Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-08

that escaped her, hadsbeen at the hor-
rible sensation she experienced on feel
ing the pressure of some person at the
foot of the ladder; and if she had fought
wildly. 1t had not been for fear on her
own account, but on that of another
person. The evidence of the man Dig
ges as to the precise moment in which
he heard the scream. was confused. and
not to be trusted; his rotations in the
kitchen having muddled his wits. so
that he was not able to swear if the cry
preceded, or followed. his grip on the
ladder.
And now to examine the evidence
that had been offered of her wish to
steal the child of the deceased: could a
more improbable time pOSsiblyhave been
selected than that of nigh upon midni yht;
and in what way could the mother. re-
tired to rest in the opposite wing, have
hindered that plan, or interfered with
it? She had unrestricted access to him,
could have carried him away at any
hour Of the day she willed; and it was
inconceivable that she should have
chosen this hour OF the night to drag
from his warm bed, the little lad that
she so passiOnately loved.
There are motives of jealousy which
lllSllSdlC uICIl anu w OIIlCu W Vic SOtl-
mission of murder. of hatred and re-
venge of avarice and plumber. that may
spur them to deeds of WickedneSs; but,
as to the prisoner, what motive of
hatred had she to Mrs. Eyre: BY her
successful rivals death she gained
nothing-the ashes upon stOne-cold
hearth were not colder than the heart
of the man who had made her his toy,
and crushed her under foot. The child S
love was already hers, and should she
forfeit that by deed foreign to every
natural trait that she had hitherto
shown? The idea was prpposterous.
when all her antecedents had gone to
prove that she regarded with love and
pity the woman who had SupplanteU
herl"
That is true, land woman's voice
rang through the COURT loved her,
and she loved me; the very day she died,
she kissed me'
1t was from the prisoner at the bar
that those few passionate words came;
and the Judge, eying the jury carefully,
knew that an effect had been produced
on them that it would be difficult to I'M
do.
Mr.. Eyre started violently at Haster's
words, then shook his head, and stood
statue of incredibly that tempered
the excitement of those who glanced at
him; he was in himself so impregnable,
that these words foated about linn
light as wind.
But when Nature speaks, man stops
to hearken; and her simplest words are
truth, while his utmost arguments are
sophistries.
Gentlemen Of the jury" cried Hes
ter's counsel, selling his golden oppOr-
tunity; Il leave this sOrely tried, help
less woman in your hands, certain that
you will show justice, and, if you have
human hearts in your breasts. mercy
toward one who has been most inhu-
manly treated. To you it is given to
quench forever the light of this noble
soul, or to permit her little space of
existence upon earth, in which to re-
pent the thoughtless sin of her youth.
AS fathers, brothers, husbands, your
every chivalrOus instinct must be rOus-
ed on behalf of this woman, who has
been pursued by so immoderate
a hatred on the part of the man to
whom she has sacrificed herself so
splendidly; and if her reticence from
one look or word that could eliminate
him does not stir you to that admira-
ton and sympathy that a noble deed.
firmly persisted in, must evoke from
every heart, then you are not fitted 10
judge of the rapidly moving drama of
passions that this extraordinary case
has revealed.
"Gentlemen,-mine has bean q haz-
ardous and awful task, but one far more
awful lies before you, for upon its issue
hangs that which may either haunt Won
to the remainder of your life. thrusting
itself between you and the faces of your
fellow men, and condemning you before
the judgment seat of God, in that you
have lightly destroyed human soul;
or your conviction of the innocence of
the woman before you, will find tongue
willreturn to you as memory that shall
smooth the path which leads you to
your Makerl"