San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-04-18

some of the people thought me, | rushed
back to the temple of justice. When |
again emerged, there was in the hands of
the sheriff subpoena, calling upon the
authorities to produce one Samuel Dix as
witness in the case of State versus Ford on
the 18th day of June, 49,.
Next | went to the Jail.
MAY see the man Dix" asked.
"Shure an it's meself ID be PLACED to adj.
nit We, but rae ordhers is that shtrict Oh
da'sn't. Divil a sowl can see him the day."
was the reply.
when was he arrested"
1.-The silf same day afther his shport in
the shtore."
Has he bought any new clothes since
them"
"Divil rag"
THANK you. Smoker" And extended
a Havana.
"Bedad now! It's quare, but Oh do fale
an appetite fur the same"
| shouted, laughed, sang and acted so
eXtravagantly on my way home that old
Aleck was actually Mortified heard him
tell Aunt Phina after our arrival that
''Massa Harry was so sorry fob Nassa Nat
he done tuck drap too much, an twas
mighty juberous whedder he'd be able to
talk to dem lawyeh fellahs termorry."
tried to inspire Nat with my hope with
out telling him the grounds on which it
was based, but to no purpose. dared not
tell him my plan, lest at the last moment
it should fail. He thought was feigning
cheerfulness which did not feel.
Not. wink did l sleep that night, but
lay awake perfecting my plan for the NOR
row. 1t was desperate one, but the more
| thought of it the more was convinced
that could pursue it successfully.
The hour of the trial came and with it
nervousness on my part before unknown.
Nat was by far the cooler when we faced
the vast throng assembled to hear so cele-
brated a case. A stranger would have
taken me to be the culprit.
a quick glance over the sea of faces
showed me many | had known in other
days, but the one which made my pulses
tingle was that of the gigantic Dix, closely
guarded by the sheriff.
Amid deathly silence the proceedings be-
gan. The prosecutor stated the case clear
ly and concisely, dwelling at length on the
enormity of the crime, and producing a
noticeable impression on both jury and
spectators.
The examination of witnesses began.
Aleck, Aunt Pima and Hetty told their
stories trying all they could to shield Nat.
None of the Others knew anything of the
case.
The spectators stared, the lawyers
nudged each other, and even the Judge
looked surprised as | declined to cross
| question witness after witness. At length
the prosecution was through, and the de-
Tense was instructed to call its first wit
| ness
Samuel Dix" called.
Samuel Dix" yelled the deputy.
Dix came forward unhesitatingly and
took the stand.
Nervousness was with me now thing of
the past. | felt cooler, clearer, stronger,
than for many day as faced him.
"Mr. Dix, do you know the prisoner"
asked.
YES" he answered.
"Do you know where he lives"
eyes"
"Were you ever there@
No" He answered quickly and trifle
uneasily.
"You were never there after night!"
what in thunder d | go there fur?
No, wasn't" This very irrtably.
Where were you, Mr.. Dix, on the night
of the 10th of this month";"
He paled slightly, then answered, with
the peculiar twinkle Of cunning in his eyes
which | had noticed on the day before,
"Doin some shoppin down It the store"
"Tell the jury just how you did that bit
of shopping"
II object" yelled the prosecutor.
"Mr. Gray,"I answered, 81 did not oh
ject once this morning, though you asked
many irrelevant questions. You might al
low me one privilege"
81 withdraw my objection, your honor"
said he.
"Now, Mr., Dix, go on with your story"
said |.
And again, as he told of that midnight
robbery, came into his eyes that CLEAN of
suppressed eXultatiOn.
As he finished made sign to an officer
who, with an assistant, brought into count
the door from the store.
"NOw, Mr.. Dix" said |, "show the jury
lust how you opened this door"
He stepped forward promptly. saying
with broad smile:
"W'y jist put my hand'-
He put his hand to the hole in the door
as he spoke but broke off of a sudden
turning deathly pale.
$50 on. Mr.. Dix; show the jury how you
put your hand in and unbolted the door"
Great Godr' he groaned, and his face
became clammy.
The hole was too small to admit his
handl
Again made sign to the officer and he
brought in two planks from the floor of the
piazza at Winthrop Place
"Mr. Dix, if you have never been at Win
throp Place tell the jury how it happens
that these heel prints were found on the
piazza there. Also tell them who scratched
your hands in that manner"
He sank half fanting into a chair, COW