The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-09-01
A CHANGED VERDICT.
How Patty Saved Her Lover from
the 0allowa

The lights were turned low in the
courtroom, and about them slowly
circlcd the foul, heavy air, adding TO
the dimncss. Judge Grecngoods had
gone to his dinner, having announced
his intention to return at nine O'Clock.
unless summoned sooner by the agree
mcnt of the jury. The district attor-
ney had packed away the papers that
had seen their day in his green bag,
and, arm in arm with his assistant, had
strolled away, pausing now and again
10 whisper caution to bailiff, and to
receive in return more or less authen-
tic information.
The prisoner had been led over the
covered corridor-another Bridge of
Sighs-into the Jail to await his fate in
the cell where murderers were always
kept. as the great iron ring in the CEN
ter Of the floor for their better secur-
ing attested. His counsel had accom-
panied him to the stairway, and then
had turned into the Office to have a
smoke and chat as to prospects with
his friend, the sheriff.
Dubious" said that functionary,
munching at his cigar, 1.-The judge
was agiu him from the fust, and the
jury seed it."
The reporters had hurried away with
their notes, first arranging for tele-
phone calls when the verdict was
reached.
High above the judges bench ran a
gallery. At the end nearest the win
dow was door. Before this door sat a
court officer. and behind it was the
jury discussing, and so vigorously, too,
that again and anon a muffied sound
would descend to those who waited.
These were few in numbcr-the JAM
itor of the building. the clerk, who
lived out of town and had brought a
lunch with him, three or four attend
ants. the blind crier doing in his
chair. and. in the further corner of tho
spectators seats, an old woman and a
young girl The former of these two
was stiff and motionless, her features
set sternly and her eyes burning with
fierce desire. The latter was slight
and yielding She swayed from the
weakness that terror had brought on
and would have rested her head on her
companions arm had not an unrecog-
nized antipathy prevented. There and
thus they had sat throughout the day.
the matron a stone and the maiden a
reed. Finally this young girl spoke
"Grandma." she said, "why does that
man sit without that door?"
He is on guard, my child. to see that
the jury is secure and unmolested."
I. But why should they be locked up?'
I'm order that they may render a
verdict and thus punish the wicked"
But surely each one must have
known what he believed when the case
was finished. and combining them won't
cause them to change
mo. but discussion may"
'Then that would be yielding TO
other influences than that Of the evil
dence, and would be contrary to the
oath they each one took
''Some are strong and sensible, and
Others weak and foolish. 1t is proper
that the will Of the former should pre-
vail
But that wouldn't be their unani-
NOUS judgment then. and who can say
sometimes be right? Besides they must
be hungry and tired and cross. And
when people are cross they are unfair.
Oh. what dreadful thing is the law!''
what dreadful thing rather is
murder. Think of your only brother
done to death by the Barlin9s I only
wish the old days OF drawing and quar-.
tering had returned"
''Oh. do you really believe"
Believe. Don't know? Hain't the
Knowleses and the Barlings been al
odds this fifty years? Didn't the boys
quarrel at the tavern? Haven't we
heered the detectives stories and this
lads admission? What il the Others
did get away? lie was there and he
done il as much as them. And the jury
will say Swing you mark me-"
But there were two who seemed to
believe his story"
Them poor critters in the back row.
They dassent trust their own feelings
in the face Of the others DO you mind
that racket? That will settle their
doubts in short order. Now you shut
up Patty. If ! thought that one Of my
kin wouldn't rejoice in the death of ar
enemy. I'd turn her into the street
without a shawl TO her back or shoe
70 her feet"
Patty Knowles shrank still further
away from the stony bosom and ths
threatening arm, and tried to think, a
II thoughts would bring comfort II
was all too awful to be real; she mus
be dreaming; yet why could she no,
awake? Was IL true that she. with he,
grandmother. was awaiting in cour'
the verdict which should shamefully
destroy their enemy, and that enemy
her old comrade Tommy Darling? All
there were substances, not shadows
about her: her mind in its peaceful
slumbcrs had never imagined anything
so cruel, Yet he would be acquitted
how could she doubt, when the jury
men as well as she had heard his frank
simple story and had seen the cando
of his beautiful face? Had she no
watched them and detected expression,
of sympathy, Of confidence, on at leas
two of their countenances? And /
these men had once trusted would the,
dare to condemn? Then. indeed, wcr,
they not the murdcrcrs who would sla,
for relief from custody, from fatigue
or from fear Of their associates? Oh.
dreadful thing was this law which be
clouded the truth when IL was So evl