The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-01-26

innocence and make a reputation for
myself. I ordered hack, and driving
to the gaoI, found the colonel consult
ing his lawyers. T waited till they had
departed, then stated my reasons for
coming. He looked at me in surprise,
and smilingly said that he had older
and more experienced lawyers.
what hope do they give you?" I
asked.
He blushed redly, and said in an an
CRY tone: '"They say the evidence is
strong against me, and act as if they
believed me guilty; but the rascals are
smart"
Colonel" I said, ''they, as well as all
who read the papers, do believe you
guilty; but I know you are innocent,
and, what is more, I can prove it,"
"Prove it," said the colonel. But
how?"
IF you will promise to give me the
case if you are satisfied with my the
DRY, I will tell it to you.'
"Of course I will give you the case
II you can prove me innocent"
I then related my plan of defense,
and when I had finished, the colonel
shook me joyfully by the hand, and
Sc id, "God bless you, my boy! You
will save me from the gallows!" -.
He discharged the other lawyers,
who cheerfully Informed him that he
would be hung anyway, that he had
no chance whatever with that young
upstart for counsel, and deserved hang
ing for having him. demanded an
immediate trial, for which the govern
ment was entirely ready.
AS you remember, the case was the
topic of the day, and Col. Coventry was
thought crazy, the strongest proof being
the fact 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 en-
joyed it all, confident in the brilliant
but simple defense I was to make
I knew that the reaction would be
powerful, and that those who now re-
viled and sneered at me would, ere
long, be sounding my praise. When I
looked back on that time, I was sur
prised that no one thought of the de-
Tense was to make, but, then, it is Oft
en- the simplest points that are over
looked in the haste to follow an unsea-
sonable clue, whose only recommended
ton sometimes is it's ingenuity.
The trial came on; the government
fist brought forward the two men
who swore to seeing Col. Coventry
walking by the bank at half-past eight
O'Clock on the night of the murder.
Then evidence was brought to show
that the colonel, although a rich man,
was just at that time in need Of ready
money to complete a speculation in
which he was engaged.
The last and strongest witness was
Mr.. Charles Brand, the cashier, who
testified to the description of his assail-
ant, which correspondent to 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
government, and was, indeed, a perfect
network Of circumstantal evidence.
The government 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 clients innocence?"
He laughed, and then he said,
"You cannot do it, unless you
furnish the man who did the deed.
You haven't secured him, have you?"
This last in a sneering tone.
NO." was my reply, ''but have as
good a witness.'
Tell me who your witness is, and
then may bet," he said.
MY only witness is Mr.. Brand, the
CASHIER"
"The cashier! Why man, you are
crazy"
well, what will you bet?" I persist
ed.
"Oh! if you are anxious to bet, will
run up 500 hundred dollars" he an
sWered, Though I dislike to bet on a
sure thing"
''I'll cover your bet," I said. "You
think you have a sure thing, and so do
I; so we are safe.''
This little by-play passed during the
governments testimony. I arose and
addressed the court, saying that I had
but one witness to call; that I might
bring many witnesses to prove that
it was Colonel Co7entry's invaria BILE
custom to take a walk after his din
ner, and that he always came back by
way Of the bank; also many to prove
that the colonel could have borrowed
on his personal note, and did borrow
in that way all the money he needed
for his speculation; but that the one
witness whom was about to call
upon could and would prove beyond a
shadow Of a doubt that the colonel
was not the murderer and robber.
All the courtroom was on tiptoe of
expectation for my witness, but when
I called Mr.. Charles Brand, the MUIR
muir 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 a dazed manner while
I Questioned him.
"You are positive that it was the
right hand in which the robber held
the pistol?"
eyes," he answered, II am positive"
could it not have been his left
hand?"
"No; his left arm was gone"
els there no possibility Of your mis-
taking the hand?"
"No; am sure thta it was the right
hand that was pointed at me-"
By this time everyone thought that
I was trying to confuse the witness,