Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-08-05

hao In them the peculiar CRAFTY look
Of man who Is deceiving his fellows
and IL greatly pleased thereat Bresth-
lessly he listened until the statement
was made when he electrified tho
whole court room by rising and ad-
dressing the court:
Mat please the court We might
as we'll cheese tn racket and save
trouble. I'm tn bloke as pulled tn
shanty."
His counsel was Mortified but the
judge asked sternly:
do you enter plea Of guilty"
you've said 'er. jedge. I'm tn
cove as done it."
In spite OF this confession. his eyes
seemed to mo to CLEAN with secret
satisfaction; and there played about
his mouth smile which. l thought
had in 1t touch OF pity for the stu
pidity OF mankind In general and OF
this court in particular.
As l passed the store which Dix
had robbed. curiosity prompted me to
stop 6 nd take look at the scene. Me-
chemically pushed my head through
the hole where the thief had thrust
his on that eventful night. As did
SO a thought struck me-a thought SO
novel, SO strange SO exciting. that l
could not have been more agitated II
the bolts had touched had been
heavily charged with electricity.
Like an insane man. as / verify be-
lieve some of the people thought me.
l rushed back to the temple OF JUS
tice. When l again emerged there
was in the hands Of the sheriff a sub
p9na calling upon the authorities TO
produce one Samuel Dix as a witness
In the case OF State vs. Ford. on the
Goth day OF June 1877.
The hour OF the trial came. an
with II nervousness on my part be-
fore unknown. Nat was by far the
cooler when we faced the vast throng
assembled to hear so celebrated a
case. A stranger would have taken
me for the culprit
showed me many l had known In other
days but the one which made my
pulse Jingle was that OF the gigantic
Dix. closely guarded by the sheriff.
The examination OF witnesses be-
gan. Aleck. Aunt Pima and Hetty
told their stories trying to shield Nat
Mono 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 defense was instructed to call
its first witness
Samuel Dix" called.
Samuel Dix" yelled the deputy.
Dix came forward unhesitatingly
and took the stand.
Nervousness was with me now q
thing OF the past felt cooler clear
er. stronger than for many day, as
faced him.
MIR. Dix. do you know the prison
err" asked.
Yes" he answered.
do you know where he livesP'
'Yes."
Were you ever thereP'
No" He answered quickly and q
tribe uneasily.
You were never there after nightp"
What in thunder d 60 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.
,rtth v,ao,,liar <xx,i, III 81 ,sv,c~ a..
his eyes which had noticed on the
day before: "Doin' some shoppin
down t the store"
Tell the jury just how you did
that bit of shopping"
And again as he told of that mid
night robbery came into his eyes thai
CLEAN OF suppressed exultation.
II As he finished made sign to ar
officer. who with an assistant
brought into court the door from the
store.
Now Mr.. Dix" said ]. show tn,
jury just how you opened this door. v
He stepped forward promptly. say.
ing. with broad smile:
WY, jist put my hand"
He put his hand TO the hole in thu
door as he spoke, but broke off OF ,
sudden. turning deathly pale.
Go on Mr.. Dix; show the jury
how you put your hand in and un,
bolted the door,"
Great Cod" he groaned. and hi
face became clammy.
The hole was too small to admi
his hand!
Again l made a sign to the officer
and he brought in two planks from
the floor OF the piazza at Winthrop
Place
Mr.. DIX. II you have never beef
at Winthrop Place tell the jury hov
it happened that these heel print
wero found on the piazza there
Also tell them who scratched your
hands in that manner"
He sank half fainting into a hir
covering his face with his hands. A
he did So l made a sign to the officer
who drew off one OF Dix's shoes. Oh
the heel was plate in the form OF
horseshoe corresponding exactly t.
the impression on the plank.
Caught = caught at last" groane
Dix, shaking as with chill.
do you confess to this murder7
! demanded.
Lord help me, yes! done it bu
plead guilty to the other TO keep
hid" he muttered.
THAT is my case your Honor,
said ]. and sat down.
For full minute there was silence
The prisoner is discharged an
the Court congratulates him." sal
| tho iudpe