Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-16

the case TO De Ir1cu on the IlOTIOWs
The prisoner was led back to his cell
AS passed the store which Dix had
robbed curiosity prompted nle to stop
and take look at the scene Mechan-
ically I pushed my hand through the
hole where the thief had thrust his on
that eventful night AS I did so a
thought struck me-a thought so mover,
so strange. so exciting that could not
have been more agitated if the bolts 1
touched had been heavily charged with
electricity.
+. Like an insane man, as l verify be- |
lieve some of the people thought me, |
l rushed back to the temple OF Justice |
When 1 again emerged, there was in |
the hands of the sheriff a subpoena, |
calling upon the authorities to produce
one Samuel Dix as witness in the case
of state vs. Ford on the 25th day of
June, 1877.
Not a wink did sleep that night, but
lay awake perfecting my plan for the
morrow. 1t was a desperate one. but
the more 1 thought of it the more 1 was
convinced that 1 could pursue it sue
cessfully.
The hour of the trial came, and with
it nervousness on my part before I'M
known Nat was by far the cooler
when we faced the vast throng assem-
bled to hear so celebrated case
stranger would have taken me to be the
culprit.
Amid deathly silence the proceedings
| began The prosecutor stated the case
clearly and concisely, dwelling at
| length on the enormity of the crime,
and producing a noticeable impression
on both jury and spectators
L
| Aleck, Aunt Pima and Hetty told their
stories, trying all they could to shield
Nat None of the others knew any
thing 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 defense was instructed to call
it's first witness
Samuel Dix" called
| samuel Dix!. yelled the deputy.
Dix came forward unhesitatingly and
took the stand.
| Nervousness was with me now a
thing of the past 1 felt cooler, clearer,
stronger, than for many day, as
faced him
.sMr. Dix, do you know the prisoner?''
I asked.
''Yes," he answered.
"Do YOU know where he liveS?~
Eyes"
'Were you ever there?'
NO" He answered, quickly and a
trihe uneasily.
"You were never there after night?'
What in thunder'd 1 go there furi
No, I wasn't" This very irritably.
"Where. were you, Mr.. Dix, on the
night of the tenth of this month";
He paled slightly, then answered
with the peculiar twinkle of cunning il
his ewes which had noticed on the day
1 before: "Doin' some shorpin' down
5 the store"
Tell the jury just how you did tina
: bit Of shopping"
ct object.7 yelled the prosecutor.
7 "Mr. Gray I answered, 81 did no
e object once this morning, though yo1
o asked many irrelevant questions, Yo'
might allow me one privilege
S 81 withdraw my objection, your hon
or" said he
T s.Now, Mr.. Dix, go on with you
story" said L
And again, as he told of that midhigh
e robbery, came into his eyes that CLEAR
of suppressed eXultation.
e AS he finished 1 made a sign to a
d officer, who, with an assistant, brougf
J. into court the door from the store.
l. Now, Mr.. Dix said L, ''show tn
It jury just how you opened this door"
It He stepped forward promptly, saying
n with broad smile:
,r "W'y, fist put my hand
IS He put his hand to the hole in til
rs door as he spoke, but broke off OF
e. sudden, turning deathly pale
er go on. Mr.. Dix; show the jury no
at You put your hand in and unbolted tt
r. door,
ID ssGreat Cod" he groaned, and his ia,
ed became clammy.
ly The hole was too small to admit h
" hand!
or Again made a sign to the office
or and he brought in two planl&s from tt
he floor of the piazza at Winthrop place.
.'Mr Dix. if you have never been
,-- Winthrop place tell the jury how it ha
- pens that these heel prints were four
ha on the piazza there. Also tell the
&c who scratched your hands in that ma
~, ner..
~ He sank half fainting into a chai
- covering his face with his hands AS
30 did so, made a sign to the officer, wi
n drew off one of DiX's shoes. On t.
- heel was plate IN the form OF a hors
IL shoe, corresponding exactly to the il
rs preston on the plank.
"a ''Caught-caught at last!" groan
n Dix, shaking as with chill
''~i 'Do you confess to this murder?"
demanded
M Lord help me, yes! 1 done it, 1 do
APP it, but plead guilty to the other
ire keep it hid" he Jnuttered.
'as ''rhat is my case, your honor" Sd
'p 1, and sat down.
los For a full minute there was silen'
Ut THE prisoner is discharged. and t
OH court congratulates him." said
CO Judge.
1 Then, in spite of calls for order, t
EN- throng cheered till the windows rattl
mo Nat, who had been so brave all alol
tly laid his head on the desk and sobt
aloud
de- Dix afterward told US where he b
irt concealed the money and papers, a
ing they were all recovered He also q
fessed that he had found Mats scarfl
as on Mr.. Winthrop's dressing table, a
'ie. had himself put it inside the dead ma
collar in order to fasteu suspicion
the Nat