Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-07-21
proved oy rne states witnesses.

proved Dy rne states witnesses.
The prisoner took the stand to make
his statement. He declared emphatically
that the deceased. knife in hand, had
assaulted him, and that he had killed
him in self defense; that the knife
which fell from the relaxing hand was
the dead mans He told the story sim
ply. and az he began it tall, thickset
gentleman in gray suit, with iron
gray hair and walking with the aid Of
a stout ok, entered the room and stood
silent by the door-heard him through,
losii never word As the prisoner re-
sume,. his seat the newcomer entered
within the rail. He shook hands grave
" WITH several of the older lawyers and
too. the hand that the court extended
over the desk. Then he turned, and 10
the establishment OF every one shook
hnds with the defendant, into whose
face light had suddenly dawned which
resolved Itself into broad, silent grin.
This Gone, the oh gentleman seated
himself near the defendants lawyer,
and resting his hand upon his massive
cane listened attentiy ely 10 the speech
The speaker was not verbose. He rap
idly summed up and laid his case before
the jury i'll it, best light Really there
was not great deal 10 say, and he soon
reached his peruration. He pictured the
| 4 % u
and babe Ccpriyed Of his labor, and
dwelt long upon the good name he had
always borne. In the midst Of the most
eloquent periods, wherein he referred 10
the prisoner sitting before you, gentle
men of the jury. broken hearted and
borne down by the we ght Of this horri-
BILE tragedy" he turned and extended
his hand 10 where his client sat A
sight met his glance that sent the flush
Of confusion t. his face and started a
ripple Of laughter around the room The
broken hearted was calmly munching
away ON ali enormous ginger cake the
liberal moon in which proved the vigur
of his appetite. The eloquence of the
speaker was fatally chilled. He STAN
mered, repeated, hesitated and was lost.
After an awkward summing up, he took
| his hat and books and precip,tately r.
tired To "A secluded part Of the room. He
had been appointed by the court 70 de-
fend the prisoner and had made consid-
cradle preparation, even 10 the extent
Of training his client when 10 weep.
The solicitor arose, and with few
words swept away the cobwebs Of the
case The man had stabbed another
wantonly II the knife was the property
Of the deceased, why was II not produced
in court? The defendants wife had
picked it up.
Hc passed the case 10 the jury, and
the judge prepared 10 deliver his charge,
when the old gentleman in gray rose 10
his feet.
If your honor please" he said in n
deep tone the honesty and purpose Of
which drew every eye upon him, 1.-THE
prisoner j. entitled To the closing, and
| in the absence of other counsel beg
that you mark my name for the defense.
With the permission Of my young friend
who has 80 cleverly stated the defense,
| | Will speak upon the case.
"Mr. Clerk, said the court, mark
General Robert Thomas for the de-
fense. " The silence was absolute. The
| jurymen moved III their seats. Some
thing new was coming The old gentle
man laid his hat and stick upon the Ia
bic. and drawing himself up To his great
| height fixed his bright eye upon first
one and then another Of the jury, look
ing down into their very hearts Only
| this old man, grim. gray and maJestical-
| ly defiant stood between the negro be
hind him and the grave. The fact seem-
cd 10 speak ont of the silence To every
man on that bench. Suddenly his lip
OPENED. and he said with quick but
quiet energy:
THE knife that was found by the
| dead mans side was his own. He had
drawn il before he was stabbed Bon
Thomas is brave man, a strong man
He would not have used "a weapon on
| him unarmod As he spoke he drew
from his bosom long, keen knife and
gently rested its point upon the table
The solicitors watchful eye was upon
him. The attention Of all was gained
and the silence was intense. IL has
| been asked. Where Is the dead mans
knife? Let me give you my theory
When Bill Fowler staggered back under
the blow Of Ben Thomas, clutchlng his
wound. and the knife fell TO the ground,
| the lightning's fash WAS not quicker
| than the change born IN moment III
the bosom of that erring woman, the
unwilling cause Of the tragedy. Up TO
that moment she had been weak and
Welding. She had turned aside from
the little home that should have been
her all TO gamble with strange men, TO
tread the dangerous paths which beset
the one safe road true woman : feet
NAV know. Ii had thrown a shadow
over the humble home. The husband
drunk upon It's porch was the mute eyi-
dence Of its presence In the awful mo-
mcnt Of that tragedy, when the dancers
stood Mortified. this woman became as
by an inspiration wife again. Deceiy-
ed herself, she caught up the telltale
knife and hurled il into the swamp
destroying the evidence Of her husbands $
innocence when she sought TO conceal
one evidence Of his guilt. This, | say,
| is "A theory. You remember her cry was,
Rum" His listeners stirred, and Il
whisper went round the room.
But there il other evidence, gentle
men Of the jury. Should | be forced to
ask for Il new trial, it will be developed
that this poor woman, repentant now,
thank God, walked in three days from
the scene Of that tragedy to my home,
| 20 miles away, 10 ask my aid and coun-
,el; that, eluding me in Macon, though
iootsore and wary and crtlzed with
grief, she returned by night TO that
swamp and laboring under an excite
ment as intense as the first, that brought
the scene before her 50 vividly that she
was enabled TO find the knife, did tind
it, and but that an accident To my We
hicle delayed me it would have been Of
fered here in evidence
MAY il please your honor, f." said the
solicitor, much rs dislike 10 interrupt
the honorable gentleman, do not think
It is proper to introduce with the argu-
ment evidence that has not been offered
upon trial. v
If your honor please"-and the
speaker turned to the prosecuting officer
with quiet dignity and gentleness that