The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-09-02
'Stand up" said the clerk to the

A~ AOAAAA ohu oLOOu
with folded arms, a fragile yet intrepid
Ajax defying the lightning. But, oh,
it was dark about him; if there might
be but a single ray of sympathy, then
he could endure. The court officer at
the little gate vas naturally more in
terested in the proceedings than in his
| duty. He moved forward, and Patty
slipped within the rail.
Let the prisoner look upon the jury;
let the jury look upon the prisoner"
continued the clerk. Gentlemen of
the jury, have You agreed upon your
verdict?"
The foreman dropped his hat and
folded his o%vercoat and struggled to his
feet. In that silent instant of suspense
there wa a futtering sound, and Patty
flew to her old playmate's side. She
threw n arm about his neck, and
stood with the other extended toward
the jury box like a guardian angel per-
forming her mission. She appraised her
face glowing with the light of love, and
Tommy bent his head and kissed her
tremulous lips.
1--WE have" answered the foreman.
I'VE find the prisoner"-but here arose
confusion. From the seats behind him,
aroused into action by the touching
tableau, Nos. Z and 8 sprang forward on
either side, both noisy, incoherent and
indignant. From the spectators space
an ancient fury with blazing eyes and
twitching fingers was menacingly ad-
| vancing.
silence! Orderr." cried Judge Green
goods, rapping sharply, and the crier
reiterated his command. The bailiffs
rushed to their posts. One caught the
grandmother at the little gate and
forced her back; another gently placed
Patty in a chair. but she leaned against
the prisoner and chung to his hand and
anointed it with her tears. Once
more the silence of suspense prevailed.
Eve find him guilty, your honor"
blurted the foreman. ''Or at least l
thought we did; but these two gentle
men seem to object"
Then again there was confusion.
The district attorney, his assistant, the
defendants counsel were on their feet
together and talking at once.
"Sit down." Numbered Judge Green
goods. 'Mr. Clerk. poll that jury
Guilty" answered the foreman in
response to his name, and guilty an
swered the succeeding five. Then came
No. rs turn. he sprang forward, apo.
plectic with determination t. express
himself and for once unconscious of his
own personality. Not guilty." he
screamed, land I've been trying to say
so ever since we retired"
Then No. 8 deliberately set each foot
in place and arose. Your honor" he
said, II am thoroughly convinced OF
the defendants innocence, and l under
stood that we all were. l am a man,
sir, not apt to be mistaken. and there
must be some chicanery at work
here. l solemnly protest against the
verdict as given by the foreman, and /
beg to say that l am prepared to main
tain my judgment for the rest of my
natural life"
ut is evident, your honor" said
the prisoners counsel, that there has
jury be dismissed and the defendant re-
leased on his w recognizance, unless
indeed my learned brother will agree
to an order Of nolle prosequi-"
Never exclaimed the district at
torney, with an oratorical swing.
Never. l have a duty, sir, a sacred
duty that 1 owe to the people of this
great commonwealth which sustains
me-" -
There, there!" interrupted Judge
Greengoods, ''of course, of course. l
dismiss the jury and continue the case
unto the next term. The prisoner is
remanded without bail. Adjourn court,
Mr.. Crier," and with a very dissatisfied
expression comforting his regular fea-
lures Ibis honor" fastened away to
his club.
The sheriff led his prisoner away.
The lights were turned out and the
great building was left to the ghosts OF
sorrows and the echoes Of sobs. And
little Patty driving home with her
wrathful grandmother dared smile
through her tears.
But before the next term news came
of the violent death of the elder Darling
boys in a foreign land and of their prior
confession and assertion of their broth
er's innocence. The grim Jail yielded
up its captive, and the cell where muir
derers had been chained knew his guile
less nature no more. Impotent rage
increased the weight of years until they
crushed the grandmother into her
grave. The feud between the two fam
lilies wa buried with her, and over their
joint farms Patty Darling now presides
as a happy nistress.-N Y. Times.
Adams stan.