Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-01
CHAPTER XIV.
THE BLACK CAP.

There is silence, or all but silence, in
the court The buzz of suppressed con-
versation sinks almost to ncthing-abso-
lutely to nothing as the judges marshal
rises. and, after Cabling through the
mysterious proclamation which begins
"Oyez. Oyer. Oyer" declares the
court open.
Philippa. still closely yelled, sits like &
statue. Her hand, which ever grasDs
mine, scarcely responds to the pressure
by which again and again | endeayor
to bid her hope for the best | would
give much if even now | could get her
to consent to my leading her away. |
dare not suggest this. | know that do
ing SO would be waste Of words
The court is open. The red Judge is
perusing letters and papers which lie i'll
front of him as calmly and unconcerned-
~ as if the life's happiness of at least
depend upon the view he takes of the
case about to be tried. He raises one
of his bouquets and inhales the per-
fume of the flowers. How can one in
his position behave like an ordi-
nary mortal? Were we not here, lie
might condemn an innocent man TO a
shameful death! l wonder if, with such
horrible responsibility resting OF him. a
judge can ever really be Il happy man?
These thoughts seem trivial; but my
mind is by now in a strange state: it is
indeed, SO sensitive that every slight in
cldent every. small ceremonial, Of today
seems to be impressed forever upon it.
bewigged gentleman-the clerk Of
assize,. the man next me tells his neigh-
bor-rlses and calls name after name
until he has fixed upon the twenty-threa
gentlemen needed to form the grand
jury They stand up in their places,
and, in patches of four. are rapidly
81 I1..,o Ion,
against vice and immortality is read;
much good may it do every one present!
Then the clerk sits down, and the judge,
forsaking his papers, begins his work
He arranges his robes to his satisfac-
ton, leans forward, and, placing the tips
OF his long, white fingers together, ad
dresses-charges, | am told, is the right
term-the grand jury in a pleasant, col
loquial manner. / strain every aural
nerve to catch the purport Of his glib
words. He is sure to say something
about this important murder case |
shall, perhaps, be able to learn now it
was that the man fell under suspicion.
Alas! the judge is one who, by dint
Of years of practice, has acquired the
knack of using his voice only just so
much as is absolutely necessary The
grand jury is close to him. and can no
doubt, hear him; but to those who, like
ourselves. are far away III the back
SIOuuu VI Tic court, Ills remarks are III
audible. All l can catch is 4 closing
caution to the grand jury, to bear in
mind that it is not within it's province TO
determine the innocence or guilt Of the
prisoners, but to simply decide whether
there is or is not sufficient evidence for
the cases to go to trial.
The grand jury files out of court to
conduct its solemn deliberations in the
place appointed. The judge addresses a
few smiling words to the sheriff and
other magnates who by right or ravor
occupy seats on the bench; then he re-
turns to the perusal Of his papers.
For the first time since we entered the
court Philippa speaks to me- ''Are they
trying him now?' she asks, in a low.
awed whisper, yet in a voice so changed
that | know what the suspense is cost
ing her. Briefly | explain the procedure
of the law, so far as l know it. She
signs, and says no more.
More monotOnOus calling of many
names, to which summons, however, an
other class of men respond. The com
mon jurymen are now being called. Prob
ably. to save time, twelve men are sent
into the box, where they sit. some APP
pearing to enjoy the dignity of the posi-
ton, some with stolid Indifference others
with acute unhappiness plainly manifest
ed. / look at these men with scarcely
less interest than | look at the judge.
On them, or on some of them, our fate
rests as much. perhaps more. than it
rests on him. Those men are trying us
not only the man who will by and by
stand in that rail-topped enclosure into
which we look down.
Twenty long. weary minutes pass by.
All eyes turn to a wooden gallery in the
right-band corner of the court. A door
in the wall opens The members Of the
grand jury emerge and fill the gallery.
The foreman arms himself with a gigan-
-
paper, which is conveyed by this clumsy
method to that busy gentleman. the clerk
Of assize. What idiotic foolery all this
seems to me!
The clerk detaches the document,
chances at it, and looks up at the gallery.
"Gentlemen of the grand jury. you re-
turn q true bill against William Evans
for murder?''
I'VE do" answers the foreman, with
shy sOlemnity.
ITO be Continucd)