Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-15

u
there being no witnesses 10 be called on
behalf OF the prisoner, the Jud - pro-
Ceeded to sum up the evidence at con-
siderable length.
Having laid stress on the prisoners
eyi tenC wish to avoid being sen at the
Red Hall on the night OF the murder.
ne drew attention to the Do >itive proof
OF her having entered Mrs. Eyre room.
that the scrap OF torn cjo,hing affur led
10 the fact OF the bloc i-stained knife
that undoubtedly committed the crime
being found in her possession; to her
extraordinary silence (save for an IN
voluntary cry of terror when confront
ed by the gardener), and her disappear
ance from the nelghhOCh00d for the
space Of two DAYS and nights.
Inc defense set up by her counsel he
would characterize as an ingenious
theroY that there was. unfortunately
not one jot or little OF evidence TO sup
port: as sketch of what might have
happened it was effective. but as the
jury had TO deal with facts. not gueSSeS,
the sooner they forgot that little bit of
romance-readingt the better.
Iue evidence OF the tramp was an
other matter, and indirectly in her
favor. as il pointed to the existence of
some hitherto unsupported person. who
had gained access to Mrs. Eyre'S room
that night; though twas incOnceivable,
II such were the case, that the prisoner
should so Immediately obtain posses
sion o. the instrument Of the murder,
and preserve so lndeXible a silence as
10 the nhuman deed committed on
lady she prOteSSed TO have deeply loved
Inc jury must not permit themselves
either TO D6 influenced IN her favor by
the fact that she had for months reSid-
ed III The village, and ma lie not attempt
to poison Mrs. Eyre'S mind against her
husband. Mr.. Eyre had assured them.
that she had distinctly threatened to
harm his wife on the very day Otthe muir
der; though motives of policy, and.
doubtless, some regard for her reputa-
tiOn, had hitherto kept he. silent. since
she had all to lose. and nothing % gain.
by declaring the truth.
JHe . udTe'S SumminT-u lasted some
twenty minutes longer, but was dis
tlnctly UnfayOrable to the prisoner,
possibly because he saw thatmOre than
half of the jurymen were strongly pre-
JUDGED in her favor. At Il quarter to
twelve they retired, and the Judge left
his seat to read the morning papers,
half hoping that Mr.. Eyre might join
him; for, us man, his sympathy was
entirely with his old friend, whom he
did not consider more guilty than 9th
ers, though decidedly more unfortun-
ate.
But Mr.. Eyre, in obedience to a scrib-
Oled note from the Duchess, had gone
round to where she sat, and, in the
grasp OF her hand, met the first cordial
support he had known for DAYS. The
Duchess's heart had thrilled at the evil
dence of Mr.. Eyre's positive hatred of
the prisoner; he mad not been so cold to
her. and Madcap was dead.
The Duke received him cOldly. Hes
ter'S behavior in the dock had produced
a profOunded impression on him, as on
many others. He thought that in
nobility she showed almost equally with
Frank; and his whole soul went forth
in admiration to the young fellow whose
seif-sacrltica, herOically persisted in to
the last, had ensured Madcap's happi-
ness to the very end.
Mr.. Eyre cOnverSed on Indifferent
topics, asking some particulars as to
the Dukes shooting, and inquiring of
the Duchess what might be her plans
for the winter.
she thought him very little tered by
his loss, knowing that strong excite
ment, and certainty that Hester would
be found guilty, and Madcap avenged,
sustained him.
The first shock to this conviction came
when the jury, at the end of half an
hour, re-entered the court.
The Judge resumed his seat. Mr.
Eyre unconsciOusly clinched his bare
hand till blood sprang from the finger
nails, as the clerk put the usual ques-
ton to the foreman Of
Guilty, Or not guilty?"
ave can't agree"
Then you may retire." said the
Judge, land the prisoner be removed,
and brought up again for SENTENCE
and angrily jerking his robes about him,
he withdrew.
Mr.. Eyre stood rigid, then, exclaim-
ing, "Dolts! fOols!-they can't hesitaue!"
left the Duchess without word.
Meanwhile Frank, who had caught
from Hester, in the very act of removal,
a look impossible to be misunderstood,
had left the court AMI, after some diff
Guilty, succeeded in obtaining an inter-
view with her, limited to one quarter
of an hour.
He found her walking swiftly to and
ness of the face she turned upon him
as he entered.
"They're hesitating!" she said; 81
didn't think they Would-but they may
bring me in guilty, and it's best to face
it, only it seems harder than [ reckOned
on; and there's her baby up there, and
no mother to tend it-and if her death
lies at my door for the wicked words [
spoke to him that day, I'd like to live,
and work it out; but understand now
why Janet was so ready and willing to
die-when ones blind tired, and got
nothing worth waking up for, it's nat
ural to want to sleep; but | shall be
wanted, and she would have wished me
to stop. [ think you guessed" she
went on, with wan smile; chow / |
meant to steal my idol, and take him
from his mother, and now God has |
stolen him, and laid him in her arms
it was only for little while she was
left without him."
'Hester'' he cried. "why won't you |
speak: clear yourself, for Gods sake, if |
you are innocent-tell all that you
know of that fatal night"
IF | am innocent? You stayed away,
but [ never thought you believed me
guilty. When you've loved some one
dearly, and had misunderstanding
with her, and made it up again, and
kissed one another, could you find it in
your heart to kill herr" said Hester,
with quivering lips. Il didn't mean to
opcdh, LII JuSU NOIhIHS ~ OuC-lly
Wickedness in saying what [ did to him;
she'd be alive now may be but for that"
What did you say to him." cried |
Frank, Selling her arm, a horrible fear
born of her looks and words, turning
him pale as ashes. She tore herself |
away, and fell face downward on the
low pallet upon which she and Janet,
through so many miserable hours, had
sat side by side.
II can't speak," she said at last; ST