Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-06-05

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ton" -E
"You don't mean to suggest that
you are afraid of the charge?" said Mr..
FIT.
$50 help me, Mr.. Fit, [ never saw the
diamonds" cried Mr.. Hedgehog, earn
estly, "and nobody knows that better
than Svendcleri; that's just what
makes it SO awkward"
The solicitor watched Mr.. Hedgehog
with puzzled air.
II can't understand you at all" he
said, after long pause. IF you wish
to succeed in this action you had better
be perfectly candid with Inc, and the
first thing I must know is what line
we are to tal<e--fght or capituiate,
which is it to bc?'
II must leave that to you. Mr.. Pitt,
answered Mr.. Hedgehog. nervcusly.
''Tm afraid I've got myself into mess
--Syendeleri has been too much for me.
All that 1 can say is that never stole
the dianonds-Ill swear 1 never did,
''Then, in Heavens name, fight, and
fight with all your might exclaimed
the lawyer, vehemently.
Mr.. Pitt was both sagacious and an
honorable man. At first he felt loath
to take up this action. To meet the
difficulties of the situation he and his
counsel, Mr. Briteley, after long con-
ference resolved to adopt course
which both Of them, under ordinary
circumstances, would have shrunk
from. Usually the plaintiff in "a libel
90
dercd by his counsel. He has to tell his
own story and to be cross-examined
upon it before he knows what evidence
the defendant is prepared to produce.
In the present case however, Mr..
IIcdgehog's counsel and solicitor de-
termined merely to prove the receipt
of the libelous post cards by means OF
the caretal<er at the building in which
were Mr.. Hedgehog's offices, and, hay
ing thus made prima facie case, to
let the defendant produce his witnesses.
This course was taken. The care
taker was called and swore she re-
ceived the post cards in question. These
were put in. and the judge unhesitat'
ingly held them to be defamatory.
Mr.. Briteley then announced that, he
being utterly in the dark as to the case
he would have to meet, would not ten
der his client as witness until he had
heard the defense. The judge raised
some objection to this course, but coun
sci was firm, and in the end his lordship
called on the defendant to proceed with
his evidence Of justification.
The first witness for the defense was
Lady Roughslod. She said the plaintiff
had been employed by her to investi-
gate the mysterious disappearance OF
certain bonds from her country resi-
dence-Stabstable hall--in Doltshirc.
While the investigation was proceed
ing she had informed him of various
facts, known otherwise, as far as wit
ness was aware, only to herself and
Lord Roughshod. Among these was
the existence of several secret drawer:
in an ancient bureau which stood in her
ladyship's boudoir. Witness was not
absolutely certain whether she had also
told the plaintiff of her habit of placing
her jewels in one of these drawers for
the night when she had been out late
and felt too tired to put them into the
jewel safe, but she thought it was ex
tremely likely she did tell him. Abouta
month after the termination of the
plaintiffs fruitless investigation into
the disappearance of the bonds Lord
and Lady Roughshod had attended the
county ball at Rottenborough,w which was
some five miles from Stabstable hall;
They returned late, and her ladyship
had, as usual, deposited the jewels SHE
had worn at the ball in the secret
drawer. In the morning her maid ON
entering the Eoudoir found the window
had been forced during the night and
the bureau drawer burst open and the
secret drawer rifled.
The next witness was the head wait
er of the George at Rottenborough.
This witness identified the plaintiff as
a person who, under the name OF
Smith, had stayed at the George fo-
the three days preceding the ball. He
left on the night of the ball. ostensibly
to catch the night mail to London. The
only baggage he had with him was !.
small portmanteau, which he had him
self carried to the station Witness was
astonlshed to meet the plaintiff on the
platform at Peterborough station the
next morning after the ball. The plain
till explained to him that he had LOST,
the night mail and had stayed ove:
night at the Railway hotel. Witness
now remembered that Mr.. Hedgehog.
while staying at the George, had asked
many questions as to the county ball.
and mere especially as to the time the
company broke up.
This concluded the case for the de-
Tense, and thereupon the court immcdi-
'teiy adjourned for the day. Mr. Pitt
immediately arranged for a consulta
ton between counsel. solicitor and
client at Mr.. Britely's chambers in the
temple. 1t was not of long duration.
but long enough to prove that any de-
liberation was useless. Hedgehog de-
CARED that he would not go into the
box.
"Old Svcndeleri has outwitted me-
lie said. ''He has got me in his grip. T
Gid not steal 4hnSu i;a,,o,I- ~..,,41