The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-15
swore HIS Life Against His Brother
in-Law, and II Took Court All Day
TO Probe the Difficulty.
ROARING DoWN-EAsT FARCE
THE NOVELIST APPRECIATED THE
HUMOR AND LAUGHED ..HOr' "HO:"
Says His Life Was Never Threatened
Before, and He May Leave Amer
lea and Write Us Up.
Brattleboro Uto Dispatch in New York

have been curious to know about Rudyard
Kiplng. For five years Rudyard Kipling
has studously and Systematically kept him.
self to himself. thereby heightening the pub
lie curiosity which he strove to avoid.
Newspapers, magazines, weekly periodicals
and literary syndicates of all kinds have
sent representative after representative to
this town to interview this interesting man,
and each time the effort failed, and Rudyard
Kipling became more reserved than ever.
To-day came the crash. In legal pro-
ceding that had every element of farce
comedy trial, before an old-fashioned JUS
tice of the peace, amid the laughter and
the stares of hundred farmers and idle
townspeople, and in the presence of dozen
newspaper men, to whom he had again
and again refused to speak Of himself and
his life, he sat for four hours. the victim Of
two long w;nded country lawyers, who WED
with each other in dragging from him the
details of his family troubles and his do
nestle life. And between his sensation of
disgust with the whole affair and his thor
ough appreciation of the humor Of the pro-
ceeding. he found himself in the most
amazing situation that ever fell to the lot of
a distinguished literary man.
.'Oh," he said. IF could only get on a
steamer now and go far, far away
AS he sat there with all those OPEN
mouthed, staring people listening to his re-
cital of his attempts to reform shiftless
relative. and heard his own words twisted
and garbled by the lawyers on both sides.
he wished many a time that the floor would
split open and let him sink out Of sight.
And between profound sympathy for his
pride that was being ruthlessly trampled
the ponderous arguments of the lawyers and
the ludicrous rulings of the justice, who
sat with his knees cooked up against his
chin, one knew not whether to become IN
dignant over it all or to roar with laughter.
So Mr.. Kipling felt, and in all probability he
will pack up mis- household goods and leave
Brattleboro. never to return. and then. when
his indignation has smmered down, ne will
write sale of New England justice that
will be funny.
CAUSE OF THE TRIAL.
So far as the State of Vermont was con-
cerned, the proceeding WAS hearing to
establish the fact whether Beatty Ba.es-
tier, Kiplings brother-in-law. who had been
arrested for using opprobrious language and
threatening 10 harm Kipling. should be held
to await the action of the. grand jury. Lest
this fact should be lost to the reader, as it
was through the entire proceedings. it may
be said here. that he was SO, held. But while
under ordinary circumst antes such ques-
ton would have been S6fsaosed of in less
than ten or fifteen minutes, 1t lasted in this
case over five hours, during which Rudyard
Kipling was the only witness examined AT
the end of his examination he was COM
PEELED TO undergo an additional hour of tor
ture by listening to the lurid summing up
OF both sides. ~
The hearing took place in the Town Hail.
When Kipling arrived and beheld the crowd
that had assembled he sank into chair and
the personnel of this court of the peace.
one should see the justice, the lawyers and
the sheriff. Justice of the. Peace Newton is
man of slxty-hve. the type of a weather
beaten New Engiander,. fall. spare. clean
shaven and extremely digniied. The sheriff
sat in front OF him waiting eagerly for the
cry Order in the court room or the trial
can't go on!'' 81 nc
George B. Hit who appeared as counsel
dous proportions. red-faced and ponderous
in voice and manner. He was as serious as
a grave digger and kipling. who took great
interest in observing him. frequently covered
his face with his hands to hide a smile. The
States attorney of the county. G. c. Fits.
is a young man, full Of fiery ardor who
Woul1 m 70 make a's speech Beatiy
Balestier. young man with a very red face
and powerful frame, maintained an atti-
tude Of great dignity thrS,H;ghol Ut, the day,
had befriended him. sr
After the respondent had pleaded mot
and SSorn H Hodnx ns Tshs hnnd
aloft he repeated the oath after Justice
Newton, and then sat down. For the next
two hours he was in state OF great un-
rest. He did not remain in the same posi-
ton more than minute at time, and his
constant shifting betrayed intense nervous
ness. He would cross bis legs, uncross
A. ~,&1o y fr nft hot
throw 1t upon the floor and then inme-
diately stoop TO pick X up and busy him.
self in Strengthening It outsz.asa
KIPLING NERVOUS AS A CAT.
Frequently he would clasp his knees and
stare intently at the floor and moment
later would throw himself back in his chair
in an attitude Of abandonment, which never
lasted more than a minute.
what is the relationship between you
and the respondent" began the States at
torney. ~~E ists.
Mr.. Kipling seemed startled. and after
moments hesitation replied: .'E-r- he is
my wife's brother" and Immediately he
81 will call your attention." continued the
prosecutor Ito last Wednesday. Will you
please tell what Ia. took place between you and
We'll" said the witness, '.between 4:su
and 4:45 o'clock came down the road on
Il II,
rather. I had just fallen off,"
At this a smoker went through the court
room.
''Mr Balestier." resumed Mr.. Kipling,
overlook me in the middle of a place they
call the Pines. at the foot Of the HILL
State In your own way" grandly burst. in
the States attorney what occurred be-
tween YOU"
wei. / was trying to sit on my bicycle.
when Mr.. Balestier came along. driving a
buggy. See here, he said. i want TO speak
to you II you have anything e say, re.
said. this Is no case for lawyers. and
want you to understand that II you don't
retract the d lies you have told about me
in town will either knock or kick Il an,
out of you Then he called me one or two
scattering names. He said something about
blowing out my d brains Then / said:
Let's get this thing straight. Do under
stand that for certain things you will kill
me-? Yes he said. by gee, ] will Re-
yourself 10 blame for the consequence In
the course of this conversation ne also called
me a liar, cheat and a coward. Then
he drove on to where the road forks. about
forty yards beyond. and turned and went
back"
what was his appearance as to earnes,-
ness" asked the lawyer. ~
s'He seemed not in his right senses He
waved his hand about and shouted. yelled.
WAS his tore of voice loudg
''Oh. very, very.
And are you at present In fear of him?''
II honestly think he would kin me If he
lost his head again"
Then began the cross-examination.
NEW ENGLAND TORTURE.
''Mr. Kipling," began lawyer Hit, gazing
intently at the great writer. "how long have