The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-09-23
THE PHANTOM VOICE.

Sitting on the veranda of his sum-
mer residence by an inland lake in
Michigan, surrounded by his family
and guests, the venerable Judge Wat
ties told the strongest story of his
professional career.
"Immediately following my admis-
Sion to the BAR" he said, II was made
prosecuting attorney, accepting the
honor as deserved tribute to my su-
perior abilities. But you must bear
in mind that this was good many
years ago in little valley town in
Pennsylvania, where We were hemmed
in by the mountains aud hnd few with
whom to compare in the matter of in
telligence or attainments.
''In the criminal annals of the
county there were the evidences of
well-disposed community and it came
as a startling sensation when Farmer
Jenkins, driving home late one night.
was beaten to insensibility and robbed
OF large sum of money. Here
was work for me and went at it with
the zeal of an ambitious beginner
Jenkins insisted that lie would be able
to identify his assailant, seen in the
dim moonlight that sifted through
the trees, describing him as a tall,
well-dressed young man with dark
mustnche and an angry red scar across
his left cheek.
"'Why, 1 seed that air critter, de-
clared Constable Joe Huskey, Il kim
on him sudden like Yesterday when 1
was fishin' Mt Punkey Holler crick.
Tn feller war in swimmin' an tole me
he war jist outen the city fur leete
recreation. I'd know him 'mongst
thousan.'
''By employing competent assistance
from Philadelphia, We ran down our
man, Jenkins and Huskey both recog-
nizing him at sight. A few days after
the arrest and while | was working on
the case, n handsome, matronly ap-
pearing woman walked into the office,
introducing herself as the mother of
the prisoner, who had given the name
of Harry Winter. She bore the I'M
mistakable marks of refinement, and in
q brief statement, punctuated by con-
vulsing sobs, assured me that ter
rible mistake had been made. Harry
was her son, her only support, and
she widow. He was the soul of
honor and had never given her an
hours anxiety. He was with her the
night of the assault and robbery.
They had walked for an hour in the
evening, after which he read to her,
going to his room at II. 1t was q
physical as we'll as moral impposi-
bility for him to have done the great
wrong laid at his door. Her story
greatly impressed me, but there was
the positive naturalization by Jenkins
and the constable.
''Less than week later had an
other caller; well-dressed man who
walked with limp and who said he
had been subponaed by the defense to
show Winters good reputation. But
nothing could have surprised him
more, for he knew the accused to have
damning record. He declared that
he had full confession of that very
crime from the prisoner who had re-
lied upon the cripple as loyal friend
simply because they had met occasion.
ally at the mothers house. This swept
away the doubts that she had created,
convincing me that her clinging love
had overcome her regard for the
truth. I gained promise from the
cripple that he would say nothing til
called to the stand by the other side.
"When the prosecution had made
its case at the trial ! was entirely sat.
isfied. just after jenkins and Huskey
had sworn point blank, as I knew they
would, word reached me that ther,
was private detective in the cour
room who wanted Winter for q Grim,
committed in New York. This wa
help from an unexpected source, ant
soon had it before the jury that tn,
ugly scar on Winters cheek was mad
~ man defending bis home agains