ss-examina1ion
effected nothing. The only Offset TO this
terrible positive evidence was something
concerning the fact that a man had been
seen flying down the street just after the
shot on white horse
After a short deiberation the jury
brought in the verdict of guilty" The
stern old Judge asked Grimett if he had
anything to say why sentence of death
should not be passed upon him. For the
first time during the long series of trials
for his life the smooth cOuntcndnce of the
youthful prisoner showed emotion. He
rose to his feet, looked the Old Judge
squarely in the eye and said, in an ordinary
tone Of voice, while his young face flushed
with vehemence: Judge. l never killed Il
man i'll my life.'' That was ali
In five days from then. and according to
Cherokee law, William Grimett paid the
terrible penalty on the haugman's scatTold,
protesting his innocence TO the last.
Eleven years have passed, and William
Grimett and his fearful fate had been for
gotten, when the clerk of the court in which
he was tried was suddenly and urgently
summoned to the bedside of dying man.
He went and found Jack Cochran in his last
moments. II was at his home on Grand
river. Cochran said he had carried Il Sc
cret locked in his bosom since Arch Ter
rell's murder, that he feared would forever
damn his soul, and he wished to disclose it
to the clerk.
1T was |" said he, ''who murdered Ter
rel by shooting at him through a crack be
tween the logs of the house in which ne
was killed. | afterwards mounted my
horse, a white one. and galloped down the
street and out of town unrecognized by
anyone or account of the darkness"
And thus it was that William Grimett
paid the death penalty and died in limo
cence.