The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-29
CONVICTED.

rived yet. Twelve of US waited IN the sta
ton Eleven clock at nj ht was the time
The weather was gusty and the night dark
Haven 't starved so since 1 was on the
Jury in the FribbIe murder case, - said
short passenger in a pea jacket.
Good time for the Jerseyites to murder
some one now, said a tall man with
hamper and some fishing tackle by way Of
luggage. Here's a jury ready-12 Of US. -
s'No, there ain t. - cried a big man in a
big white overcoat. Count me out-oniy
II of you. Wouldn't sit on jury in a case
of life and death. Wouldn't bring in YER
dict Of guilty if ten men had seen the deed
done "
Reckon you don't hold to capital pun
ishments" said the other.
Don't believe any of the evidence, -
said white overcoat 'Why, man alive I
might have been hung myself on the very
best Of evidence 20 years ago know
what it's worth. -
'sYou didn't do it, them" asked a very
little old man with no hair to speak of.
You'd have sworn ] did, 2 said white
overcOat, in nowise offended by the ques-
ton. $50 would Norris and Todd and
Joaquin. was a young fellow then, just
20-big for my age, horrible temper, awful
fool
Liked the girls, . said white overooat
Like en- still. was good looking, but
Joaquin was handsomer, and Tilly Sparks
said SO. Her cousin told me that she did
nyhow, and as I'd been paying attentions
to her it wasn't pleasant to hear that on
the very night when lilly went OF to
church with Joaquin.
t'It's a shame, Thomas, said the cous-
In. I scolded her for it, but she laughed
at me. Joaquin is 30 times handsomer
than Tom p says she, "and if I like a
change why shouldn't I have it?'' And
that's the truth, Thomas
IS We'll. saws i no doubt it Is and yirls
are girls Let lilly do as she chooses. But
as for Joaquin, III spoil his beauty for
him.
With that I went of in a fury, mean
ing TO thrash Joaquin next day hadn't
a thought Of cutting his throat, but
meant to give him two black eyes if got
the opportunity
fsThere was Norris in bed, home, sick
with cold. I roomed with him. He was
a young man from Boston. All the good
young men do come from there. He taught
Sunday school and wanted to be a minis
ter, only circumstances hadn t permitted.
" Il couldn't close my eyes, said Norris,
if I'd talked like that. You We mentioned
the evil one times and you've spoken
of the lake of IRE and birthstone 18s times.
You've gone through the bones and j'ints
that Joaquin is composed of like an an
atOmical work, and you've oussed 'em all
separately, and you've threatened his life
50 Hold your tongue, yelled I. You
amt ordained yet. Nobody is compelled
to hear you preach until you are. III talk
as choose
At this he tucked his tow colored head
under the sheet, and put out the light
and turned into my ewn bed, but couldn' t
go to sleep I was IN such tremor of rage.
1 lay there thinking and thinking, as if
I'd been a machine made to turn out
thoughts by the bushsl
81 thought how gloriously could give
it TO Joaquin. One, two, three-smashl
One two, three=crashl Down with him,
and all that, you know. I thought
should like to break his nose and gouge
his eyes and leave marks on him for good.
After awhile I thought how ID like to
have loaded pistol. Then remeEn bered
that had one. It didn't belong to me.
I was keeping it for friend 7 had it in
my bureau drawer.
N orris hadn't called to me as I went
out of the room, SO suppose he hadn'
heard me; but there I was in the street,
with the pistol in my breast pocket It
was not late yet-only 10. If Joaquin had
been 50 greatly encouraged by lilly, no
doubt he WAS with her yet
II took my way toward that well re-
membered door. stood behind the lamp
post on the corner and took peep. Ny
suspicious were correct. He had been in
and was just bidding lilly goodby. I saw
him kiss her.
''And the door shut, and on he came to-
ward me, whistling as if he'd swallowed
canary bird. And behind him. from under
a porch where he'd been hiding, came a
mana great, rough brute of fellow
creeping, creeping on his track.
They were opposite my lalnppOst, and
I saw the fellow draw pistol from his
pocket and take aim straight at Joaquin 8
head. forgot ali my own rage then.
Ny Cod Joaquin. take care of your
selfl cried.
"And there was the report of pistol,
and L saw him before me fiat on his face.
The murderer rushed down the street, and
knelt beside him. Blood strealned down
his temples all over my clothes, all over
my hands Speak to me, Joaquin, I
cried. And then a hand came down on my
shoulder, and turned. A policeman stood
there and beside him stood Norris
% Il knew where your angry passions
would lead you, said he and in spite Of
my cold followed I'm very sorry for you,
Thomas
"No one believed my story of the man
who had followed him and there were wit
nesses-Norris and Tilly's cousin-to at
test to the fact that L had threatened
Jacquin's life. In fact, the evidence was
all against me. They didn't seem to take
ten minutes to decide on the verdict,
Guilty. Sentence Of death was pro-
nounced upon me by the judge in less time
than L can tell you of it. -
TRAIN coming =" cried the station mas
ter. Don't stop minute
Good gracious p' screamed the little old
man. How did it end?'
Convicted murderer, " said the man
with white coat. Sentenced to be hung
next Friday Gallows built. Clergyman
with me- Letter to mother. Letter to
Tilly. Black cap on. Bell tolling. Out
on she platform. Crowd looking. Last
dying speech
The engine shrieked-
Passengers, yelled the voice at the
door.
..What saved youf,, screamed the little