The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-03

| a6keQ.
BE blushed redly, and said in an
angry tone:
strong against me, and act as if they
believe me guilty but the rascals are
smart "
"Colonel," 1 said, ''they, as well
as all who read the papers, do be-
lieye you guilty but l know you are
innocent, and, what is more, lean prove
it,
"Prove It'll" said the Colonel. "But
how p
eff you will promise to give me the
case if you are satisfied with my the
ory, I will tell it to you"
e"Of course I will give you the case
if you can prove me innocent.
I then related my plan of defense,
and. when I had finished, the Colo
mel shook me joyfully by the hand,
and said: =,
"God bless you, my boy You will
save me from the gallows p
He discharged the other lawyers,
who cheerfully informed him that he
would be hung anyway, and that ne
had no chance whatever with that
young upstart for counsel, and de-
served hanging for having him. L
demanded an immediate trial, for
which the people were entirely ready.
AS you remember, the case was the
topic Of the day, and Colonel Coven-
try was thought crazy, the strongest
proof being that he had engaged me
to defend him. I received many a
cut from the papers, and altogether
my name became very well known,
though not in an enviable connection.
I enjoyed it all, confident in the bril-
liant but simple defense was to
make. [ knew the reaction would be
powerful, and those who now reviled
me would, ere long, be sounding my
praise. When [ look back on that
time, I am surprised that no one
thought of the defense was to make,
but then, is is often the simplest
points that are overlooked in the haste
to follow an unreasonable clew, whose
only recommendation sometimes is its
ingenuity.
| The trial came on; the people first
brought forward the two men who
swore to seeing Colonel Coventry
walking by the bank at half-past 8
o'clock on the night Of the murder.
Then evidence was brought to show
that the Colonel, although rich
man, was just at that time in need OF
ready money to complete aspeculation
in which he was engaged.
The last and strongest witness was
Mr.. Charles Brand. the cashier, who
| testified to the description of his as
sailant, which corresponded with that
Of my Client, and swore in the most
positive manner, that the robber had
| lost his left arm at the elbow.
This closed the testimony for the
| people, and was, indeed perfect net
work Of eircumstantial evidence. The
peoples attorney, Mr.. was a
great sportsman and betting man. So
! leaning over to him I said:
Chow much will you bet that |
will not prove my client s innocence?"
! He laughed and said:
"You can't, unless you furnish the
the man who did the deed. You havn't t
secured him, have you ?" this last in
sneering tone.
"No," was my reply !; .sbut l have
| 90 oood a vitneaa
7Tell me who your witness is, end
then may bet," he said.
s'My only witness is Mr.. Brand, the
cashier" !"
crazy"
"Well, what will you bet ?" I per
sisted.
ooh, if you are anxious to bet, I
will run up $780," he answered,
"though dislike to bet on sure
thing"
'si'll cover your bet, Isaid. "You
thinkyou have sure thing, and 80 do
| i; so weyare safe.
This little by-play passed during
the peoples testimony. l arose, and
addressed the court, saying that l had
! but one witness to call that [ might
! bring many witnesses to prove that it
was Colonel Coventry's invariable
custom tt, take walk after his din
ner, and chat he always came back by
way Of tie bank also many to prove
that the Colonel could have borrowed
on his personal note, and did borrow
in that way all the money that he
needed for his speculation but that
the one witness whom 1 was about to
call upon could and would prove, be-
yond a shadow of doubt, that the
| Colonel was not the murderer and rob-
Der.
| All the courtroom was on tiptoe of
expectation for my witness, but when
| I called MIR. Charles Brand, the muir
mur Of surprise that rippled out
through the room was ludicrous. Of
all the surprised ones, none was more
so than the cashier, so unexpectedly
called upon as an infallible witness
| in favor Of the man whom he had only
a few moments before virtually con-
demned. He came forward reluctant
ly, and stood in dazed manner while
I questioned him.
s'You are positive that it was the
right hand in which the robber held
the pistol ?"
yes" he anwered, IT am posi-
tive
"Could it not have been his left
hand ?"
"No; his left arm was gone.'
cts there no possibility Of your mis-
taking the hand p
'No; T am sure that it was the
right hand that was pointed at me. !"
By this time every one thought that
I was only trying to confuse the wit.
ness, and there were some whispered
comments on my sanity. l spoke q
few words to my clerk, who went out
returning in few moments with a
large frame covered with cloth, which
| [ placed in front of the cashier.
sNow, Mr.. Brand, wish you to
look at that without turning your
head till such time as l tell you.
Having acceeded to my wish, he sat
down attentiyelv STUDYING Sle black