The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-11-04

| tuht tuc youuS uhu WhS ouy tuiuH out
| the best and most dutiful son that had
ever lived. He has kepc him supplied
with money, so that the fellows only
reason for the petty thievery he had
was pure love for stealing. He has
! paid his fines when he has been arrested
and shielded him from public contempt
and done everything possible 70 make II
easy for him TO be honest and respecta-
BILE. But the boy has steadily gone on,
they say, from bad to worse, and now
he has capped it all with this crime,
which, in willful and unproyoked bru-
! tality, was worthy of criminal
hardened by twice his years and expert.
ence.
He and another young blade sbout as
bad AN he is, though this one seems 10
have been the one who planned il and
led in the execution, went to the house
Of an old man, who lived alone little
farther up in the foothills toward the
Yosemite valley, and asked TO be allowed
to stay all night. The old man took
them in, got supper for them, made them
as comfortable as he could, and in the
night they got up and murdered him,
stole all his money--he had just sold
some horses and cattle TO the prisoners s
father-and were preparing TO skip the
country and go to Australia when they
were arrested.
"The things not been absolutely
proven on young Hopkins yet, but the
circumstancial evidence is 80 plain that
even If there is nothing else don't see
how he's going to escape the rope. I've
just heard a rumor, though, that there's
20 be some new evidence this afternoon
which will settle the matter without a
doubt"
The room rapidly filled up, and as we
waited for court to open the newspaper
man pointed out one and another hale
old man whose clear eyes and fresh skin
belied his years, and told tales OF his
daring forty years before, Of the wealth
he had dug from the earth, and of the
And at last came the prisoner and his
father. The old mans figure was tall,
erect, broad -chestci and muscular, and
his bearing proud and reserved.
'Tm always half expecting to see that
old man get up" the newspaper man
whispered TO me, "fold his arms across
that great chest OF his and say Rom
mus sum- and then proudly lead his son
away"
He must have been siXty-iivc years old
or more. though he looked twenty years
younger. His dark hair and beard were
only sifted with gray, and he held him.
self so erectly and with such dignity,
and all the lines Of his countenance ex-
pressed such force and nobleness OF
character that the suggestion of his APP
pearance was of the strength of middle
age.
But the boy was a painful contrast.
His eye was shifty. his expression weak
and sensual, and the hard lines of his
face and the Indifference Of his manner
told the story OF man old in criminal
thoughts if not in years and deeds.
For he looked no more than twenty five,
and might have been even younger.
The father sat nea- him, and although
they seldom spoke together he frequent
ly by some small act or apparently un-
conscious movement showed tenderness
and affection for the wayward son that
seemed all the greater 10y contrast with
his own proud reserve and the boys
hardened Indifference.
The new testimony was brought in.
The Sheriff had set a go between at work
with the two prisoners, and with his aid
had secured copies OF all the notes they
at once began writing to each other. In
these letters which were all produced in
court, they had freely discussed their
crime and argued about the points
wherein they had made mistakes. Young
Hopkins had boosted to the other that
they need not fear conviction because
his father would certainly get them
clear, and they had planned what they
would do after the trial was over, fore
casting with joyful anticipations a course
OF crime and debauchery.
When the Sheriff began to give this
testimony the old mans hand was resting
affcctionately on his sons shoulder. As
it went on laying bare the utter deprav-
ity of his boys soul, the muscles Of his
face quivered little, and presently,
with just the suggestion OF flinching
shudder in face and figure he took his
band away and shrank back little from
the young man. | had wondered as
watched him if it was revelation to
him Of depth of depravity in his sons
heart of which he had not guessed be-
fore
Then the prosecution asked for a few
minutes recess, announcing that it had a
new witness To bring forward. And af.
ter much hurrging to and fro and whis-
pcring and consulting among lawyers
and court and prison officials young Hop
kins' accomplice appeared on the wit
ness stand and turned States evidence.
lie had learned of the intercepted letters,
and, frightened by their probable result
for himself, told the whole story Of the
crime from the time Hopkins had
first broached il to him until they were
arrested in San Francisco. And during
the entire narration of the cold -hlooded,
brutal and cowardly deed ol Dan Hop.
kins sat with his eyes on the witness as
steady aud untlinching in color and
nerve and muscle rs il he had been lis
tening 10 lecture or sermon
At last il was all over. the Jury listened
to the Judges charge and filed out. ats
harging, sure, " said the newspaper man.
after that evidence and that charge