Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-06-25

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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.
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 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
its first witness.
Samuel Dix" | called
Samuel Dix" yelled the deputy.
Dix came forward unhesitatingly and
took the stand.
Nervousness was with me now n
thing of the past. felt cooler, clearer,
stronger, than for many a day, as |
faced him,
"Mr. Dix, do you know the prisoner?"
| asked.
yes" he answered.
"Do you know where he lives2"
"Yes."
Were you ever there?"
"No." He answered, quickly and a
tritle uneasily.
'You were never there after night?"
"What in ~thunder'd | go there fur?
No, l wasn't" This very irritably.
Where were you, Mr., Dix, on tho
night of the tenth of this month";"
lie paled slightly, then answered,
with the peculiar twinkle of cunning in
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
81 Object yelled the prosecutor,
"Mr. Gray" answered, ~ did not
object once this morning, though you
asked many irrelevant questions. You
might allow me one privilege"
Il withdraw my objection, your hon.
or" 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 cxultation.
As he finished | made a sign to an
officer, who, with an assistant, brought
into court the door from the store.
Nov, Mr.. Dix" said !, "show the
jury Just how you opened this door"
He stepped forward promptly, saying,
with a 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 God" he groaned, and his face
became clammy,
The hole was too small to admit his
hand!
Again | made a 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 al
Winthrop place tell the jury how it hap
pens that these heel prints were found
on the piazza there. Also tell them
who scratched your hands in that man
ner."
He sank half fainting into a chair,
covering his face with his hands. As he
did so, made a sign to the officer, who
drew off one of Dix's shoes. On the
heel was a plate in the form of II horse
shoe, corresponding exactly to the i'm.
preston on the plank.
"Caught-caught at last" groaned
Dix, shaking as with a chill.
500 you confess to this murder?" I
demanded.
Lord help me, yes! done it, | done
iN' '"p 4 PlSdu Bu'lug w VIC OUilCi W
keep it hid" he muttercd.
THAT is my case, your honor" said
|, and sat down.
For a full minute there was silence.
"The prisoner is discharged, and the
court congratulates him." said the
judge.
Then, in spite of calls for 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
concealed the money and papers, and
they were all recovered. He also con-
fessed that he had found Mats scarfpin
on Mr.. Winthrop's dressing table, and
had himself put it inside the dead mans
collar in order to fastcn suspicion on
Nat.
| The robbery OF the store was traced
to a gang of village boys, Dix was
hanged.-lIarry Howard, in N. Y. Ad.
ynrticar