The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-05-09
the present he could not remember any


trial, determined he should have one,
and took every means in my power to
give him that protection which the law
guarantees to the vilest Of criminals.
IF your story is true, Adam Wheel
err I said, after he had made his state
ment, how do you account for the fact
of having one Of the murdered girls
rings on your finger at the time you
We're discovered and arrested?"
What ring?" he asked, in what APP
peared to be a frightened and guilty
| way. II don't understand you, sir!'
This" I said, displaying the jewel
II suppose you recognize it; though, Of
course, you are not bound to criminate
yourself"
''I'll take my solemn oath that don't
know what you mean, sir!' he said, in
alarm.
"Well, then" I replied, "this ring,
which belonged to Ida Carlton, was
found on your little finger when you
were arrested"
Before God" he now exclaimed
with a bold, innocent look, II don't
know anything about that ring! I
don't remember ever seeing it before;
and, if it was on my finger it must
have been put there by the villain who
left me for dead, in order to make 1t
appear as if had murdered and robbed
the poor girl!''
OF course this denial was no more
believed than the other statements Of
the prisoner, who was regarded by the
populace as a wretch too vile to be al
lowed the honor Of a respectable trial.
And only for my precautions and con-
slant vigilance night and day, his case
| would never have come before a court
of justice.
SO great was the excitement-in fact,
so clamorous was the great body Of re-
spectacle citizens for summary execu-
ton of the fellow, that it was not
deemed safe at first to bring him out
side the Jail; and in order to have him
present at the inquest, the coroner sat
with his jury within the walls of the
prison.
Of course the verdict Of the coroner's
jury was dead against him: the next
grand jury found a true bill, and in
due course of time his trial came on.
By that time the murderous excite
ment had so far subsidized that there
was no longer fears Of his being lynched
In case of conviction, though a verdict
of not guilty by the jury might have
resulted in a fearful riot.
The trial was long one. The pris-
oner was defended by one of the ablest
lawyers in the county, who, for some
cause Qet us suppose it to be in the way
of humanity for the culprit had not
dollar to fee him), had volunteered his
services, and who told me privately
at the conclusion Of the trial, with the
verdict of guilty ringing in his ears,
that he believed the accused to be as
innocent Of the murder as himself.
One incident during the progress Of
the case, had made deep impression
on me, and set me to thinking, Won
dering and specializing in very serious
manner. It was when the lover Of the
murdered girl, Eben Staver, had been
placed on the stand to give some not
very important evidence. I happened
to be standing near the accused when
he first put eyes on the witness; and
I saw him start, clasp his hands, turn
deadly pale and sink back in his seat
in fainting condition; and on his
counsel hurrying to him with glass Of
water, heard him gasp out:
''That's the man had my fight with,
and who'd just murdered the lady!
"Hush!" said the lawyer "say moth
Ing more now.
When he came to cross-examine the
witness, who had been called for the
prosecution, I noticed that Walter
Graham put some very curious ques-
tons, which the other side objected to
as Irrelevant, and that the man on the
stand became very much agitated, per-
fectly pallid, and once or twice seemed
to gasp for breath.
Of course everybody was surprised;
but probably outside of the prisoner,
his counsel, myself and a couple of
confidential friends, not a soul in the
courtroom suspected the real cause.
MY client is innocent, and Eben
Staver, the lover Of the murdered Ida
Carlton, is the man who committed the
foul deed and ought to swingv said
Graham to me after the verdict of
guilty had been rendered. MARK you,
Sheriff Redacre, we must save this in
nocent man, even if it be by hunting the
guilty one down." he said impressively.
I confess that when I recalled the fact
of the absence for two or three days Of
Eben staver, his personal condition
when he appeared at the inquest, and
the improbable story that he had told
of his accident and wanderings, and
thought how easily it might all glide
into a sequel to the statement of the
prisoner, I was a good deal shocked
and staggered, and inclined to side
with the lawyer.
But we have no proof that Staver
was there and did the deed,'' replied
to Mr.. Graham. ION the contrary
everything seems to point the other
| way. This young man was the accept
ed lover of the girl remember-they
were actually engaged to be married.
the farm on which they were to live
had actually been bought-and there
| Is no evidence Of a quarrel or of jeal-
ousy, or of any motive whatever for
taking her life. You see at once that
the idea Of accusing this man is pre-
posterous!
Notwithstanding" returned Graham
positively, IT believe him to be the
guilty wretch! Hank you! Why did my
client tell the tale he did, and then,
when he saw this man in court for the
first time after the murder, become so
affected, and make that horrible ac-
cusation against him of all others
What did he know about him? I tell
you, sheriff, there is some awful mys-
terry hidden which it is our duty to
bring to light"
But how begin-hOw set about If ~