The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-20
ghe ueha palp gaele duedudau aornug april 20 1882

A quick glance over the sea Of face
showed me many | had known in othc
days, but the one which made my pulse
Jingle was that OF the gigantic Dix, closel,
guarded by the sheriff
| Amid deathly silence the proceedings be
gan. The prosecutor stated the case clear
| ly and concisely, dwelling at length on thu
| enormity of the crime, and producing
noticeable impression on both jury ana
| spectators.
The examination of witnesses began
Aleck, Aunt Pima and Hetty told theil
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 dc
Tense was instructed to cab it's first wit
ness.
Samuel Dix" called.
Samuel Dixp' 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 fves"
ayes"
"Were you ever there?"
'No" He answered quickly and trifie
uneasily.
"You were never there after night?"
"What in thunder d 1 go there fur,
No, wasn't" This very irritably.
"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"
81 object!' yelled the prosecutor.
"Mr Gray,"I answered, 81 did not OBJ
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 l.
robbery, came into his eyes that CLEAN of
suppressed exultation.
AS he finished l made sign to an officer
who, with an assistant, brought into court
the door from the store.
"Now, Mr.. Dix" said 1, "show the jury
just 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.
go on, MIR. Dix; show the jury how you
put your hand in and unbolted the door"
~Great Godp' he groaned, and his face
became clammy
The hole was too small to admit his
handi
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 faiDting into a chair, COW
ering his face with his hands. AS he did |
80 I made sign to the officer, who drew |
off one of Dix's shoes. On the heel was |
plate in the form of horseshoe, CORE |
spending exactly TO the impression on the |
plank.
"Caught-caught at lastp groaned Dix, |
shaking as with chill
"Do you confess to this murder?" 1 de- |
manded.
Lord help me, yes! I done it, I done it,
but plead guilty to the other to keep it |
hid" he muttered.
'That is my case, your honor" said l, |
and sat down. For a full minute there |
was silence.
1.-THE prisoner is discharged and the
court congratulates him." said the judge.
Then, in spite of calls to order the throng
cheered till the windows ratified. Nat,
who had been so brave all along, laid his
head on the desk and sobbed aloud
Dix afterward told Us where he had con-
,ealed the money and papers and they were
all recovered. He also confessed that he
had found Mats scarfpin on Mr.. Win
throp's dressing table and had himself put
It inside the dead mans collar ia order to
tasten suspicion on Nat.
The robbery of the store was traced to q
gang of village boys.
Dix was hanged.-Harry Howard in Ro-
nance.