The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-08-09
CHAPTER III.
A PROSECUTORS NARRATIVE

PROSECUTORS NARRATIVE
Two years after Albert Dawers had
told mo the story of his betrothal with
MOa BarriOs, she was on trial on q
charge of murder, and it was l who
had brought her to the bar of justice.
The beautiful young woman flashed
across the court at me look of scorn
and contempt when We encountered
each others gaze, at the opening of
the proceedings. Yet l, who mad made
these wholly conscientious efforts to
hang her that seemed certain to be
crowned by success, felt that however
much | might deserve her detestation,
l in no sense was other than a procurer
of just punishment. Nevertheless, |
pitied her. Beside her sat Albert,
visibly anguished by the sorrow
through which she had brought him.
1t wa. but a tragic variation of the old
story of Enoch Arden, only this Enoch,
in the person of Henry Mercer, did no:
steal away, leaving her to happiness.
but lemained to be- speedily removed
by her hand, unless all things in heav-
en- and eartl lied against her Still. l
felt for the first time sorry for my
work, when that look of hers, in which
spoke a virile innocence so sure Of it.
self as easily to afford contempt, flashed
upon some inner consciousness of mine.
leaving outside it the brain that had
already tried anu found her guilty
But mo- had seen this strong, calm
woman in throes OF fear and agony.
her not easily moved nature shaken to
its very depths. and no criminal yet
ever had circumstantial evidence so
pitilessly arrayed against her. l
forced my eyes from her and fixed
them on the District Attorney. who
had already commenced his opening
! address. 1t is best that l should quote,
| his words for this chapter. because
they told succinctly the case against
the prisoner.
This woman, your honor, and gentle
men Of the jury, grew up In HOosac in
the manner | have briefly described,
until her marriage to Henry Mercer.
| Whether that wedlock was legal or nc
| is not material 1t is certain that she
believed it to he so during the short
time she Ii, ed with him in New York
and that upon leaving him she had
reason to know that he had outrageous.
ly deceived and maltreated her. In
that fact We find q motive Ct vengeance
The prosecution has not been able &c
| learn that there was any communities
| tion between them from the momen,
of their parting until tire final tragedy
After lapse Of about five years she
boldly announced that she was goine
to marry Albert Dawers-a man whose
character was as good as her forme.
husbands had been the reverse, ani
whom she loved with a passion more
than equal to the dete>tatlon she hac
felt for the other. From being the
butt of q drunken and brutal scoun
drel. she became the cherished ane
adored wife of the best-looking an,
best-natured man in the village. ant
for some brief months tested that III
preme happiness which is known onl,
to those persons who in the past hav,
acutely suffered. Perhaps SO much
content irritated the on-lookers, 70
only cold looks were cast upon tn,
lovers. while the malicious prophesiel
that MERGERS return would cut shor
} the pairs felicity. even affecting no
to consider them man and wife at all
so that by degree. they became $50
: lated from their neighbors. and the
: decided to at once remove to the jsrr