The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-22


shoes. with hardly any heels, which sail
ors eustomarilv wear.
That is enough, sir. Thank you. Take
the witness" said Mr.. Dunn, with an air
of triumph. ito the prosecuting attorney"
That official did not seem to care about
taking the witness. He knew that it was
a master in the art OF cross-examnaiion
who was thus lightly turned over 10 him,
and had no hope of entrapping him or
shaking his testimony. Still, he had to
make some show.
IndifferentIv ne asked: "Of course YOU
have no idea OF who the old man in the
boat was?"
ITO the best OF nv information and be-
lief, his name was Jabez Sanborn.
asked him and that was what he told me-"
Jabez Sanborp Why, everybody
around sag Hsrbor knew about him; a
shy old man, reputed a missr, who lived
with lad. his grandson, in . hut in the
woods and was known to he addicted to
wandering al along the coast at night. in
a little fishing smack. on errands best
known to himself Yes, the most likely
man in the world to be met under Just
such circumstances was old Jabez SAN
born And the least likely man to hear
that murder trial was going on IN which
he might be an important witness-or
perhaps to care If he had heard twas
also Old Jabez Sanborn. The prosecuting
attorney felt that he had not drawn a
trump that time at least. While he cast
about mentally for something else that he
might ask the witness. with at least the
minimum of harm to his side of the case,
a startling diversion occurred 10 interrupt
the proceedings.
Old Peter Van Deust. who had been sit
ting near the prosecuting attorney and
directly in front of the witness, suddenly
sprang to his feet. walked up to Mr.. Hol-
den, clutched with trembling fingers the
seal that dangled from his watch-guard.
and, after examining it a moment. cried
shrilly:
Its all lie All a cunning made up
story He is an accomplice of the assas-
| sin This was Jacobs seal. I'll swear
| to il"
Almost everybody had jumped up In
the excitement of this interruption, even
| the sedate judge was standing. leaning
over the desk TO get better view of what
was going on before him but below his
range of vision. aud there was a deaiening
| chorus OF EXPLANATIONS from all sides; but
| above all arose the sharp voice OF Peter
| Van Deust, crying
| ARREST him arrest him. l demand
| the arrest OF this man as an accomplish
The only tranquil person in the assem-
| blage was Mr.. Peiatiah Holden. He was
! surprised at his clients outbreak, but only
for moment. Then, blandlv saying to
the almost mad old man who stood before
| him, shaking long, lean finger in his
face, Mr.. Peter Van Deust. you seem to
be excited"
He very calmly drew his watch from his
fob-pocket and. with the seal attached to
it, passed it up to the judge. The seal
was heavy, square ONYX, with foul an
| Choir engraven on one eide.
I'D swear TO it among a thousand"
shrieked old Peter. at belonged to my
father when he was in the navy. He left
it to brother Jacob. 1t was stolen by the
thief who murdered him."
The Judge raped his gavel until order
was restored in the courtroom. and old
Peter had been fairly dragged down into
a seat by the prosecuting attorney. who
was nearest him, after which, addressing
the witness, he asked:
"How did this seal come into your pos
sespion, MIR. Holden?"
Every simply, your honor. But before
| relate how permit me to request your
honor to issue strict iniunctions TO the
officers at the door to permit nc exit from
this courtroom or communication by
those within to persons on the outside"
The Judge was evidently surprised but
the respect for the Well-known and hon.
ored Mr. Holden was sufficient to induce
him to comply with the request without
asking its reasons. When the necessary
instructions had been issued to the court
officers, Mr. Holden resumed:
about three weeks ago, while | was
taking lunch one afternoon ct Windust's-
very popular and we'll conducted restaur-
ant on Park Row, Now York-a young man
came TO the box in which was seated and
offered this seal for sale l am, as a rule,
averse to the purchase OF personal proper
tv from unknown persons and in an irreg-
ular way, but this young man told a mel
ancholy story of his present need fox
money for the sake OF a widowed mother
and sister said that the seal had belonged
TO his father who was a naval officer and
asked for the article a price that was al
least its full value That influenced me
TO purchase it. | reflected that if it had
been stolen it would have been. in all
probability, offered at a cheap price to eff
feet ready disposal OF it, whereas il he
really needed money. as he said for his
mother and sister and the thing honestly
belonged to him, he would naturally try
to get "a much as he could. So l gave him
Sl7 for it and have since worn it."
"W hat" asked the Judge, was your
reason for requesting the careful tyling oi
the doors before making that statement
Mr.. Holden"
Because l recognized today, in the
courtyard without. as was entering this
building. the young man from whom
purchased this sea-"
"You believe So"
al am certain of it. If your honor will
permit an officer 10 accompany me. l be-
lieve that l will be able to bring him be-
fore YOU in a few moments. When l saw
him he was seated at the root of an elm
tree near the door, and alone"
An officer was directed to accompany
Mr.. Holden and they went out together
by the private staircase. The curious
thrOng in the courtroom, unwilling K
lose single incident of the eventfu
, drama unfolding Itself before them, strug
gled hard to get out and follow the Officer
and his guide but were not allowed to dC
so, and returned to their seats with @ sense
OF injury. Everybody was intensely ex
cited. The prosecuting attorney leaning
over the judges bench held long anC
} earnest conversation with him. The pris
oner and his counsel whispered to
' gether. The jury jabbered to each otheI
so that even the idiotic-looking one among
t them seemed to awake to an interest IL
the proceedings.
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